Patent ID: 6558606
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B29C,B33Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of forming a three-dimensional object using stereolithography to stimulate a liquid medium to selectively change state to a solid to form the three-dimensional object comprising:(a) retaining in a container a liquid state medium capable of transformation to a solid state upon the selective application of energy to stimulate a change of state; (b) receiving a data description of an object to be formed; (c) manipulating the received data to optimize the data for use in selectively applying energy to stimulate the change of state of the liquid medium to form an object; and (d) selectively applying the energy to the liquid medium in the container to form the three-dimensional object layer by layer, the object having support structure with an intermediate region connecting interfacing regions, the support structure contacting the object at at least a down-facing interfacing region, the support structure selectively having different energy levels applied to it at at least the down-facing interfacing region than do the intermediate region and the object to thereby create weak points with less solidification in the solid state transformed liquid medium than the intermediate region and the three-dimensional object at at least the down-facing interfacing regions to facilitate ease of removal of the support structure from a completed three-dimensional object.