Patent ID: 6622062
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y,G06T

Abstract:
A method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae by exposing successive layers of a medium to a beam of prescribed stimulation, comprising:providing data representing a three-dimensional object; manipulating the data to form modified object data for forming the three-dimensional object, including offsetting data associated with at least some boundaries, to at least partially account for the width of solidification induced by the beam, by moving vertices of adjoining segments that form the boundaries inward by an amount dictated by a combination of (1) an angle formed by pairs of adjoining segments, and (2) a variable offset criteria that is based on at least three ranges of angles or is based on a variable offset criteria for at least one range of angles and two constant offset criteria for at least three ranges of angles; forming a layer of material adjacent to any last formed layer of material in preparation for forming a subsequent lamina of the object; exposing the material to the beam of prescribed stimulation to form a successive lamina of the object; and repeating the acts of forming and exposing a plurality of times in order to from the object from a plurality of adhered laminae.