System and method for rapid fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional objects
US8479795B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1749
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A three-dimensional object fabrication apparatus is disclosed. A housing encloses a work area having at least two distinct zones including a fabrication zone and an assembly zone. Digital data defining geometry for a three-dimensional object to be fabricated is passed via an interface to a processor within the housing. A fabrication mechanism in the fabrication zone to fabricates sub-elements where each sub-element corresponds to a portion of the object substantially consistent with the digital data. An assembly mechanism in the assembly zone joins the sub-elements in relative alignment to form the object defined by the geometry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.