Method and system for layerwise production of a tangible object

Abstract

A method cycle of a method for layerwise production of a tangible object ( 5 ) comprises the steps of: —solidifying a predetermined area of a layer ( 10 ) of a liquid ( 3 ) when said liquid layer ( 10 ) is adjoining a construction shape, so as to obtain a solid layer ( 14 ) of the tangible object ( 5 ); —separating said solid layer from said construction shape; and —moving, relative to one another, the separated solid layer and the construction shape to a predetermined position relative to one another for carrying out a successive such method cycle, so as to obtain a successive such solid layer adhered to the solid layer. For at least one of said method cycles, said solidifying and said separating are carried out such that solidifying of certain parts of the layer ( 14 ) takes place simultaneously with separating of other, already solidified parts of the layer.

1 . A method for layerwise production of a tangible object ( 5 ), the method comprising:
 providing a liquid reservoir ( 2 ) containing a liquid ( 3 );   providing a construction shape ( 6 ;  206 ;  306 ); and   repeatedly performing method cycles, each method cycle comprising the steps of:
 solidifying a predetermined area of a layer ( 10 ) of the liquid ( 3 ) when said liquid layer ( 10 ) is adjoining the construction shape, so as to obtain a solid layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) of the tangible object ( 5 ), the solid layer thus having a predetermined shape; 
 separating said solid layer from said construction shape; and 
 moving, relative to one another, the separated solid layer and the construction shape to a predetermined position relative to one another for carrying out a successive such method cycle for similar solidifying a predetermined area of a successive such liquid layer containing liquid ( 3 ) flown-in between the separated solid layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) and the construction shape ( 6 ;  206 ;  306 ), so as to obtain a successive such solid layer adhered to the solid layer; 
   
     characterized in that
 for at least one of said method cycles, said solidifying and said separating are carried out such that solidifying of certain parts of the layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) takes place simultaneously with separating of other, already solidified parts of the layer. 
 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the construction shape comprises a flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) having a liquid contacting side and wherein said simultaneous taking place of solidifying and of separating is realized in that said liquid contacting side is brought in contact with the liquid ( 3 ) in the liquid reservoir ( 2 ) and the flexible layer is bent such that time-dependently varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) are in contact with the liquid layer ( 10 ) for solidifying said certain parts of the layer ( 10 ), while time-dependently varying other parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) have been separated from said other, already solidified parts of the layer ( 10 ). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the construction shape ( 6 ) comprises guiding means ( 81 ;  85 ;  87 ) and wherein the guiding means are brought in pressing contact with the side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) opposite to the liquid contacting side for defining the time-dependently varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said pressing contact is realized by means of sliding of the guiding means ( 81 ) along said opposite side of the flexible layer ( 8 ). 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said pressing contact is realized by means of rolling of the guiding means ( 85 ;  87 ) along said opposite side of the flexible layer ( 108 ). 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said rolling of the guiding means ( 85 ) is realized at least in that the flexible layer ( 108 ) is rolling in a closed loop around at least two rollers ( 85 ). 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said rolling of the guiding means ( 87 ) is realized at least in that the flexible layer ( 108 ) is winded and rewinded by means of a winding and rewinding mechanism ( 88 ). 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said simultaneous taking place of solidifying and of separating is realized in that a relative rotative movement is performed between the construction shape ( 206 ;  306 ) and the object ( 5 ) under construction. 
   
   
       9 . A system for layerwise production of a tangible object ( 5 ), the system comprising:
 a liquid reservoir ( 2 ) for containing a liquid ( 3 ) therein;   a construction shape ( 6 ;  206 ;  306 ) for being in contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir;   solidifying means ( 9 ) for solidifying a predetermined area of a layer ( 10 ) of the liquid ( 3 ), said liquid layer ( 10 ) adjoining the construction shape, so as to obtain a solid layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) of the tangible object ( 5 ), the solid layer thus having a predetermined shape;   separating means ( 8 ,  80 ,  81 ;  108 ,  85 ;  108 ,  87 ;  275 ;  375 ) for separating said solid layer from said construction shape;   moving means ( 21 ) for moving, relative to one another, the separated solid layer and the construction shape to a predetermined position relative to one another for similar solidifying a predetermined area of a successive such liquid layer containing liquid ( 3 ) flown-in between the separated solid layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) and the construction shape ( 6 ;  206 ;  306 ), so as to obtain a successive such solid layer adhered to the solid layer;   
     characterized in that
 the system is arranged for carrying out said solidifying and said separating such that solidifying of certain parts of the layer ( 14 ;  214 ;  314 ) takes place simultaneously with separating of other, already solidified parts of the layer. 
 
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the construction shape comprises a flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) having a liquid contacting side for being in contact with the liquid ( 3 ) in the liquid reservoir ( 2 ) and wherein the construction shape ( 6 ) is arranged for bending, in operation, the flexible layer such that time-dependently varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) are in contact with the liquid layer ( 10 ) for solidifying said certain parts of the layer ( 10 ), while time-dependently varying other parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) have been separated from said other, already solidified parts of the layer ( 10 ). 
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein the construction shape ( 6 ) comprises guiding means ( 81 ;  85 ;  87 ) arranged for being in pressing contact with a side of the flexible layer ( 8 ;  108 ) opposite to the liquid contacting side for defining the time-dependently varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting side of the flexible layer. 
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the guiding means is arranged for realizing said pressing contact by means of sliding of the guiding means ( 81 ) along said opposite side of the flexible layer ( 8 ). 
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the guiding means is arranged for realizing said pressing contact by means of rolling of the guiding means ( 85 ;  87 ) along said opposite side of the flexible layer ( 108 ). 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein said rolling of the guiding means ( 85 ) is realized at least in that the flexible layer ( 108 ) is rollable in a closed loop around at least two rollers ( 85 ). 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein said rolling of the guiding means ( 87 ) is realized at least by means of a winding and rewinding mechanism ( 88 ) for the flexible layer ( 108 ).