US 9,079,355 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional objects using linear solidification

AssigneeGlobal Filtration Systems

InventorsAli El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device is shown and described. In certain examples, the linear solidification device includes a laser diode that projects light onto a scanning device, such as a rotating polygonal mirror or a linear scanning micromirror, which then deflects the light onto a photohardenable resin. As a result, the linear solidification device scans a line of solidification energy in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of the laser diode. In other examples, the linear solidification device is a laser device array or light emitting diode array that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of the array.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An apparatus for making a three-dimensional object from a photohardenable resin comprising:

a source of the photohardenable resin;
a linear solification device including a selectively activatable and deactivatable ultraviolet laser diode and a rotating polygonal mirror, wherein the linear solification device moveable in a first direction, ultraviolet laser diode selectively projects solidification energy in a second direction as it moves in the first direction, the rotating polygonal mirror is rotatable in a rotation plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the rotating polygonal mirror is in optical communication with the ultraviolet laser diode, and when the ultraviot laser diode projects solidification energy in the second direction, the rotating polygonal mirror deflects the solidification energy toward the photohardenable resin, and the deflected solidification energy solidifies the photohardenable resin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/534,638Filed 27 Jun 2012 · us provisional application
Priority: 28 Jun 2011
Published: US 2013/0001834 A13 Jan 2013
Granted: 14 Jul 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B29C 64/241
Driving means: for rotary motion
B29C 64/106
Processes of additive manufacturing: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B29C 64/124
Using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material: using layers of liquid which are selectively…
B29C 64/236
Driving means: for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer