Methods and systems for integrating fluid dispensing technology with stereolithography

US7658603B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System · US
• Sandia Corporation, Operator of Sandia National Laboratories · US

Inventors

• Francisco Medina · El Paso, US
• Ryan Wicker · El Paso, US
• Jeremy A. Palmer · Midland, AU
• Don W. Davis · Bainbridge Island, US
• Bart D. Chavez · Albuquerque, US
• Phillip L. Gallegos · Albuquerque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2005
• Grant date: Feb 9, 2010
• Expiry date: Feb 3, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B33Y70/00
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An integrated system and method of integrating fluid dispensing technologies (e.g., direct-write (DW)) with rapid prototyping (RP) technologies (e.g., stereolithography (SL)) without part registration comprising: an SL apparatus and a fluid dispensing apparatus further comprising a translation mechanism adapted to translate the fluid dispensing apparatus along the Z-, Y- and Z-axes. The fluid dispensing apparatus comprises: a pressurized fluid container; a valve mechanism adapted to control the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid container; and a dispensing nozzle adapted to deposit the fluid in a desired location. To aid in calibration, the integrated system includes a laser sensor and a mechanical switch. The method further comprises building a second part layer on top of the fluid deposits and optionally accommodating multi-layered circuitry by incorporating a connector trace. Thus, the present invention is capable of efficiently building single and multi-material SL fabricated parts embedded with complex three-dimensional circuitry using DW.