Generating a three-dimensional object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339636-A1
Application number	US-201415112132-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2014
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to one aspect there is provided apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object. The apparatus comprises a first agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of a layer of build material, a second agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent onto portions of a layer of build material, and a controller to control the agent distributors to selectively deliver each of the agents onto a layer of build material in respective patterns derived from data representing a slice of a three-dimensional object to be generated, so that when energy is applied to the layer the build material coalesces and solidifies to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance the patterns.

First claim

1 . Apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
a first agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of a layer of build material; a second agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent onto portions of a layer of build material; and a controller to control the agent distributors to selectively deliver each of the agents onto a layer of build material in respective patterns derived from data representing a slice of a three-dimensional object to be generated, so that when energy is applied to the layer the build material coalesces and solidifies to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance with the patterns.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is to generate a three-dimensional object having object properties that are related to the patterns in which coalescing agent and coalescence modifier agent are delivered to build material.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a build material distributor to provide a first layer of build material on a build material support, and to provide subsequent layers of build material on a previously provided layer of build material.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first and second agent distributors have a length to enable them to span the support and wherein at least one of the support and the distributors are moveable relative to the other to enable coalescing agent and coalescence modifier agent to be selectively deliverable to the surface of any portion of the layer of build material.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first agent distributor is a first printhead, and wherein the second agent distributor is a second, different, printhead.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first agent distributor comprises a first array of nozzles of a printhead, and wherein the second agent distributor comprises a second array of nozzles of the printhead.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to control the agent distributors to selectively deliver the agents onto the surface of the layer of build material in accordance with control data derived from a combination of data representing a slice of a three-dimensional object to be generated and data representing at least one desired object property of at least one portion of the three-dimensional object to be generated.

8 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the build material distributor is to provide a layer of build material having a layer thickness in the range of about 90 to 110 microns, and wherein the agent distributors are to provide drops of agent of about 10 Pico litres per drop.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third agent distributor to selectively deliver a second coalescing agent onto a layer of build material and/or a fourth agent distributor to selectively deliver a second coalescence modifier agent onto a layer of build material.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to generate control data from data representing a three-dimensional object and object property data.

11 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a carriage movable bi-directionally across the support on which are mounted, or on which are mountable, a pair of first agent distributors to selectively deliver a coalescing agent, a pair of second agent distributors to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent, and a build material distributor, the agent distributors and the build material distributor being arranged to allow delivery of build material, coalescing agent, and coalescence modifier agent whilst the carriage is moving in either direction.

12 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a carriage movable bi-directionally across the support on which are mounted, or on which are mountable, the first agent distributor to selectively deliver coalescing agent, the second agent distributor to selectively deliver coalescence modifier agent, and a pair of build material distributors, the agent distributors and the build material distributor being arranged to allow delivery of build material, the coalescing agent, and the coalescence modifier agent whilst the carriage is moving in either direction.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an unfocused energy source to apply energy to build material to cause a portion of the build material to coalescence and to solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object in accordance with where coalescing agent and coalescence modifier agent was delivered.

14 . A method of controlling a system to generate a three-dimensional object, comprising:
obtaining control data, the control data derived from data representing a portion of a three-dimensional object to be generated; depositing a layer of build material; selectively depositing on the layer of deposited build material, in accordance with the obtained control data, a coalescing agent and a coalescence modifier agent; and applying energy to deposited build material to cause portions of the build material to coalesce and to solidify to form a portion of the three-dimensional object in accordance with where coalescing agent and coalescence modifier agent were deposited.

15 . Apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
an interface to receive a first removably insertable agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent to a first set of selectable portions on a layer of build material; an interface to receive a second removably insertable agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescence modifier agent to a second set of selectable portions on a layer of provided build material; and a controller to:
control the agent distributors, when inserted in their respective interfaces, to selectively deliver the agents onto successive layers of build material at locations determined by control data derived from data representing a portion of a three-dimensional object to be generated; and
control an energy source to apply energy to build material to cause a portion of the build material to coalesce and to solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object according to the where coalescing agent and coalescence modifier agent are delivered.

Assignees

• De Pena Alejandro Manuel
• Comas Cespedes Esteve
• Baldez Luis
• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• De Pena Alejandro Manuel
• Comas Cespedes Esteve
• Baldez Luis

Classifications

• B29C64/393 Primary

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29K2105/251

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

• B33Y30/00

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

• G01N21/57

  Measuring gloss · CPC title

• G01J5/0003

  for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter · CPC title