Patent ID: 8540501

Claim:
A three-dimensional stereolithography apparatus, comprising: a stage; a film; a support mechanism operable to support the film so that the film is opposed to the stage; a pressing mechanism having a lens disposed at least partially in the pressing mechanism, the pressing mechanism operable to press at least a linear area of the film supported by the support mechanism so that the linear area that is opposed to and closest to the stage is formed in the film, the linear area being formed in a first direction; a supply mechanism operable to supply a light-curing material into a slit area formed between the stage and the linear area of the film; an irradiation unit operable irradiate the light-curing material supplied into the slit area by the supply mechanism with laser light through the pressing mechanism and the film; a movement mechanism operable (i) to move the stage and the pressing mechanism relatively to the film in a second direction, and (ii) to form one cured layer of the light-curing material, the second direction being different from the first direction; and a control mechanism operable (i) to control a distance between the stage and the linear area of the film, and (ii) to stack the cured layer of the light-curing material.