Patent ID: 8298472

Claim:
A system, comprising: a stereo-lithography device having a primary fluid vessel having an amount of a photo-curable fluid therein; a leveling reservoir fluidly coupled to the primary fluid vessel, wherein a fluid level in the leveling reservoir is vertically positionable; and a controller structured to maintain a pre-determined level of the photo-curable fluid in the primary fluid vessel by vertically positioning the fluid level in the leveling reservoirs; a replenishment reservoir selectively fluidly coupled with the primary fluid vessel, wherein the controller is further structured to transfer fluid between the replenishment reservoir and the primary fluid vessel; and wherein the leveling reservoir is vertically moveable, and wherein the leveling reservoir is moved to a default position prior to an operation of the stereo-lithography device to manufacture a layer of a component, and wherein the replenishment reservoir is moved such that a level of the photo-curable fluid in the primary fluid vessel is at the pre-determined level prior to the operation of the stereo-lithography device to manufacture the layer of the component.