3d Systems, Inc.

Other

Rajeev B Kulkarni

Chris Robert Manners

Charles W Hull

Mehdi Mojdeh

Hongqing V Wang

John Corbin West

Medhi Mojdeh

James Francis Smith, Iii

Yong Chen

A system that aesthetically dispenses melted wax includes a plurality of elongated heating cases, a plurality of wax cartridges, and a plurality of transfer canisters. The plurality of elongated heating cases is used to heat up wax or similar crayon material which is placed inside of the plurality of wax cartridges. The plurality of wax cartridges is used to hold wax or similar crayon material. The plurality of transfer canisters is used to store the plurality of wax cartridges when not in use and to transfer a wax cartridge from the plurality of wax cartridges into an elongated heating case of the plurality of elongated heating cases.

System for aesthetically dispensing melted wax

Methods for generating supports () for parts () produced by solid freeform fabrication ('SFF') are disclosed. The method includes defining a plurality of layers (L) that make up the part, and for each layer, determining those regions (R) that require support. The method also includes merging the regions for the different layers (L) into one or more common regions that require support, and providing at least one support for each of the one or more common regions. The result is that fewer supports are used as compared to conventional SFF fabrication methods.

Region-based supports for parts produced by solid freeform fabrication

In solid freeform fabrication processes that make use of a removable support material, pre-calculation of the amount of support material needed for a build is difficult (inaccurate or slow) because the digital data for generating the support material is often not generated until the build is in progress. A method is proposed that has been shown to generate rapid and accurate estimates of the amount of both build and support material needed before a build begins, to accurately predict before a build begins when replenishment materials are needed, and to track material consumptions over time.

Support volume calculation for a CAD model

An improved stereolithographic process for forming three-dimensional objects using an improved support structure and the improved support structure is described. The support structure is formed by using differential curing of the liquid media material to form solid supports with weak points at selected locations to facilitate support removal from a three-dimensional object and minimize post-processing.

Stereolithographic supports

An improved slicing technique is disclosed that employs micro-slicing or intermediate slices by identifying intermediate triangle vertices in the STL data and passing slice layers through each intermediate vertex to create a final build object or part that has smoother contouring, greater accuracy and an improved surface appearance than parts obtained using prior slicing methods.

Micro-slicing contour smoothing technique

An improved stereolithographic process for forming three-dimensional objects using an improved support structure. The support structure is formed by using differential curing of the liquid media material to form solid supports with weak points at selected locations to facilitate support removal from a three-dimensional object and minimize post-processing.

Stereolithographic process of making a three-dimensional object

A rapid prototyping and manufacturing (e.g. stereolithography) method and apparatus for making three-dimensional objects with simplified correlation of building parameters with object data. Object data is preferably correlated to (1) object build parameters that are used in solidifying object portions of layers of the material, (2) recoating parameters that are used in forming layers of material that include object data, (3) support build parameters that are used in solidifying support portions of layers of the material, (4) recoating parameters that are used in forming layers of material that include support data but no object data, and (5) parameters for use in generating a support structure that will be used to support the object during its formation. A style file is identified with each set of parameters. An algorithm (i.e. style wizard) is used to select among a plurality of styles of each type. The algorithm derives successively narrowing groups of compatible styles, for a particular build, based on answers to a series of questions until a final singular group of compatible styles is identified. This final group of styles is used in the formation of the object. This process results in fewer errors in deriving groups of styles and increases the probability of successful build processes.

Growing community of inventors

Valencia, CA, United States of America

Rajeev B Kulkarni