Methods for removing gas and gas bubbles from liquid materials to be used in programmed material consolidation processes

Abstract

Methods for removing gases from, or “degassing,” liquid material for use in programmed material consolidation include inducing movement in a volume of the liquid material. Movement may be effected while the liquid material is contained by part of a programmed material consolidation apparatus. Such movement, which may be in the form of vibration of the liquid material or otherwise, may be directly or indirectly effected. Upon causing the liquid material to move, gas bubbles may float to a surface of a volume of the liquid material. Their removal from the surface may be facilitated by application of a negative pressure to at least portions of the surface.

1 . A method for removing bubbles from a volume of liquid material within a fabrication chamber of a stereolithography apparatus, comprising vibrating the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material comprises causing bubbles within the volume of liquid material to dislodge from a surface of the fabrication chamber or from a structure within the fabrication chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material comprises causing the bubbles to float to a surface of the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material is indirectly effected.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material comprises vibrating a surface of the fabrication chamber which contacts the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material comprises causing a structure located at least partially within the volume of liquid material to vibrate.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein causing the structure located at least partially within the volume of liquid material to vibrate comprises causing a fabrication support to vibrate.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material is effected with an ultrasonic transducer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein vibrating the volume of liquid material is effected with a piezoelectric transducer.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a negative pressure to a surface of the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying the negative pressure facilitates removal of bubbles at or near the surface.  
   
   
       12 . A method for removing bubbles from a volume of liquid material within a fabrication chamber of a stereolithography apparatus, comprising causing movement within the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein causing movement comprises causing bubbles within the volume of liquid material to dislodge from a surface of the fabrication chamber or from a structure within the fabrication chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein causing movement comprises causing the bubbles to float to a surface of the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein causing movement is indirectly effected.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein causing movement is effected by causing movement of a structure in contact with the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein causing movement comprises vibrating the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising applying a negative pressure to a surface of the volume of liquid material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein applying the negative pressure facilitates removal of bubbles at or near the surface.  
   
   
       20 . A method for degassing a volume of liquid to be used in a programmed material consolidation process, comprising: 
 inducing movement within a volume of liquid material contained by at least a portion of a programmed material consolidation apparatus to cause gas bubbles to float to a surface of the volume of liquid material; and    applying a negative pressure to at least a portion of the surface of the volume of liquid material to remove bubbles from the surface.