초록 ▼

A variety of support structures and build styles for use in Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing systems are described wherein particular emphasis is given to Thermal Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modeling, and Selective Deposition Modeling systems, and wherein a 3D modeling system is presented

A variety of support structures and build styles for use in Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing systems are described wherein particular emphasis is given to Thermal Stereolithography, Fused Deposition Modeling, and Selective Deposition Modeling systems, and wherein a 3D modeling system is presented which uses multijet dispensing and a single material for both object and support formation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A rapid prototyping apparatus comprising:a dispenser for controllably dispensing a flowable material having a solidification temperature into a build environment which is at a temperature below the solidification temperature of the flowable material, the flowable materi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A rapid prototyping apparatus comprising:a dispenser for controllably dispensing a flowable material having a solidification temperature into a build environment which is at a temperature below the solidification temperature of the flowable material, the flowable material being dispensed to accumulate in a vertical direction at a desired rate in a layer-by-layer cross-section basis;a platform disposed in the build environment for supporting a three-dimensional object and support structure being formed by the layer-by-layer cross-section basis, wherein the platform includes a working surface for supporting a first layer of flowable material dispensed by the dispenser;at least one displacement device for relatively displacing the dispenser and the working surface in a plurality of dimensions;a controller coupled to the displacement device and to the dispenser to cause selective dispensing of the flowable material, wherein the controller includes means for combining object data with at least one selected building style for the three-dimensional object and for combining the object data with at least one selected support style for the support structure, the means for combining object data causing material to be dispensed in accordance with the combination of object data and the selected building style on a first portion of at least one of a plurality of layers and in accordance with the combination of object data and the selected support style on a second portion of the at least one layer, wherein the dispensed material accumulates in the vertical direction on the first portion of the at least one layer and on the second portion of the at least one layer at about the desired rate; anda planarizer in communication with the apparatus for passing over the working surface to smooth the flowable material dispensed in each layer to establish a layer thickness for each cross-section.