Patent ID: 8123999
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method for making a three-dimensional object comprising the steps of: providing an object built from a modeling material using a fused deposition modeling technique, wherein the modeling material comprises a thermoplastic resin, wherein the built object has an object surface formed of the modeling material, the object surface having at least one surface effect due to the fused deposition modeling technique that extends substantially across an entirety of the object surface, wherein the at least one surface effect comprises a stair step effect, striation, or a combination thereof, and wherein the object exhibits porosity due to the fused deposition modeling technique; placing the object in a vessel; exposing substantially the entire object surface to vapors of a solvent that transiently softens the modeling material at the object surface while the object resides in the vessel in a solvent vapor zone present below cooling elements in the vessel; reflowing the softened modeling material to reduce the at least one surface effect and to reduce the porosity of the object at the object surface; observing condensation of the solvent vapors on the object surface while reflowing the softened modeling material; discontinuing the exposure of the object surface to the solvent vapors after the condensation of the solvent vapors stops; and drying the object after discontinuing the exposure, wherein the object surface of the dried object is substantially free of the at least one surface effect and is substantially free of the porosity.