An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material, comprising: a solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b); and a linear scanning device in optical communication with the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b); characterized by the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) being moveable in a first direction and operable to selectively project solidification energy in a second direction onto the linear scanning device as it moves in the first direction; a solidification energy sensor in optical communication with the linear scanning device that is positioned such that the solidification energy sensor can receive deflected energy from the linear scanning device; and a linear solidification microcontroller connected to the solidification energy sensor (90; 90a; 90b) and programmed to initialize a timer upon receipt of a signal from the solidification energy sensor; wherein the linear scanning device is spaced apart from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) and the linear scanning device is spaced from solidification energy sensor, wherein the linear scanning device is operable to scan solidification energy received from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) in a plurality of linear patterns along a source of the solidifiable material while the linear scanning device moves in the first direction, each linear pattern has a length along the second direction, and the solidification energy sensor is operable to receive solidification energy from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) each time the linear scanning device scans a linear pattern of solidification energy along the source of the solidifiable material. a solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b); and a linear scanning device in optical communication with the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b); characterized by the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) being moveable in a first direction and operable to selectively project solidification energy in a second direction onto the linear scanning device as it moves in the first direction; a solidification energy sensor in optical communication with the linear scanning device that is positioned such that the solidification energy sensor can receive deflected energy from the linear scanning device; and a linear solidification microcontroller connected to the solidification energy sensor (90; 90a; 90b) and programmed to initialize a timer upon receipt of a signal from the solidification energy sensor; wherein the linear scanning device is spaced apart from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) and the linear scanning device is spaced from solidification energy sensor, wherein the linear scanning device is operable to scan solidification energy received from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) in a plurality of linear patterns along a source of the solidifiable material while the linear scanning device moves in the first direction, each linear pattern has a length along the second direction, and the solidification energy sensor is operable to receive solidification energy from the solidification energy source (90; 90a; 90b) each time the linear scanning device scans a linear pattern of solidification energy along the source of the solidifiable material.