Patent ID: 11969950
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus for three-dimensional (3D) printing of an object, the apparatus comprising:
a computing device component configured to receive 3D image data from a 3D scan of an object;
a light-emitting robot having a fluid dynamic shape and constructed, at least in part, with ferrous metal capable of being directed by a magnetic field and material capable of reflecting light or sound waves, wherein the light-emitting robot includes a light source of a wavelength capable of solidifying a photosensitive material, and the light-emitting robot including a power source and control for activating the light source;
a container of a size and shape to contain the photosensitive material;
an array of magnetic field generating devices positioned around the container such that one or more of the magnetic devices are activated navigate the light-emitting robot throughout the photosensitive material;
a controller configured to receive 3D image data from scanning of an object and transpose the 3D image data into an aggregate of pixelated layers, wherein the controller receives position data of the light-emitting robot within the photosensitive material, and activates the array of magnetic field generating devices to navigate the light-emitting robot through the photosensitive material, based on the pixelated layers of the 3D image data, and wherein the controller activates the light source by wireless communication to solidify the photosensitive material corresponding to the pixelated data layers of the 3D image data from the scanning of the object; and
a monitoring device detecting the relative position of the light-emitting robot within the photosensitive material by sensing reflective waves on three axis and sending the relative position to the controller as feedback for navigation.