Solidscape, Inc.

John Theodore Wigand

Michael Varanka

Calvin McCoy Winey, Iii

Bun Chay Te

Xiaorong You

William McKinnon

Ron Sorli

Jennifer Elizabeth Gingras

Calvin Mccoy Iii Winey

A contact coating device comprising a high viscosity rapid deposition head comprising a deposition body defining a material supply passage; a dispensing/shaping nozzle being formed adjacent in a leading end surface of the high viscosity rapid deposition head for dispensing of the high viscosity material from the high viscosity rapid deposition head, and the dispensing/shaping nozzle comprising a dispensing cavity; at least one dispensing passage providing communication between the material supply passage and the dispensing/shaping nozzle for suppling the high viscosity material to the dispensing cavity; and a heating element for heating a portion of the high viscosity rapid deposition and facilitating flow of the high viscosity material through the high viscosity rapid deposition head. A multi-head material deposition system which comprises a first drop-on-demand device, a second drop-on-demand device and at least one contact coating rapid deposition head is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for fabricating three dimensional models

An imaging monitoring system and method for the establishment, monitoring and control of the positions, orientations and operational tolerances of and between the elements of an apparatus for fabricating three dimensional models from successive layers of model and sacrificial materials by capturing and analyzing images of a test patterns created on test surfaces of a three dimension model and elements of a system for fabricating three dimensional models.

Imaging monitoring method and apparatus for fabricating three dimensional models

A combined scribing/filling device for scribing a desired channel, trough, trench or groove in a layer currently being fabricated and simultaneously filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with a desired filling material. The combined scribing/filling device comprises (1) a scribing tool having a scribing tip which facilitates scribing of the desired channel, trough, trench or groove in the layer currently being fabricated; and a dispensing/shaping orifice for filling the scribed channel, trough, trench or groove with the filling material. The scribing tip is located coincident with respect to the dispensing/shaping orifice to facilitate simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove. A method of fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed by a plurality of layers, by simultaneously scribing and filling of the channel, trough, trench or groove is also disclosed.

Method for simultaneously scribing and filling of scribed channel, trough, trench or groove

An apparatus and method of fabricating a three-dimensional model which reduces occurrence of one a hairline crack(s), stress fracture(s), break(s), flaw(s) and/or other imperfection(s) in the final three-dimensional model. The method comprising the steps of selecting the model material, selecting the sacrificial material, and adding at least one additive to the sacrificial material for at least one of increasing the thermal conductivity, decreasing a coefficient of thermal expansion or decreasing an ability of the sacrificial material to transmit stress to the model material. The three-dimensional composite model is built by depositing a plurality of layers one on top of another. Following completion of the three-dimensional composite model, using at least one of the increase in the thermal conductivity, the decrease in the coefficient of thermal expansion and the decrease in the ability of the composite sacrificial material to transmit stress to the model material for removing the composite sacrificial material from the model material without creating any hairline crack(s), stress fracture(s), break(s), flaw(s) and/or other imperfection(s) in the final three-dimensional model.

Method for reducing stress in three dimensional model

A method of fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed by a plurality of layers. The composite model comprises at least one shell material encasing and enclosing a build material. The method comprises the steps of (1) depositing a build layer of the build material onto a preceding layer, (2) removing a selected area of the build material from the deposited build layer; (3) depositing the shell material in any removed selected area of the build material; and (4) reducing the build layer to a desired final thickness for supporting a next build layer. Then repeatedly repeating steps (1) through (4) for each build layer until the composite model is completed. Finally, the undesired extraneous material, and possibly the shell, are removed to obtain the final model.

Method for fabricating three dimensional models

An apparatus and method for fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed or a plurality of successive layers of model material and sacrificial mold material. Each successive layer is constructed by depositing, drop-by-drop, at least one line of sacrificial mold material delineating at least one boundary of the model material within the layer and thereafter depositing the model material onto all delineated regions of the layer by spray deposition. Each successive layer is completed by a planing process which removes the undesired thickness of both the sacrificial and the model materials. Following completion of the composite model, the sacrificial mold material is removable from the composite model, by a process effecting only the sacrificial mold material, to produce the three dimensional model. A device, for depositing the model material at the rate faster than the rate that the mold material is deposited, is also described.

An apparatus and method for fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed or a plurality of successive layers of model material and sacrificial mold material. Each successive layer is constructed by depositing, drop-by-drop, at least one line of sacrifical mold material delineating at least one boundary of the model material within the layer and thereafter depositing the model material onto all delineated regions of the layer by spray deposition. Each successive layer is completed by a planing process which removes the undesired thickness of both the sacrificial and the model materials. Following completion of the composite model, the sacrificial mold material is removable from the composite model, by a process effecting only the sacrificial mold material, to produce the three dimensional model. A device, for depositing the model material at the rate faster than the rate that the mold material is deposited, is also described.

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Merrimack, NH, United States of America

John Theodore Wigand