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EP0484182A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High precision photosolidification modelling device

Assignee: Mitsubishi Corp
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Filing: 1991-11-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-11-01
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Abstract

Abstract A high-precision photo-solidification modeling device for forming a solidified image having a desired model shape by exposing to light a liquid capable of being solidified in receipt of the light in a region corresponding to the desired model shape. The modeling device includes an offset quantity computing device for computing a quantity of offsetting a contour of the exposure region to an inside of a three-dimensional contour plane of the desired model shape so as to make a three-dimensional contour plane of the solidified image contact with the three-dimensional contour plane of the desired model shape. Accordingly, the solidified image is prevented from being formed outside the contour of the desired model shape, thereby obtaining a solidified model of a desired shape.

Inventors

  • 👤 Naoichiro C/O Mitsubishi Corporation Saito
  • 👤 Seiji C/O Mitsubishi Corporation Hayano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:36
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/40; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0072; B29K2995/0073; G; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49013

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 128 words
A photo-solidification modeling device for forming a solidified three-dimensional object having a shape corresponding to a desired three-dimensional model shape including an inwardly-sloping outer model contour by exposing to light selected regions of a liquid capable of being solidified by exposure to the light to form the desired three-dimensional object, the device comprising: means for representing the desired three-dimensional model shape by a plurality of sets of coordinates each defining a point on a contour in a section of the desired three-dimensional model shape; and means for computing a corresponding plurality of sets of offset exposure coordinates defining regions of the liquid to be exposed to light to form the three-dimensional object with an inwardly-sloping outer contour corresponding to the inwardly-sloping outer model contour of the three-dimensional model.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source for exposing the liquid to solidify the exposed regions of the liquid; and means for controlling said light source in accordance with said offset exposure coordinates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to claim 2, wherein said light source is adapted to generate a light beam having a beam center, and wherein each of said sets of light beam offset exposure coordinates defines the offset of said beam center in two dimensions from corresponding coordinates defining the desired three-dimensional model shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 143 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to claim 3, wherein the shape of a region to be solidified corresponding to each of said light beam offset coordinates is a spheroid having a minor axis "d" and a major axis "h," and each of said offset exposure coordinates corresponds to offsetting the beam center by a distance R₁ along an R axis and a distance Z₁ along a Z axis, wherein R₁ and Z₁ are defined as follows: R₁ = d²n R /(h²n z ² + d²n R ² ) ½ Z₁ = h²n z /(h²n z ² + d²n R ²) ½ where n R = (n x ² + n y ²) ½ and n x , n y , and n z are components of a unit normal vector extending from the inside to the outside of the desired three-dimensional model shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 152 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to claim 3, wherein the shape of a region to be solidified corresponding to each of said light beam offset coordinates is a spheroid having a minor axis "d" and a major axis "h," and each of said offset exposure coordinates corresponds to offsetting the beam center by a distance X₀ along an X axis and a distance Y₀ along a Y axis, wherein X₀ and Y₀ are defined as follows: X₀ = n x (d²n x ² + d²n y ² + h²n z ²) ½ /(n x ² + n y ²) Y₀ = n y (d²n x ² + d²n y ² + h²n z ²) ½ /(n x ² + n y ²) and n x , n y , and n z are components of a unit normal vector extending from the inside to the outside of the desired three-dimensional model shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to any preceding claim, wherein said computing means computes said light beam offset exposure coordinates to define the regions of the liquid to be solidified without changing the height of the beam center.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to any preceding claim, further including; a container for storing the liquid; a light source for generating light for solidifying said liquid; and a light transmitting means for guiding said light generated by said light source to regions of the liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 118 words
A photo-solidification modeling device for solidifying liquid so as to create a solidified image having a desired three-dimensional shape, comprising: a container for storing the liquid; a light source for generating light for solidifying the liquid; light transmitting means for guiding said light generated by said light source to regions of the liquid; a controller for defining a region where said light is to be transmitted; means for computing a solidified shape of the liquid at a boundary between the light transmitted region and non-transmitted region; and second computing means for calculating an offset quantity for the outermost light transmitted region so as to make a three-dimensional solidified shape at said boundary contact with the desired three-dimensional shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 105 words
A photo-solidification modeling device comprising: a container for storing a liquid capable of being solidified upon exposure to light;; a light source for generating light for solidifying the liquid; light transmitting means for guiding said light generated by said light source to regions of the liquid; a controller for defining an outermost region of said light transmitted by said light transmitting means; means for calculating a shape to be solidified in the liquid at a boundary of said outermost region; computing means for calculating an offset quantity so as to make a three-dimensional solidified shape at said outermost region contact with a desired model shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein said light source comprises a laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein said light source comprises an optical fiber device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A photo-solidification modeling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid is a photo-polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 108 words
A photo-solidification modeling method for solidifying liquid so as to create a solidified image having a desired three-dimensional shape, comprising the steps of: generating light for solidifying the liquid; guiding the light to regions of the liquid; defining a region of the liquid to which the light is to be transmitted; computing a solidified shape of the liquid at a boundary between a light transmitted region and a non-transmitted region; calculating an offset quantity for the outermost light transmitted region; and exposing the liquid to the light in accordance with the offset quantity to make a three-dimensional solidified shape at the boundary contact with the desired three-dimensional shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 114 words
A high-precision photo-solidification modeling method for forming a solidified three-dimensional object having a shape corresponding to a desired three-dimensional model shape including an inwardly-sloping outer model contour by exposing to light selected regions of a liquid capable of being solidified by exposure to the light to form the desired three-dimensional object comprising the steps of: representing the desired three-dimensional model shape by a plurality of sets of light beam coordinates; and computing a corresponding plurality of sets of light beam offset exposure coordinates defining regions of the liquid to be exposed to light to form the three-dimensional object with an inwardly-sloping outer contour corresponding to the inwardly-sloping outer model contour of the three-dimensional model.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

WO1989010256A1 Cited
EP0388129A2 Cited
EP0406513A1 Cited
EP0429196A2 Cited

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