Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Hewlett-packard Company

Intrepid Automation

Other

3d Systems, Inc.

Robert L Mueller

Paul Clinton Coffin

Ben Wynne

Christopher Sean Tanner

Ivan Dejesus Chousal

Gregg S Schmidtke

Jamie Lynn Etcheson

Robert Wesley Luffel

James Pingel

Kelly John Reasoner

Jinman Kang

David Paul Jones

Robert A Frosch

Mark A Smith

David Bradley Short

Leslie G Christie, Jr

Shirley Lee

Thomas W Holmquist

Robert K Yasui

Ronald L Ehrlich

Otto Kenneth Sievert

Santiago Garcia-Reyero Vinas

Kurt Eugene Spears

Richard Lynn Gardner, Jr

Martin Johnson

Richard Alan Irwin

Andrew Enslow

Wayne E Foslien

Amit A Marathe

Daniel R Dauner

Vijaykumar Nayak

Nicholas D Thayer

Madison Stadtmueller

Orwin Middleton

Roy G Downing

Ernest N Costogue

Jerry K Person

Fred J Cairo

Paul Clifton Coffin

The present disclosure provides techniques for calibration systems and methods for additive manufacturing systems with multiple image projection. In some embodiments, a method of calibrating two or more image projectors of a photoreactive 3D printing system (PRPS) includes: projecting a sub-image from each of the two or more image projectors; measuring light from an image projector using a light sensor of a calibration system; receiving a signal from the light sensor; processing information from the light sensor; and changing a parameter of a sub-image based on the processed information. In some cases, a PRPS includes a calibration fixture comprising the light sensor. In some cases, a PRPS can be calibrated using a modular calibration fixture comprising the light sensor, wherein the modular calibration fixture can be coupled to the PRPS, leveled and height adjusted, and then a calibration routine can be performed.

Calibration systems and methods for additive manufacturing systems with multiple image projection

An additive manufacturing system, and associated methods, comprise an image projection system comprising a plurality of image projectors that project a composite image onto a build area within a resin pool. The composite image comprises a plurality of sub-images arranged in an array. The properties of a sub-image and the alignment of the position of the sub image within the composite image can be adjusted using a set of filters comprising an irradiance mask that normalizes irradiance, and a gamma adjustment mask that adjusts sub-image energy based on a reactivity of the resin.

Multiple image projection system and method for additive manufacturing

In some embodiments, the techniques described herein relate to photoreactive 3D printing systems and methods. The 3D printing system can include: a moveable print platform; a resin tub with a membrane; resin contained within the resin tub; an illumination system; a force sensor, and a print recipe including information for layers in a 3D printed part to be built on the print platform. The photoreactive 3D printing system can be configured to: project an image through the membrane into the volume of resin using the illumination system; move the print platform in a z-direction; measure a force on the print platform using the force sensor, and update a print platform movement in the print recipe during a printing run based on the force on the print platform.

Closed loop print process adjustment based on real time feedback

Methods of creating additive manufactured parts include selectively dispensing a second composition onto a top surface of a first composition in a vat. The second composition is dispensed in a shape area according to a layer of a part to be created by additive manufacturing. Polymerization components for formation of the layer are kept separate from each other until the dispensing, with at least one of the polymerization components being in the second composition. The top surface is illuminated to expose the first composition and the second composition to light having a polymerization wavelength, thereby causing polymerization of the layer of the part only in the shape area where the second composition was dispensed.

Vat-based additive manufacturing with dispensed material

An additive manufacturing system, and associated methods, comprise an image projection system comprising a plurality of image projectors that project a composite image onto a build area within a resin pool. The composite image comprises a plurality of sub-images arranged in an array. The properties of each sub-image and the alignment of the position of each sub image within the composite image can be adjusted using a set of filters comprising: 1) an irradiance mask that normalizes irradiance, 2) a gamma adjustment mask that adjusts sub-image energy based on a reactivity of the resin, and 3) a warp correction filter that provides geometric correction.

In some embodiments, a photoreactive 3D printing system includes: a moveable print platform; a resin tub comprising a membrane; a tension apparatus; a volume of resin contained within the resin tub; an illumination system; a print platform force sensor; and a print recipe comprising information for layers in a 3D printed part to be built on the print platform. In some embodiments, the photoreactive 3D printing system is configured to: project an image through the membrane at a polymer interface using the illumination system; moving the print platform in a z-direction; apply a tensioning force using the tension apparatus to induce a membrane tension on the membrane; measure an amount of print platform force using the print platform force sensor; and update the print platform movement in the print recipe during a printing run based on the amount of print platform force measured by the print platform force sensor.

Methods of producing an additive manufactured part with a smooth surface finish and customized properties include creating a compensated design that serves as a print recipe for an additive manufacturing process for a part, where the creating comprises modifying a desired design with a geometric offset correction to compensate for a first portion of an uncured surface finish material to be retained on the part. A spinning device is provided that has a platform. The part is formed with the additive manufacturing process and secured to the platform, where the part is at least partially wetted with the uncured surface finish material. The platform is rotated, where a second portion of the uncured surface finish material is removed due to forces imparted by the rotating. The uncured surface finish material is chosen to customize a property of the part.

Additive manufactured parts with smooth surface finishes and customizable properties

A three dimensional printing system includes a light engine having a spatial light modulator for curing individual layers of a photocure resin to form a three dimensional article of manufacture. The light engine is configured to: (1) receive a slice image that defines an array of energy values for curing a layer, (2) process the slice image to define an image frame compatible with the spatial light modulator, (3) receive an on signal, (4) activate the first light source in response to the on signal; (5) repeatedly send the first defined image frame to the first spatial light modulator during a defined cure time for the single layer of resin; (6) receive an off signal; (7) deactivate the first light source in response to the off signal; and (8) repeat steps (1)-(7) until the three dimensional article of manufacture is formed.

Scalable and fast three dimensional printing system

In some embodiments, a photoreactive 3D printing system and methods comprise providing a system with a resin tub comprising a membrane, wherein the membrane rests on a physical tension element such that increasing downward force on the resin tub induces increasing tension on the membrane. The system also comprises a plurality of sensors comprising a resin bulk temperature sensor, and a print recipe comprising information for each layer in a 3D printed part to be built on the print platform. In some embodiments, a resin bulk temperature is measured, and the information in the print recipe, including information related to the downward force on the resin tub, is updated during a printing run based on the resin bulk temperature measurement. In some embodiments, the print recipe can be updated during a printing run based on input from at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors.

A system includes an image capturing device, a user input device, and a processor coupled to the image capturing device and user input device. The processor includes instructions for capturing a data image with the image capturing device. The data image includes a signal from the user input device. The processor further includes instructions for deactivating the signal from the user input device and, after deactivating the signal from the user input device, capturing an ambient image. The processor further includes instructions for subtracting the ambient image from the data image and determining a position of the user input device in a three-dimensional space using a result of the subtracting.

Determining the location of a user input device

An additive manufacturing system, and associated methods, comprise an image projection system comprising a plurality of image projectors that project a composite image onto a build area within a resin pool. The composite image comprises a plurality of sub-images arranged in an array. The properties of each sub-image and the alignment of the position of each sub image within the composite image can be adjusted using a stack of filters comprising: 1) an irradiance mask that normalizes irradiance, 2) a gamma adjustment mask that adjusts sub-image energy based on a reactivity of the resin, 3) a warp correction filter that provides geometric correction, and 4) an edge blending bar at one or more sub-image edges.

Multiple image projection method for additive manufacturing

The present subject matter relates to examples of color calibration of image handling units. In an example, color settings of a flash light unit of a projector unit of a computing system may be calibrated with reference to a target calibration point. The flash light unit may function as an illumination source for an image capturing unit of the computing system. Further, based on the target calibration point and an image captured by the image capturing unit under illumination provided by the flash light unit, the color settings of the image capturing unit may be calibrated to synchronize the color settings of the image capturing unit to the color settings of the flash light unit.

Color calibration

Methods of creating additive manufactured parts include providing a first composition in a vat, where the first composition is a liquid with a first viscosity. A build platform is placed adjacent to and submerged under a top surface of the first composition. A second composition is dispensed on the top surface, the second composition having a second viscosity and being dispensed in a shape area according to a part to be created. The top surface is illuminated to expose the first composition and second composition to light having a polymerization wavelength, thereby causing polymerization of at least one of the first composition or second composition. In some embodiments, the first composition is a base resin that is absent of a photoinitiator, and the second composition is a photoinitiator solution. The photoinitiator solution may have a second viscosity that is less than the first viscosity of the base resin.

Systems and methods for managing an additive manufacturing production line include an additive manufacturing machine having a first sensor and an auxiliary equipment having a second sensor. A server includes security protocols, a workflow module, an industrial Internet of things (IIoT) module and a machine learning module. The workflow module, IIoT module, machine learning module, additive manufacturing machine and auxiliary equipment are in communication with each other using the security protocols. The machine learning module processes feedback from the first sensor and the second sensor to control operation of the additive manufacturing machine through the workflow module and the IIoT module.

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Windsor, CO, United States of America

Robert L Mueller