Patent ID: 6136132
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B29C,B32B,B33Y,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of constructing a three-dimensional object having a predetermined shape, the method comprising the steps of:a. providing a block of supply material,b. providing a lamination means for holding and pressing the block,c. providing a slicing means for cutting the block to form a horizontal layer having a first working surface and a cut block having a second working surface,d. providing a profiling means for profiling at least one of the working surfaces into a planar element,e. providing an installation means for providing a temporary support to a portion, or portions, of the planar elementf. providing an electronic means for receiving XYZ information corresponding to the shape of the object, for processing the XYZ information into a plurality of computerized cross-sectional representations of the shape, and for controlling the operation of said lamination means, said slicing means, said profiling means, and said installation means,g. providing the electronic means with the XYZ information,h. placing the block in a position for holding by the lamination means,i. slicing the block using the slicing means to provide the horizontal layer having the first working surface and the cut block having the second working surface, the layer and the cut block each held by the lamination means,j. profiling at least one of the working surfaces using the profiling means to form the planar element having a shape corresponding to said computerized cross-section representation at that slicing level,k. pressing the second working surface of the block in step j against the layer of step j using the lamination means, installing the temporary support for said portion or portions of the planar element of step j, and thenl. repeating said steps i, j and k until the object is formed.