Patent US4945032A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4945032A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stereolithography using repeated exposures to increase strength and reduce distortion
Assignee: Stamicarbon BV
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Filing: 1989-10-31
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Granted: 1990-07-31
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Expires: 2009-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved stereolithographic process is provided in which the formation of a thin walled three-dimensional object in a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material using a support is positioned immediately beneath the upper surface of the liquid reservoir with that upper surface being exposed to ultraviolet light in a pattern to solidify the liquid at and near the upper surface in a series of cross-sections of the desired three-dimensional object, one atop the other. In this way there is formed a series of superposed layers which adhere to one another to build the desired three-dimensional object within the liquid reservoir. The improvement comprises, stopping the exposure at any portion of the surface in the formation of said layers and then repeating the exposure at least once again in the production of each surface layer so that the strength and solvent resistance of the formed object are increased and its distortion is minimized. The ultraviolet exposure of each surface layer is preferably carried out as a series of rapid repeated scans of a computer-directed focused laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Murphy
- 👤 Robert E. Ansel
- 👤 John J. Krajewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0037; B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/10; B29C64/106; B29C64/124; B29C64/129; B29C64/135; B33; B33Y; B33Y10/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a method for the formation of a thin walled three-dimensional object in a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material and in which a support is positioned immediately beneath the upper surface of the liquid reservoir with said upper surface being exposed to ultraviolet light in a pattern of line exposures to solidify the liquid at and near said upper surface in a series of cross-sections of the desired three-dimensional object, one atop the other, and thus form a series of superposed layers which adhere to one another to build said three-dimensional object within the liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising, stopping the line exposure at any portion of the surface in the formation of said series of superposed layers and then repeating the line exposure at least once again in the production of each said superposed layer so that the strength and solvent resistance of the formed object are increased and its distortion is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a method for the formation of a thin walled three-dimensional object in a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material and in which a support is positioned immediately beneath the upper surface of the liquid reservoir with said upper surface being exposed to ultraviolet light in a pattern of line exposures to solidify the liquid at and near said upper surface in a series of cross-sections of the desired three-dimensional object, one atop the other, and thus form a series of superposed layers which adhere to one another to build said three-dimensional object within the liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising, stopping the line exposure at any portion of the surface in the formation of said series of superposed layers and then repeating the line exposure at least once again in the production of each said superposed layer so that the strength and solvent resistance of the formed object are increased and its distortion is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement recited in claim 1 in which the ultraviolet exposure of each surface layer is carried out as a series of rapid repeated scans of a computerdirected focused laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement recited in claim 1 in which said liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material comprises acrylate-functional material to speed the ultraviolet-initiated cure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement recited in claim 1 in which said liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material is a free flowing liquid to ease the burden of flowing said liquid over each solidified layer in preparation for the formation of the next layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a method for the formation of a three-dimensional object in a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material and in which a support is positioned immediately beneath the upper surface of the liquid reservoir with said upper surface being exposed to light effective to polymerize said ehtylenically unsaturated material in a pattern of line exposures to solidify the liquid at and near said upper surface in a series of cross-sections of the desired three-dimensional object, one atop the other, and thus form a series of superposed layers which adhere to one another to build said three-dimensional object within the liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising, stopping the line exposure at any portion of the surface in the formation of said series of superposed layers and then repeating the line exposure at least once again in the production of each said superposed layer so that the strength and solvent resistance of the formed object are increased and its distortion is minimized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a method for the formation of a three-dimensional object in a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material and in which a support is positioned immediately beneath the upper surface of the liquid reservoir with said upper surface being exposed to light effective to polymerize said ehtylenically unsaturated material in a pattern of line exposures to solidify the liquid at and near said upper surface in a series of cross-sections of the desired three-dimensional object, one atop the other, and thus form a series of superposed layers which adhere to one another to build said three-dimensional object within the liquid reservoir, the improvement comprising, stopping the line exposure at any portion of the surface in the formation of said series of superposed layers and then repeating the line exposure at least once again in the production of each said superposed layer so that the strength and solvent resistance of the formed object are increased and its distortion is minimized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement recited in claim 5 in which the light exposure of each surface layer is carried out as a series of rapid repeated scans of a computer-directed focused laser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-30 | 1994-01-29 | 1994-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-30 | 1998-01-29 | 1998-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-30 | 2002-01-29 | 2002-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |