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:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2005
Paul M. Weiskopf, La Mesa, CA (US);
Kenneth A. Regas, Poway, CA (US);
Christian M. Merot, Mesa, CO (US);
James H. Sykora, San Diego, CA (US);
Paul M. Weiskopf, La Mesa, CA (US);
Kenneth A. Regas, Poway, CA (US);
Christian M. Merot, Mesa, CO (US);
James H. Sykora, San Diego, CA (US);
3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC (US);
Abstract
The invention is a rapid prototype apparatus having a removable build chamber and a plurality of alignments surfaces that can be used to properly align the build chamber with the process chamber with minimal adjustments by a user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a process chamber attached to a support housing and a build chamber that is removably attached to the support housing. The build chamber may be inserted into the support housing and is moveable between a load position and a build position. The build chamber includes a moveable build platform and a plurality of alignment surfaces that are each adapted to releasably engage a corresponding surface on the support housing. As the build chamber moves into the build position, the alignment surfaces align the build platform the process chamber. As a result, the apparatus may be used to accurately align the build chamber with the process chamber.