Reservoir assembly for enhancing a surface finish of a 3D-printed object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12583180-B2
Application number	US-202418642156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2024
Priority date	Feb 21, 2019
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system and reservoir assembly for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The reservoir assembly includes a top frame that may be filled with liquid material, and a tensioned film being held underneath the top frame. The tensioned film may be air permeable and flexible, wherein surfaces of the tensioned film may be micro textured. A bottom frame is coupled to the top frame and secures a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate. In exemplary embodiments, one or more filters may be positioned below the tensioned film. The one or more filters may employ a texture that is adapted to control blurring of a projected image during a printing process in order to enhance a surface finish of a 3D-printed object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A reservoir assembly for use with a three-dimensional (3D) printer for printing a 3D object, comprising:
a frame defining a cavity adapted to be at least partially filled with a photosensitive liquid; a first layer comprising a film adapted to be configured with a lower portion of the cavity to hold the photosensitive liquid within the cavity, and adapted to align with a second layer configured below the first layer, the second layer optionally external to or integral with the reservoir assembly; and a third layer comprising a semi-transparent substrate adapted to enhance a surface finish of a 3D-printed object held without an adhesive between the first layer and the second layer.

2 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semi-transparent substrate is configured so that an increased predefined texture reduces details of the image and increases the surface finish.

3 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semi-transparent substrate is configured so that a decreased predefined texture of the one or more filters sharpens details of the image and decreases the surface finish.

4 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semi-transparent substrate includes one or more filters that have predefined thickness adapted to control a degree of blurring effect of the projected image during the printing process.

5 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semi-transparent substrate comprise of a textured bottom surface of the film.

6 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the semi-transparent substrate is removable.

7 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the film is attached directly to a portion of the frame.

8 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the semi-transparent substrate is attached directly to a portion of the frame.

9 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the film is a permeable film.

10 . The reservoir assembly of claim 1 , wherein the projected image is projected by an LCD projection lens or a DLP projection lens coupled to the frame.

Assignees

• Sprintray Inc

Inventors

• Mansouri Amir
• Tian Huijian
• Bassir Hossein
• Zhang Jing
• Ye Shukun

Classifications

• B29C64/264

  Arrangements for irradiation · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B29C64/129

  characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask · CPC title

• B29C64/245

  Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) · CPC title

• B29C64/255 Primary

  Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers · CPC title