The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 26, 2025
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2022
Solventum Intellectual Properties Company, Maplewood, MN (US);
Malte Korten, Moorenweis, DE;
Nicholas S. Wren, Woodbury, MN (US);
Gareth A. Hughes, St. Paul, MN (US);
Benjamin C. Macmurray, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Kyle C. Picha, Maplewood, MN (US);
Jesse J. Gilles, River Falls, WI (US);
Leif J. Erickson, St. Paul, MN (US);
Eric H. Tsai, St. Paul, MN (US);
Matthew T. Lingscheit, Hugo, MN (US);
Gioacchino Raia, Tuerkenfeld, DE;
Bastian P. Kirchner, Fuerstenfeldbruck, DE;
Christian A. Richter, Feldafing, DE;
Jeffrey N. Bartow, St. Paul, MN (US);
Solventum Intellectual Properties Company, Maplewood, MN (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for manufacturing three-dimensional objects. Each additive manufacturing apparatus () includes: a) a reservoir () for receiving hardenable material; b) a first movable light engine () providing a first light radiation configuration; a second light engine () providing a second light radiation configuration that is different than the first light radiation configuration; and d) a light altering structure (). The light altering structure is located between the reservoir and light radiated from at least one of the first movable light engine or the second light engine. The first movable light engine is configured to radiate light onto a first focal plane () within the reservoir containing the hardenable material and the second light engine is configured to radiate light onto a second focal plane () within the reservoir containing the hardenable material. The method includes: a) obtaining a hardenable material disposed in a reservoir; b) selectively radiating light having a first light radiation configuration from a first movable light engine; and c) selectively radiating light having a second light radiation configuration from a second light engine onto a second focal plane within the hardenable material. The apparatuses and methods can advantageously form objects having different resolutions on demand using the same apparatus, plus optionally can blend light from multiple light engines.