Formlabs, Inc.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Maxim Lobovsky

Shane Wighton

Benjamin FrantzDale

Steven Thomas

Dmitri Megretski

Ian Ferguson

Yoav Reches

Konstantinos Oikonomopoulos

Jason Livingston

Alex McCarthy

Martin Galese

Adam Damiano

Natan Linder

Peter Schmidt-Nielsen

Neil Adam Gershenfeld

Ara N Knaian

Andrew M Goldman

Christian Reed

Justin Keenan

Nicholas M Sohn

Craig Broady

Henry Whitney

Matthew Keeter

Akimitsu Hogge

David Cranor

Jack Moldave

Robert Joachim

Brian Chan

Zachary Zguris

Ben FrantzDale

Luke Plummer

Alexander K McCalmont

Eduardo Torrealba

Jeffery Morin

Michael Fogleman

Jonathan Fussman

Ben Frantzdale

Maximilian Zieringer

Dávid Lakatos

Brendan Pratt

Ilan Moyer

Colin B Raney

Cole Durbin

Jackson Hamilton

Hayley Whelan

Mehmet Dogan

Hugo Liebrand

David Sadowski

Nicholaus Ray Lancaster

Sarah Bennedsen

Geoff Hill

A method for producing a three-dimensional object on an additive fabrication device includes placing a first composite material patch on a bottom of a vessel of the additive fabrication device. The method also includes moving a build plate of the additive fabrication device whereby at least one of the build platform or a layer of at least partially cured resin on the build plate touches the first composite material patch. The method further includes irradiating resin contained inside the vessel with an energy source to at least partially cure a layer of resin integrated with the first composite material patch.

Composite material reinforced stereolithography methods and systems

A curing system for an additive fabrication system includes a light source, a liquid crystal cell, and a first polarizer. The light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength suitable for curing a material. The liquid crystal cell is configured to receive the light from the light source. The first polarizer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and organic dyes impregnated into the PVA matrix.

Use of dye-type polarizers in a photopolymer curing device

A multi-component print surface and associated additive manufacturing methods are generally described.

Additive manufacturing devices including a multi-component print surface and related methods

According to some aspects, a method is provided of casting an object from a mold, the method comprising obtaining a mold comprising a hollow shell of rigid material, the material comprising a thermoset polymer having a plurality of pores formed therein, providing a metal and/or ceramic slurry into an interior of the mold, exposing at least part of the mold to a low pressure environment so that a net flow of gas is produced from the interior of the mold into the low pressure environment. According to some aspects, a method of forming a porous mold is provided. According to some aspects, a photocurable liquid composition is provided, comprising a liquid photopolymer resin, particles of a solid material, in an amount between 30% and 60% by volume of the composition, and a water-soluble liquid.

Techniques for casting from additively fabricated molds and related systems and methods

Washing apparatus and methods used to process additively fabricated (e.g., 3D printed) parts are described herein. The apparatus and methods may be used to wash uncured liquid resin from the parts. The washing apparatus may include two or more containers for storing respective solvents and may be fluidly connected to a vessel in which the additively fabricated parts are placed. One or more pumps and one or more valves may be controlled to introduce a first solvent from one of the containers into the vessel to wash the part in a first wash cycle and then the valve(s) may be re-configured to introduce a second solvent from another container into the vessel to wash the part in a second wash cycle. Advantageously, the parts may remain in the same vessel while being washed with both solvents in succession.

Washing apparatus and methods used to process additively fabricated parts

Techniques for producing a flat film surface in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, a movable stage may be arranged beneath a container having a base that includes a flexible film. The movable stage may include a segmented member in which a number of segments are aligned along a common axis. The segmented member may maintain contact with the flexible film as the movable stage moves beneath the container, with the segmented member producing a flat surface of the flexible film, at least within a region above the movable stage. According to some embodiments, multiple segmented members may be provided within the movable stage, such as in parallel with one another.

Techniques for producing a flat film surface in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

Techniques for evaluating support for an object to be fabricated via an additive fabrication device are provided. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional representation of the object is obtained and a plurality of voxels corresponding to the representation of the object is generated. A first supportedness value may be assigned to a first voxel of the plurality of voxels based on an amount of support provided by a support structure to the first voxel, and a second supportedness value determined for a second voxel of the plurality of voxels, wherein the second voxel neighbors the first voxel, and wherein the second supportedness value is determined based on the first supportedness value of the first voxel and a weight value representing a transmission rate of supportedness through voxels of the plurality of voxels.

Additive fabrication support structures

According to some aspects, calibration techniques are provided that allow an optics module of an additive fabrication device to be installed and operated in a stereolithography device by a user. In particular, the calibration techniques enable the optics module to be calibrated in a way that only depends on the characteristics of the optics module, and not upon any other components of the stereolithography device. As a result, the techniques enable a user of a stereolithography device to remove one optics module and replace it with another, without it being necessary to repair or replace the whole device. In some cases, the calibration techniques may include directing light onto one or more fiducial targets within the stereolithography device and measuring light scattered from said targets.

Swappable optics module for additive fabrication devices

Techniques for force sensing in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device may include a force sensor configured to measure a force applied to a build platform during fabrication. A length of time taken for a layer of material to separate from a surface other than the build platform to which it is adhered may be determined based on measurements from the force sensor. Subsequent additive fabrication operations, such as subsequent motion of the build platform, may be adapted based on the determined length of time.

Techniques for force sensing in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device is provided configured to form layers of material on a build platform, each layer of material being formed so as to contact a container in addition to the build platform and/or a previously formed layer of material. The additive fabrication device may comprise a container and a wiper, wherein the wiper comprises a wiper arm and a wiper blade coupled to said wiper arm using a pivoting coupling.

Techniques for surface preparation during additive fabrication and related systems and methods

According to some aspects, an additive fabrication apparatus is provided configured to form layers of material on a build platform, each layer of material being formed so as to contact a supporting liquid or a film disposed within a container, in addition to the build platform, a liquid photopolymer, and/or a previously formed layer of a material. The additive fabrication apparatus may comprise a container and a leveling element, wherein the leveling element is configured to move across a liquid-liquid interface to promote or create a flat interface between the two liquids. According to some aspects, the additive fabrication comprises a film disposed between two liquids, wherein the film maintains or provides a flat surface at the interface of the two liquids.

Liquid interface techniques for additive fabrication and related systems and methods

The present application relates generally to photopolymer blends and related methods for use in an additive fabrication (e.g., 3-dimensional printing) device. According to some aspects, compositions are provided for the modification of a base photopolymer resin. The compositions may comprise colorant agent and/or cure-modifying composition. The compositions may be selected to cause, when combined with the base photopolymer resin to form a photo-curable composition, at least one property (e.g., color, depth of the cure) of the photo-curable composition to fall within a pre-determined range. Related kits and methods are also generally described.

Photopolymer blends and related methods

Substantially equal amounts of thermal energy may be provided over a build area of an additive fabrication device using as few as one heat source by selectively attenuating thermal energy emitted by the heat source. The thermal energy may be selectively attenuated by a structure that blocks portions of the thermal energy from being directly incident upon the build area such that the heat is normalized over the build area. The heat distribution over the build area may, in some embodiments, approximate the heat distribution produced by a flat field heating element, yet may be produced at comparatively lower cost and with less complex engineering.

Heating techniques in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Maxim Lobovsky