Patent ID: 11878467
Assignee: FORMLABS, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. An additive fabrication device configured to form layers of solid material on a build platform, each layer of the solid material being formed so as to contact a container in addition to the surface of the build platform and/or a previously formed layer of material, the additive fabrication device comprising:
a container having a base that comprises an upper flexible film and a lower flexible film, wherein the upper and lower flexible films are suspended over an opening and at least part of the upper and lower flexible films are arranged to sag below a build plane; and
a movable stage arranged beneath the container and configured to move laterally beneath the container along a first axis, and comprising:
an energy source configured to direct actinic radiation upwards and through the upper and lower flexible films of the container at selected positions along a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis; and
first and second members arranged on either side of the movable stage, wherein the actinic radiation from the energy source is arranged to be emitted between the first and second members,
wherein the first and second members extend above the energy source, and
wherein the first and second members are configured to push the upper and lower flexible films upwards to produce a flat region of at least the upper flexible film at the build plane between the first and second members during said movement of the movable stage.