Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography

US4999143A · kind A · utility

122Cited by
4References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 1988
Grant dateMar 12, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/49039
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

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 tailored to provide built-in supports for the object, reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction, 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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.