3d printing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023136313-A1
Application number	US-202117453331-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 2, 2021
Priority date	Nov 2, 2021
Publication date	May 4, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A 3D printing system may include a tank in which a bottom of the tank is formed by a radiation-transparent flexible membrane, a spill tray with an outer wall configured to contain liquid resin that inadvertently leaks out from the bottom of the tank, and a light source configured to project radiation towards the bottom of the tank. The spill tray may contain an inner opening that allows the radiation from the light source to pass through the spill tray to the tank. A 3D printing system may also include a mask assembly which comprises a mask with pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of the radiation projected from the light source and a mask assembly receiving member configured to receive the mask assembly. The mask assembly may also include a rigid guide portion that is insertable into a slot of the mask assembly receiving member.

First claim

1 . A vat polymerization printer, comprising:
a tank, wherein a bottom of the tank is formed by a radiation-transparent flexible membrane; a light source configured to project radiation towards the bottom of the tank; a mask assembly comprising a mask with pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of the radiation projected from the light source, wherein the mask is disposed between the light source and the tank; and a mask assembly receiving member configured to receive the mask assembly, wherein the mask extends along a first plane, wherein the mask assembly further comprises a rigid guide portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein the rigid guide portion is insertable into a slot of the mask assembly receiving member.

2 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein an end of the rigid guide portion comprises a first electrical connector with a male coupling, wherein the vat polymerization printer comprises a second electrical connection with a female coupling, and wherein the male coupling is configured to be inserted within the female coupling.

3 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 2 , wherein the first electrical connector with the male coupling is one of a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connector, a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, a DisplayPort (DP) connector or a low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) connector.

4 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein an end of the rigid guide portion comprises a first electrical connector with a female coupling, wherein the vat polymerization printer comprises a second electrical connection with a male coupling, and wherein the male coupling is configured to be inserted within the female coupling.

5 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 4 , wherein the first electrical connector with the female coupling is one of a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connector, a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, a DisplayPort (DP) connector or a low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) connector.

6 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein the mask assembly is secured to the mask assembly receiving member via screws.

7 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein the mask assembly receiving member comprises an opening that allows the radiation from the light source to pass through the mask assembly receiving member.

8 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein the mask comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

9 . The vat polymerization printer of claim 1 , wherein the mask assembly further comprises a frame, and wherein the frame is securely attached to a perimeter of the mask.

10 . A mask assembly, comprising:
a liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of radiation projected from a light source, the pixels of the LCD distributed over a first plane; and a frame that is securely attached to a perimeter of the LCD, wherein the frame comprises a rigid guide portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein an end of the rigid guide portion comprises an electrical connector.

11 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is one of a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) connector, a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, a DisplayPort (DP) connector or a low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) connector.

12 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is a male coupling.

13 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is a female coupling.

14 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of through holes for receiving a plurality of screws.

15 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein electrical signals received from the electrical connector specify a first plurality of the pixels to be transparent and a second plurality of the pixels to be opaque.

16 . The mask assembly of claim 10 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of ring members for securing the mask assembly to posts of a mask assembly receiving member.

Assignees

• Nexa3D Inc

Inventors

• Buckby Matthew
• Whetsell Francis Kenyon
• Sandoval Miguel Cuevas
• Reichental Avi N

Classifications

• B29C64/286 Primary

  Optical filters, e.g. masks · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/124

  using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified · CPC title

• B29C64/129 Primary

  characterised by the energy source therefor, e.g. by global irradiation combined with a mask · CPC title