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A stereolithographic method which employs an ultraviolet-curable liquid composition adapted to cure rapidly to a lightly cross-linked solvent-swellable three-dimensional complexly-shaped polymeric thin-walled element constituted by heat-softenable solid polymer upon exposure to ultraviolet dosage in

A stereolithographic method which employs an ultraviolet-curable liquid composition adapted to cure rapidly to a lightly cross-linked solvent-swellable three-dimensional complexly-shaped polymeric thin-walled element constituted by heat-softenable solid polymer upon exposure to ultraviolet dosage in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 Joules per square centimeter and which possesses reduced distortion comprises, from 20 to 80 weight percent, of a resinous polyacrylate or polymethacrylate dissolved in a combination of 10 to 45 weight percent of a liquid polyacrylate or polymethacrylate, which is preferably trifunctional, and 10 to 45 weight percent of liquid N-vinyl monomer, preferably N-vinyl pyrrolidone. Thus, the weight ratio of polyacrylate: polymethacrylate: N-vinyl monomer is about 1:2:2 to about 8:1:1. One of the foregoing polyacrylates or polymethacrylates is a polyacrylate and the other is a polymethacrylate so that good cure speed is accompanied by good distortion resistance. In the method, a reservoir of the liquid composition is established and its exposed surface is irradiated to solidify the surface and build up a thin-walled element which is removed from the reservoir, drained of liquid adhering thereto and cured.

대표청구항 ▼

An ultraviolet-curable liquid composition adapted to cure rapidly to a lightly cross-linked solvent-swellable three-dimensional complexly-shaped polymeric thin-walled element constituted by heat-softenable solid polymer upon exposure to ultraviolet dosage in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 Joules

An ultraviolet-curable liquid composition adapted to cure rapidly to a lightly cross-linked solvent-swellable three-dimensional complexly-shaped polymeric thin-walled element constituted by heat-softenable solid polymer upon exposure to ultraviolet dosage in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 Joules per square centimeter and which possesses reduced distortion comprising, from 20 to 80 weight percent, of a resinous polyacrylate or polymethacrylate dissolved in a combination of 10 to 40 weight percent of a liquid polyacrylate or polymethacrylate, one of the foregoing being a polyacrylate and the other being a polymethacrylate, and 10 to 30 weight percent of a liquid N-vinyl monomer. A method of forming a three-dimensional thin-walled object comprising, providing a reservoir of liquid ultraviolet-curable ethylenically unsaturated material comprising, from 20 to 80 weight percent, of a resinous polyacrylate or polymethacrylate dissolved in a combination of 10 to 35 weight percent of a liquid polyacrylate or polymethacrylate, one of the foregoing being a polyacrylate and the other being a polymethacrylate, and 10 to 40 weight percent of liquid N-vinyl monomer, exposing the surface of said reservoir to a beam of ultraviolet light to apply a dosage in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 Joules per square centimeter to said surface to solidify the liquid near said surface to form a plurality of superposed layers of lightly cross-linked solvent-swellable three-dimensional complexly-shaped polymeric thin-walled element constituted by heat-softenable solid polymer in said reservoir, removing said element from said reservoir, draining excess polymerizable liquid from said element, and then completing the cure of said element to strengthen the same.