Patent ID: 6406658
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B29C,B29K,B33Y

Abstract:
A method of forming a three-dimensional object from a plurality of adhered laminae by exposing successive layers of a material to a beam of prescribed stimulation, comprising:providing data representing a three-dimensional object; providing a first beam of prescribed stimulation having a first dimension; providing a second beam of prescribed stimulation having a second dimension that is larger than the first dimension, the first beam aid second beam being produced by the same laser light source and having an aspect ratio of between approximately 0.9 and 1.1; manipulating the data to form modified object data for forming the three-dimensional object, the modified data including data indicative of cross-sectional portions to be formed using the beam having the second dimension and indicative of cross-sectional portions to be formed using the beam having the first dimension; 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 first beam and/or the second beam in accordance with the modified data to form a successive lamina of the object; and repeating the acts of forming and exposing a plurality of times in order to form the object from a plurality of adhered laminae.