Method and system for three-dimensional fabrication
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorEduardo Napadensky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of three-dimensional fabrication of an object is disclosed. The method comprises: forming a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object, at least one layer of the plurality of layers being formed at a predetermined and different thickness selected so as to compensate for post-formation shrinkage of the layer along a vertical direction. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention spread of building material of one or more layers is diluted at least locally such as to maintain a predetermined thickness and a predetermined planar resolution for the layer.
Claims21
A system for three-dimensional fabrication of an object, comprising:
- a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus having a leveling device and being designed and constructed to form a plurality of layers of building material in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object;
- a controller having a circuit configured to apply a dilution transformation to at least one bitmap respectively characterizing at least one layer of said plurality of layers, and to transmit control signals to said three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to ensure that for said at least one layer of said plurality of layers, said apparatus forms, according to said at least one transformed bitmap, an interior region surrounded by a peripheral region, wherein a thickness of said interior region is lower than a thickness of said peripheral region,
- wherein said leveling device is configured for leveling at least said peripheral region by removing material at least from said peripheral region so as to straighten at least said peripheral region.
A system for three-dimensional fabrication of an object, comprising:
- a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, designed and constructed to form a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the three-dimensional object;
- and
- a controller having a circuit configured to apply a dilution transformation to at least one bitmap respectively characterizing at least one layer of said plurality of layers, and to transmit control signals to said three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to ensure that for at least one layer of said plurality of layers, said apparatus performs a local dilution of building material by leaving locations void of building material in at least one interior region of said layer while allowing building material to flow into said void locations, wherein said at least one interior region is characterized by a distance from a closest exterior surface of the object which is above a predetermined threshold distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.