US5495328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for calibrating and normalizing a stereolithographic apparatus
Assignee: 3D Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-11-30
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Granted: 1996-02-27
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Expires: 2013-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method for calibrating and normalizing a stereolithographic apparatus so that a reaction means directed by a positioning means supplied with positioning means information may be positioned accurately on a designated surface of a working medium. One or more sensors fixed in location with respect to the designated surface of the working medium are utilized to correlate positioning means information with specific locations on the designated surface of the working medium. Other locations intermediate the specific locations may then be determined by the technique of linear interpolation.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart T. Spence
- 👤 Thomas A. Almquist
- 👤 Harry L. Tarnoff
- 👤 Warren Juran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/20; B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/10; B29C64/106; B29C64/124; B29C64/129; B29C64/135; B33; B33Y; B33Y30/00; B33Y40/00; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4257; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0037; G03F7/70; G03F7/70416; G06T17/10; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the apparatus to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of: defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; recording the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; using the sensed position, the known locations, the known spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the apparatus to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of: defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; recording the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; using the sensed position, the known locations, the known spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using comprises: determining that the sensed positions are substantially coincident with the known locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 additionally comprising: determining a centroid of the intensity of the reaction means; correlating the positioner information with the centroid of the intensity distribution to determine best positioner information; using the best positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of known locations are located at the working surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a substantial number of the plurality of known locations are temporarily located within the working region of the apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of using comprises: using said recorded positioner information, said known spatial relationships, and desired cross-sectional spatial relationships of the three-dimensional object to transform data representing the desired cross-sectional spatial relationships of the three-dimensional object to positioning information necessary to accurately position the reaction means on the working surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the step of directing utilizes rotational scanning mirrors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the medium is a photopolymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the reaction means is a laser beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the laser beam is a UV laser beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising: means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with desired spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; means for storing the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; means for sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; means for using the sensed position, the known locations, the desired spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising: means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with desired spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means using desired positioner information to a plurality of locations near said working surface; means for storing the positioner information used to direct the reaction means; means for sensing the plurality of locations to which the reaction means is directed; means for using the sensed position, the known locations, the desired spatial relationships and the recorded positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for using comprises: means for determining that the sensed positions are substantially coincident with the known locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising: means for determining a centroid of the intensity of the reaction means; correlating the positioner information with the centroid of the intensity distribution to determine best positioner information; using the best positioner information to calibrate and normalize the apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of known locations are located at the working surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a substantial number of the plurality of known locations are temporarily located within the working region of the apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for using comprises: means for using said recorded positioner information, said known spatial relationships, and desired cross-sectional spatial relationships of the three-dimensional object to transform data representing the desired cross-sectional spatial relationships of the three-dimensional object to positioning information necessary to accurately position the reaction means on the working surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein means for directing comprises rotational scanning mirrors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the medium is a photopolymer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the reaction means is a laser beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the laser beam is a UV laser beam.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of: defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for calibrating and normalizing an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selective physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to transform successive laminae forming the object, the improvement comprising the steps of: defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
213 words
In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising: means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; means for sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; means for causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; means for receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; means for using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
213 words
In a machine for the production of a three-dimensional object from a medium capable of selected physical transformation when exposed to a reaction means operating in a prescribed manner upon a designated working surface of the medium defining a working region of the machine to form successive laminae forming the object, the improvement of an apparatus for calibrating and normalizing the machine prior to operation of the machine to make the three-dimensional object, comprising: means for defining a number of known locations near the working surface with known spatial relationships between each location; means for directing the reaction means to a plurality of desired locations near said working surface using desired positioner information; means for sensing the locations where the reaction means is directed; means for causing said plurality of known locations and said desired locations to be substantially coincident; means for receiving data representing a cross-section of the three-dimensional object to be formed wherein the data represents desired spatial relationships between a plurality of points to be solidified; means for using said known spatial relationships and said desired positioner information to map the data which represents desired spatial relationships between the plurality of points to be exposed to derive necessary positioner information to accurately position the reaction means onto the working surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-26 | 1999-08-28 | 2000-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-26 | 2003-08-28 | 2004-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-26 | 2007-08-28 | 2008-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |