Method and apparatus for molding three-dimensional object and molding data generation method for three-dimensional object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016075084-A1
Application number	US-201514840669-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Mar 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for molding a three-dimensional object, includes building up layers formed of bonded powder to form a three-dimensional object; and forming a support below the three-dimensional object. The method is performed by a three-dimensional object molding apparatus that includes a powder lamination molding apparatus to form a three-dimensional object by building up layers formed of bonded powder; and a molding data generator to generate data for each layer of the three-dimensional object that the powder lamination molding apparatus laminates, in which a support is formed below the three-dimensional object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for molding a three-dimensional object, comprising:
building up layers formed of bonded powder to form a three-dimensional object; and forming a support below the three-dimensional object.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising providing unsolidified powder between the three-dimensional object and the support.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support has the same external shape as that of the three-dimensional object as projected onto the support.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support has a size larger than that of the three-dimensional object as projected onto the support.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising setting a molding condition for molding the support different from a molding condition for molding the three-dimensional object.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:
discharging liquid droplets of a molding liquid to the powder; and forming a layer in which the powder is bonded, while using the liquid droplet for molding the support, other than the liquid droplet for molding the three-dimensional object.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support is molded and dried before forming the layer of the three-dimensional object.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support is a plate.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support is a tray.

10 . A three-dimensional object molding apparatus comprising:
a powder lamination molding apparatus to form a three-dimensional object by building up layers formed of bonded powder; and a molding data generator to generate data for each layer of the three-dimensional object that the powder lamination molding apparatus builds up, wherein a support is formed below the three-dimensional object.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a computer to:
generate data for molding each layer of a three-dimensional object, wherein the three-dimensional object is formed by building up layers formed of bonded powder; and generate data for molding a support below the three-dimensional object, other than the data for molding each layer of the three-dimensional object.

Assignees

• Sakura Shozo
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sakura Shozo

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C67/0081 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B29C64/165 Primary

  using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title