Nexa3d Inc.

Gianni Zitelli

Luciano Tringali

Avi N Reichental

Andrea Denaro

Three-dimensional objects are formed by photo-curing a liquid polymer by exposure to a radiation in a space between a sheet transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate. On a side of the sheet facing towards the photo-curing liquid polymer, a membrane is arranged. The membrane is transparent to the radiation and covered by a layer of liquid lubricant. The membrane is displaceable with respect to an area in which said liquid polymer is undergoing curing by exposure to the radiation, which radiation (e.g., at 410 nm) may be provided by a collimated light source composed of an array of light emitting diode (LED) sources, an array of baffles, and an array of lenses. The baffles limit beam widths of each individual LED source in the array of LED, and the array of lenses is located one focal length from said array of LED sources.

Methods for photo-curing with displaceable self-lubricating substratum for the formation of three-dimensional objects

A 3D printing apparatus includes a tank holding a photo-curing liquid polymer. A transparent membrane forms a bottom surface of the tank. A circular-shaped disk is disposed below the membrane, and is supported by a frame that has a radiation-transparent printing window. The liquid polymer is cured into desired shapes by exposure to radiation as the membrane is rotated about an axis. The rotation of the membrane causes a first region thereof to be rotated out of the printing window and a second region thereof to be rotated into the printing window. A light source projects the radiation through the printing window, through the second region of the membrane, into the photo-curing liquid polymer and onto a focal plane in the photo-curing liquid polymer, thereby curing a portion of the photo-curing liquid polymer.

Three-dimensional printing system with rotating membrane

Three-dimensional objects are formed by exposing a photo-curing liquid polymer to a radiation. The three-dimensional objects form by growth, due to the progressive curing of the photo-curing liquid polymer, in a space between a sheet transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate, that is, a portion already formed of the objects. During the growth process, the supporting plate progressively moves away from the transparent sheet. On the side of said transparent sheet facing towards the photo-curing liquid polymer, a membrane is arranged. The membrane is transparent to the radiation, and is covered by a layer of liquid lubricant that is released gradually by the membrane.

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

Three-dimensional objects are formed by photo-curing a liquid polymer by exposure to a radiation, which radiation (e.g., at 410 nm) is provided by a collimated light source composed of an array of light emitting diode (LED) sources, an array of baffles, and an array of lenses. The baffles limit beam widths of each individual LED source in the array of LED sources, and the array of lenses is located one focal length from said array of LED sources.

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Ciampino, Italy

Gianni Zitelli