Source: http://www.google.fr/patents/US6325961
Timestamp: 2013-05-21 22:16:54
Document Index: 269085744

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 08', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09']

Brevet US6325961 - Stereolithographic method and apparatus with enhanced control of prescribed ... - Google�BrevetsRecherche Images Maps Play YouTube Actualit�s Gmail Drive Plus » Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets | Historique Web | Connexion Recherche avanc�e dans les brevets BrevetsA rapid prototyping and manufacturing (e.g. stereolithography) method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects by selectively subjecting a liquid or other fluid-like material to a beam of prescribed stimulation. In a preferred embodiment a source of prescribed stimulation is controlled to...http://www.google.fr/patents/US6325961?utm_source=gb-gplus-shareBrevet US6325961 - Stereolithographic method and apparatus with enhanced control of prescribed stimulation and application Num�ro de publicationUS6325961 B1Type de publicationOctroi Num�ro de demande09/246,502 Date de publication4 d�c. 2001 Date de d�p�t8 f�vr. 1999 Date de priorit�8 f�vr. 1999Autre r�f�rence de publicationEP1033229A2EP1033229A3EP1033229B1 InventeursRoss D. BeersJouni P. PartanenNansheng Tang Cessionnaire d'origine3D Systems, Inc. Classification aux �tats-Unis264/401425/174.4700/120700/119425/135264/497425/375 Classification internationaleB29C67/00B29C35/08 Classification coop�rativeB29C2035/0838B29K2995/0073B29C67/0092B29K2105/243 Classification europ�enneB29C67/00R8DR�f�rencesCitations de brevets (42)Citations hors brevets (15) R�f�renc� par (15)Liens externesUSPTO Cession USPTO EspacenetStereolithographic method and apparatus with enhanced control of prescribed stimulation and applicationUS 6325961 B1 R�sum� A rapid prototyping and manufacturing (e.g. stereolithography) method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects by selectively subjecting a liquid or other fluid-like material to a beam of prescribed stimulation. In a preferred embodiment a source of prescribed stimulation is controlled to reduce or inhibit the production of the prescribed stimulation during at least some periods when the prescribed stimulation is not needed to expose the material. In another preferred embodiment, the source of stimulation is controlled to vary the quantity of prescribed stimulation that is produced and allowed to reach the material. In an additional preferred embodiment control of laser output occurs based on a combination of supplying a regulated amount of voltage to an AOM in conjunction with temporary sensing of laser power and a known desired power to attain. In a further preferred embodiment, a quantity of prescribed stimulation may be set by consideration of desired solidification depths to be used, beam profile characteristics, material properties, and scanning speed limitations for different data types. In a still further preferred embodiment, a transition between selected consecutive exposure vectors is performed by scanning one or more interposed non-exposure vectors with the beam inhibited from reaching the building material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to improve vector exposure efficiency in a stereolithographic system.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1a and 1 b depict schematic representations of a preferred stereolithography apparatus 1 (SLA) for use with the instant invention. The basic components of an SLA are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,575,330; 5,184,307; and 5,182,715 as referenced above. The preferred SLA includes container 3 for holding building material 5 (e.g. photopolymer) from which object 15 will be formed, elevator 7 and driving means (not shown), elevator platform 9, exposure system 11, recoating bar 13 and driving means (not shown), at least one computer (not shown) for manipulating object data (as needed) and for controlling the exposure system, elevator, and recoating device.
First Preferred Embodiment FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart for a first preferred embodiment. This embodiment calls for reducing the production of synergistic stimulation during periods of time when the beam is not needed. In this embodiment it is preferred that the beam is not merely inhibited from reaching the surface of the building material, but that the production of the stimulation is reduced, and more preferably ceased, during these periods.
Second Preferred Embodiment This embodiment provides a technique for effectively controlling vector exposure especially when high scan speeds are utilized. This technique links selected exposure vectors (i.e. vectors that are intended to expose building material) with one or more non-exposure vectors (i.e. vectors that are used to redirect the beam scanning direction and speed without significantly exposing the building material) so it is ensured that at the beginning of an exposure vector the scanning speed and direction of movement are appropriate for the vector to be traced. Likewise, at the end of an exposure vector it is ensured that the scanning speed remains appropriate for the vector.
(SXi−N3−N4*N2)/N2 or (SYi−N3−N4*N2)/N2. The length of the ramp vector may be determined from the derived timing and the acceleration value N2 being used.
(SXi+1−N3)/N2, or (SYi+1−N3)/N2. The length of the ramp vector may be determined from the derived timing and the acceleration value N2 being used.
Third Preferred Embodiment The third preferred embodiment provides a technique for adjusting the power of the prescribed stimulation. Element 500 calls for setting a process control variable �i� equal to one. Element 502 calls for determining a desired laser power DLP based on desired exposure for each of the vectors making up an �i�th vector set VS(i). The vector set may be made up of various vectors. For example, VS may include all vectors of a single type on a given cross-section. VS may include all vectors of all types on a single cross-section or on a plurality of cross-sections. The individual vectors in VS may be given different exposures but a common laser power is used in drawing with the vectors.
ALP−DLP=ΔLP Element 508 calls for determining whether the difference in laser power is within a desired tolerance band δLP,
ΔLP<δLP If a positive result is issued by the analysis of element 508, the process proceeds to Element 510 which calls for the use of the beam to expose VS (i) as no change in laser power is necessary. Element 512 calls for application of a correction factor to the power based on the difference in power ΔLP. The process then proceeds to step 514 which calls for exposing VS(i) with the corrected beam.
The Fourth Embodiment This embodiment provides a technique for changing laser power based on an estimation of whether or not the change will produce a desired minimum saving in exposure time. Instead of basing changes in laser power strictly on whether or not the power level does not match a desired power level. The value of changing power is ascertained by comparing the difference in scanning time to a value based parameter. If the value of changing power is less than that required by the value based parameter, the beam power will remain unchanged.
ALP−HLP=ΔLP Element 614 inquires as to whether or not the difference in laser power is greater than zero plus a tolerance a laser power tolerance value. This may be expressed as
ΔLP>=0+δLP? If the response to the inquiry of element 614 is �yes�, the process proceeds to Element 616 where the laser power is lowered from the ALP to HLP. Once the laser power is reset the process exposes the VS(I) using the HLP (Element 618)
ETA(I)−ETH(I)=ΔET Element 626 inquires as to whether or not the difference in exposure time is above a preset value. The preset value provides an indication of how much time must be saved in order to warrant a changing the laser power. This inquiry may be expressed as,
IsΔET>δET? If the inquiry produces a negative response, exposure occurs using the actual laser power (Element 628). If the inquiry produces a positive response, the laser power is increased to the highest useable power (Element 630). Whereafter after Element 632 calls for exposing the vector set VS(i) using the highest usable laser power HLP.
The Fifth Embodiment A fifth embodiment of the invention provides another technique for setting beam power based on consideration of a number of parameters. This embodiment uses a beam consisting of a series of pulses with a pulse repetition rate and a beam diameter (the diameter being the cross-sectional dimension of the beam at the working surface of the building material).
Top Speed=Q*B*(1−OL) Where Q is the pulse repetition rate in Hz, B is the beam diameter at the working surface in inches or mm, and OL is the minimum overlap criteria. The result of the computation is scanning speed in inches/second or mm/second. Overlap criteria may be empirically determined by building test objects with different overlap amounts and determining which overlap amounts produce objects with sufficient integrity, or other build property or builds properties. Minimum overlap amounts on the order of 40% -60% of beam diameter have been found to be effective.
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