US 8,119,053 B1Granted

Apparatus for three dimensional printing using imaged layers

Assignee3D Systems, Inc.

InventorsBryan Bedal, Steven E. Schell, Ross D. Beers

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Abstract

A three-dimensional printer adapted to construct three dimensional objects is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the printer includes a first surface adapted to receive a bulk layer of sinterable powder, a polymer such as nylon powder; a radiant energy source, e.g., an incoherent heat source adapted to focus the heat energy to sinter an image from the layer of sinterable powder; and a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer or print the sintered image from the first surface to the object being assembled while fusing the sintered image to the object being assembled. The transfer mechanism is preferably adapted to simultaneously deposit and fuse the sintered image to the object being assembled. The process of generating an image and transferring it to the object being assembled is repeated for each cross section until the assembled object is completed.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of generating an object assembled from a plurality of cross sections, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a layer comprising sinterable powder on a first surface, wherein the layer comprises a bulk layer of sinterable powder from which one or more of said cross sections is imaged;
generating a sintered image using a radiant energy source configured to fuse at least a portion of the layer of sinterable powder while on the first surface;
removing unsintered powder from the first surface;
and
transferring the sintered image from the first surface to the object being assembled, wherein the object is supported by a lift,
wherein transferring the sintered image comprises pressing the object against the sintered image to provide a substantially uniform pressure across the sintered image being transferred to the object,
wherein transferring the sintered image from the first surface to the object being assembled comprises transferring the sintered image from a drum to the object supported by a lift,
wherein removing unsintered powder comprises removing the unsintered powder after generating the sintered image and before transferring the sintered image.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/998,151Filed 28 Nov 2007 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Mar 2004
Granted: 21 Feb 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B29C 64/153
Using only solid materials: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
B29C 64/379
Auxiliary operations or equipment: handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots
B33Y 10/00
Processes of additive manufacturing
B33Y 40/00
Auxiliary operations or equipment

Family

Application60/554,251Us provisional application · filed 18 Mar 2004
Application11/078,894Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Mar 2005
Application60/872,041Us provisional application · filed 29 Nov 2006
Application11/890,984Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Aug 2007
US 7,261,542 B2Parent of this continuation
Application11/890,984Parent of this continuation
US 2005/0208168 A1Published application
US 2008/0036117 A1Published application
US 8,119,053 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.