Patent · US Active

Method and device for producing a three-dimensional object, and computer and data carrier useful therefor

US7831328B2 · kind B2 · utility

74Cited by
71References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 2008
Grant dateNov 9, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB33Y50/00
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels), The method comprises performing solidification with exposure using bitmap mask. The bitmap mask may be formed from a stack of bitmap data provided by an overlap analysis of a three-dimensional volume completely or partially enclosing a three-dimensional model of at least a part of the three-dimensional object to be produced. Alternatively, bitmap mask may be formed from a two-dimensional data set comprising overlap information. Solidification may be performing with exposure using bitmap mask generated “on the fly”. The invention is also directed to devices, and a computer and a data carrier useful for performing or executing the method.

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