US6600965B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for production of high resolution three-dimensional objects by stereolithography
Assignee: 3D Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1999-01-26
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Granted: 2003-07-29
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Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Hull
- 👤 Stuart T. Spence
- 👤 David J. Albert
- 👤 Dennis R. Smalley
- 👤 Richard A. Harlow
- 👤 Phil Stinebaugh
- 👤 Harry L. Tarnoff
- 👤 Hop D. Nguyen
- 👤 Charles W. Lewis
- 👤 Tom J. Vorgitch
- 👤 David Z. Remba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/20; B; B29; B29C; B29C64/00; B29C64/10; B29C64/106; B29C64/124; B29C64/129; B29C64/135; B29C64/20; B29C64/30; B29C64/386; B29C64/40; B33; B33Y; B33Y10/00; B33Y30/00; B33Y50/00; B33Y50/02; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4257; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0037; G03F7/70; G03F7/70416; G06T17/10; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0072; B29K2995/0073; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of skin; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of skin; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data specifying the generation of skin includes data specifying generation of flat skin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data specifying the generation of skin includes data specifying generation of near-flat skin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data specifying the generation of skin includes data specifying generation of up-facing skin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data specifying the generation of skin includes data specifying generation of down-facing skin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the data specifying the generation of skin includes data specifying generation of up-facing and down-facing skin.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of cross-hatch; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of cross-hatch; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying ordering of vector blocks; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying ordering of vector blocks; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data adjusted to compensate for a desired amount of scaling; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data adjusted to compensate for a desired amount of scaling; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a fill parameter; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a fill parameter; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a layer boundary; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the method comprising: manipulating coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a layer boundary; and forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein the data specifying the generation of a layer boundary further includes data specifying the generation of multiple boundaries.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data adjusted to compensate for a desired amount of scaling; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data adjusted to compensate for a desired amount of scaling; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a fill parameter; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a fill parameter; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a layer boundary; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus for forming a desired layer of a three-dimensional object, the object comprising a plurality of adhered laminae of a solidifiable medium, the apparatus comprising: a computer configured to manipulate coordinate data representing the three-dimensional object to provide modified coordinate data representing a desired layer of the three-dimensional object, the modified coordinate data including data specifying generation of a layer boundary; and stimulation means for forming the desired layer of the three-dimensional object from the solidifiable medium in accordance with the modified coordinate data.
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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) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |