Patent ID: 8801418
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: B29C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying multiple solidifiable materials, comprising: a first solidifiable material source comprising a first container having a transparent bottom and containing the first solidifiable material; a pattern generator selected from a digital light projector and a linear solidification device; a second solidifiable material source comprising a second container having a transparent bottom and containing the second solidifiable material, wherein the second solidifiable material source is spaced apart from the first solidifiable material source in a first direction defining a first axis and the second solidifiable material is different from the first solidifiable material; and a build platform movable along a second direction defining a second axis, wherein the build platform and the pattern generator are fixed relative to one another along the first axis, thereby maintaining a fixed registration between the build platform and the pattern generator along the first axis, the first and second containers are translatable along the first axis relative to the build platform such that a select one of the first and second containers is alignable with the pattern generator along the first axis at a given time, and during an object solidification operation, the pattern generator projects solidification energy through at least one of the first container transparent bottom and the second container transparent bottom.