Generating a three-dimensional object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016151973-A1
Application number	US-201414787692-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one example, there is provided apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object. The apparatus comprises a build material distributor movable bi-directionally in a first axis to deposit successive layers of a build material on a support, and an agent distributor movable bi-directionally in a second axis different to the first axis to deliver an agent onto selected portions of successive layers of build material.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
a first carriage movable bi-directionally along a first axis; a build material distributor mounted on the first carriage movable bi-directionally in a first axis to deposit successive layers of a build material on a support; a second carriage movable bi-directionally along a second axis different to the first axis; an agent distributor coupled to the second carriage movable in a second axis different to the first axis to deliver an agent onto selected portions of the successive layers of build material; and an energy source mounted on the first carriage at either side of the build material distributor, such that as the first carriage is moved along the first axis the energy source is controllable to apply energy to build material on which agent has been deposited whilst the build material distributor is controllable to deposit a new layer of build material.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the agent distributor is to deliver an agent to cause build material on which it is delivered to form a portion of the three-dimensional object.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second parking zones adjacent to opposite edges of the support along the first axis at which the build material distributor may be parked without hindering movement of the agent distributor along the second axis.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising third and fourth parking zones adjacent to opposite edges of the support along the second axis at which the agent distributor may be parked without hindering movement of the build material distributor along the first axis.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the agent distributor is a printhead, and further comprising an agent distributor service element to enable a servicing operation to be performed on the agent distributor whilst the agent distributor is parked in the third or fourth parking zone.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller to control the a build material distributor and the agent distributor to generate successive layers of a three-dimensional object in accordance with data defining slices of the three-dimensional object to be generated.

10 . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
a build material distributor movable bi-directionally in a first axis to deposit successive layers of a build material on a support; a removably insertable agent distributor movable bi-directionally in a second axis orthogonal to the first axis to deliver an agent onto selected portions of successive layers of build material; a first energy source disposed on a first side of the build material distributor; a second energy source disposed on a second side of the build material distributor; and a controller to control the build material distributor, and the agent distributor, the first energy source, and the second energy source to solidify portions of successive layers of build material in accordance with data defining slices of a three-dimensional object to be generated.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a carriage movable along the first axis on which is mounted or is mountable the build material distributor, and on which is mounted or is mountable a the first energy source adjacent to a first side of the build material distributor and the second energy source adjacent to a second side of the build material distributor.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the controller is to control the carriage to move along the first axis in a first direction, to control the first or second energy source in a leading position energy source in the direction of travel to apply energy to a layer of build material, and to control the build material distributor to deposit a new layer of build material atop the layer of build material to which energy has been applied.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the agent distributor is to deliver an agent to cause build material on which it is delivered to form a portion of the three-dimensional object upon the application of energy from the energy source.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the agent distributor is a printhead, and further comprising an agent distributor service element to enable a servicing operation to be performed on the agent distributor whilst the agent distributor is parked in a parking zone.

15 . (canceled)

16 . A method for generating a three-dimensional object comprising:
controlling a build material distributor to deposit a first layer of build material whilst moving in a first direction along the first axis; controlling an agent distributor to deliver agent to selected portions of the deposited first layer of build material whilst moving in a second direction along a second axis; controlling the build material distributor to deposit a second layer of build material whilst moving in a direction opposite to the first direction; and controlling the energy source to apply energy to the deposited first layer of build material whilst the build material distributor deposits the second layer of build material.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling the agent distributor to deliver agent to selected portions of the deposited second layer of build material whilst moving in a direction opposite to the second direction.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein controlling the energy source comprises controlling the first energy source to apply energy to the deposited first layer of build material on a side of the build material distributor at a leading position whilst the build material distributor in moving in the second direction.

Assignees

• Juan Jover Fernando
• De Pena Alejandro Manuel
• Comas Cespedes Esteve
• Edward Dale Davis
• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Juan Jover Fernando
• De Pena Alejandro Manuel
• Comas Cespedes Esteve
• Davis Edward Dale

Classifications

• B29C64/40

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

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29K2105/0058

  Liquid or visquous · CPC title

• B29K2105/251

  Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046) · CPC title