Method and apparatus for photo-curing with self-lubricating substratum for the formation of three-dimensional objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018250874-A1
Application number	US-201615758272-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 3, 2016
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Sep 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is a method for forming three-dimensional objects by photo-curing a photo-curing liquid polymer exposed to a radiation, wherein said three-dimensional objects form by growth, due to the progressive curing of said photo-curing liquid polymer, in the space between a sheet transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate, that is, a portion already formed of said objects, said supporting plate progressively moving away from said transparent sheet, characterised in that on the side of said transparent sheet facing towards the photo-curing liquid polymer a membrane is arranged, said membrane being transparent to said radiation, said membrane being covered by a layer of liquid lubricant, which is released gradually by said membrane, as well as an apparatus for implementing the method.

First claim

1 . A method for forming three-dimensional objects by photo-curing a photo-curing liquid polymer exposed to a radiation, wherein said three-dimensional objects form by growth, due to progressive curing of said photo-curing liquid polymer, in a space between a sheet transparent to said radiation and a supporting plate, that is, a portion already formed of said objects, said supporting plate progressively moving away from said transparent sheet, characterised in that on a side of said transparent sheet facing towards said photo-curing liquid polymer a membrane is placed, being transparent to said radiation, covered by a layer of liquid lubricant, which is released gradually by said membrane.

2 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 1 , characterised in that said membrane is made of a self-lubricating polymer.

3 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 2 , characterised in that said self-lubricating polymer is a polymer inside of which there is a liquid lubricant.

4 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 3 , characterised in that said liquid lubricant is insoluble in said polymer.

5 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 3 , characterised in that said self-lubricating polymer is a silicone polymer and said liquid lubricant is silicone oil.

6 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 5 , characterised in that said silicone oil is enriched with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

7 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 3 , characterised in that said photo-curing liquid polymer contains said liquid lubricant.

8 . The method for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 7 , characterised in that said liquid lubricant is dissolved in said photo-curing liquid polymer in an amount of 4-6% by weight.

9 . An apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects by photo-curing a photo-curing liquid polymer by exposure to a radiation, of the type comprising a tank ( 10 ) for collecting said photo-curing liquid polymer, a bottom of the tank having a hole ( 11 ) covered by a sheet ( 12 ), said sheet ( 12 ) being made with a material transparent to said radiation, and a supporting plate designed to move away from the sheet ( 12 ), characterised in that, on the side of said sheet ( 12 ) facing towards said photo-curing liquid polymer, a membrane ( 13 ) is arranged, said membrane being transparent to said radiation, said membrane being covered by a layer ( 14 ) of liquid lubricant, which is released gradually by said membrane ( 13 ).

10 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 9 , characterised in that said membrane ( 13 ) is made with a self-lubricating polymer.

11 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 10 , characterised in that said self-lubricating polymer is a polymer inside of which there is a liquid lubricant.

12 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 11 , characterised in that said liquid lubricant is insoluble in said polymer.

13 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 11 , characterised in that said polymer is silicone and said liquid lubricant is silicone oil.

14 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claim 13 , characterised in that the silicone oil has a viscosity of between 50 and 1000 mm 2 /s (defined according to the centistoke model cSt at 23° C.), preferably between 300 and 400 mm 2 /s.

15 . The apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects according to claims 9 , characterised in that inside the membrane ( 13 ) there is also polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Assignees

• Nexa3D Inc

Inventors

• Tringaly Luciano
• Denaro Andrea
• Zitelli Gianni

Classifications

• B29C64/182

  in parallel batches · CPC title

• B29C64/40

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

• B29C64/124 Primary

  using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified · CPC title

• B29C64/223

  Foils or films, e.g. for transferring layers of building material from one working station to another · CPC title

• G02F1/133617

  Illumination with ultraviolet light; Luminescent elements or materials associated to the cell · CPC title