Other

The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research

Shimat Co., Ltd.

Toshiki Niino

Takeo Nakagawa

Seiji Hayano

Kenji Yamazawa

Mahito Arai

The purpose of the invention is to provide a solid model creation apparatus that is small in size and inexpensive. A multiplicity of blue LEDs are prepared, optical fibers are connected thereto, and GRIN lenses are arranged at the ends of the tips of the respective optical fibers to constitute an exposing head,The exposing head,forms images of the end faces of the respective optical fibers in a photocurable resin exposure region,as light spots,The diameter of a light spot,is, for example, 0.5 mm, but the size of a pixel,within the exposure region,is much smaller; for example, 62.5&mgr;. The multiplicity of optical fibers at the exposing head,are arrayed in a matrix such that they are displaced in staggered fashion so that respective light spots,are lined up at the pitch 62.5&mgr; of the pixels,in the primary scan (Y-axis) direction. As the exposing head,scans the exposure region,in the secondary scan (X-axis) direction, all of the light spots capable of directing light onto appropriate pixels, these being the respective pixels,to be cured within the exposure region,are turned on and multiple exposure is carried out.

Optical formation device and method

There is provided an apparatus for solidifying and shaping fluid which can be optically cured, including (a) an optically scanning device for scanning a level of fluid which can be optically cured, with a light beam, (b) a sinking device for sinking a layer having been cured by scanning carried out by the optically scanning device, below a level of the fluid, and (c) a recoat device for covering a cured layer having been sunk in the step (b), with a fluid which is not yet cured. The recoat device is formed with a recoater blade which horizontally moves above a level of the cured layer with a predetermined gap kept therebetween to smooth a level of the not yet cured fluid. The optically scanning device scans a level of not yet cured fluid having been smoothed by the recoater blade, with a light beam, simultaneously with scanning of the optically scanning device. The above mentioned apparatus makes it possible to carry out an optically scanning process simultaneously with a recoat process to thereby significantly shorten a time for optical solidification and shaping. In addition, since the above mentioned apparatus optically scans and simultaneously recoats, it is scarcely necessary to stop an optically scanning process during a recoat process, thereby making it possible to effectively utilize output of an optically scanning apparatus such as a laser beam radiating device.

Apparatus for solidifying and shaping optically cured fluid by carrying

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Wako, Japan

Toshiki Niino