Photo-sodification modeling apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016361871-A1
Application number	US-201514883037-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A photo-sodification modeling apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: a container, a holding plate, a lifting mechanism, a light source module, and a control unit. The container provides an accommodation space for accommodating a light-curable material, and includes: a base plate and a wall structure. The base plate is transparent or translucent. The wall structure is disposed around the base plate. The lifting mechanism is used for moving the holding plate. The light source module is disposed under the container. During formation of a solidified layer of a three-dimensional object, the base plate provides an electric or magnetic field so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on a surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A photo-sodification modeling apparatus comprising:
a container, for accommodating a light-curable material, the container including:
a base plate, which is transparent or translucent, for providing an electric or magnetic field; and
a wall structure, disposed around the base plate;
a holding plate; a lifting mechanism for moving the holding plate; a light source module disposed under the container, for irradiating the light-curable material to form a solidified layer on the holding plate; and a control unit for controlling the light source module and the lifting mechanism; wherein the electric or magnetic field is provided by the base plate, during formation of the solidified layer, so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on a surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

2 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the photo-sodification modeling apparatus is configured to form a three-dimensional object layer by layer from a plurality of solidified layers, wherein after the light source module irradiates the light-curable material to form one of the solidified layers on the holding plate due to photo-solidification, the lifting mechanism moves the holding plate.

3 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source module comprises: one light source selected from a visible light source, visible laser source, and infrared laser source, wherein the light source irradiates the light-curable material so that photo-solidification occurs.

4 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a first conductive layer; the first conductive layer is configured to form a magnetic field using electricity during the formation of the solidified layer, so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on the surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

5 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the light source module comprises: one light source selected from a visible light source, visible laser source, and infrared laser source, wherein the light source irradiates the light-curable material so that photo-solidification occurs.

6 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the base plate further comprises a substrate, the first conductive layer is disposed between the light-curable material in the container and the substrate.

7 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the substrate is glass or ceramic.

8 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the light source module comprises: one light source selected from a visible light source, visible laser source, and infrared laser source, wherein the light source irradiates the light-curable material so that photo-solidification occurs.

9 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises:
a substrate; a first conductive layer, disposed between the light-curable material in the container and the substrate; and a second conductive layer, wherein the substrate is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are configured for forming an electric field by applying electricity therebetween during the formation of the solidified layer so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on the surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

10 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the substrate is glass or ceramic.

11 . The photo-sodification modeling apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the light source module comprises: one light source selected from a visible light source, visible laser source, and infrared laser source, wherein the light source irradiates the light-curable material so that photo-solidification occurs.

12 . A photo-sodification modeling method comprising:
providing a photo-sodification modeling apparatus including a container, a holding plate, a lifting mechanism, and a light source module; providing an electric field or magnetic field on a base plate of the container; and forming a three-dimensional object layer by layer from a plurality of solidified layers by repeating steps including: forming one of the solidified layers on the holding plate by irradiating a light-curable material in the container by using the light source module, and then moving the holding plate by the lifting mechanism; wherein during the formation of the solidified layer, the electric or magnetic field is provided on the base plate so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on a surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

13 . The photo-sodification modeling method according to claim 12 , wherein the light source module irradiates the light-curable material by using one of a visible light, visible laser, and infrared laser so that photo-solidification occurs on the light-curable material.

14 . The photo-sodification modeling method according to claim 12 , wherein a magnetic field is formed on the base plate by applying electricity to a first conductive layer of the base plate during the formation of the solidified layer, so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on the surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

15 . The photo-sodification modeling method according to claim 14 , wherein the light source module irradiates the light-curable material by using one of a visible light, visible laser, and infrared laser so that photo-solidification occurs on the light-curable material.

16 . The photo-sodification modeling method according to claim 12 , wherein an electric field is formed on the base plate by applying electricity to two conductive layers of the base plate during the formation of the solidified layer, so that the light-curable material in the container will not solidify on the surface of the base plate, thus resulting in the solidified layer having a reduced viscosity when the solidified layer is closer to the surface of the base plate.

17 . The photo-sodification modeling method according to claim 16 , wherein the light source module irradiates the light-curable material by using one of a visible light, visible laser, and infrared laser so that photo-solidification occurs on the light-curable material.

Assignees

• Univ Nat Taiwan Science Tech

Inventors

• Jeng Jeng-Ywan
• Cheng Yih-Lin
• Chen Freeman
• Lee Han-Hsuan

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/255

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

• B29C64/264

  Arrangements for irradiation · CPC title

• B29C67/0066 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic