Optical molding apparatus and optical molding method

Abstract

An optical molding apparatus that molds a three-dimensional model by stacking cured layers. Each cured layer is formed by emitting light according to cross-sectional-shape data of the three-dimensional model onto a surface of photo-curable resin. The optical molding apparatus includes a container that contains the photo-curable resin, a movable stage that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the photo-curable resin, an optical system that emits the light onto the surface of the photo-curable resin contained in the container so as to form each cured layer on the movable stage, and a discharging mechanism that performs a discharging operation for discharging new photo-curable resin onto a surface of each cured layer formed on the movable stage before stacking a subsequent cured layer.

1 . An optical molding method performed by an optical molding apparatus that molds a three-dimensional model by stacking cured layers, each cured layer being formed by emitting light according to cross-sectional-shape data of the three-dimensional model onto a surface of photo-curable resin, the method comprising the steps of:
 emitting the light onto the surface of the photo-curable resin contained in a container so as to form each cured layer on a movable stage that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the photo-curable resin; and   discharging new photo-curable resin onto a surface of each cured layer formed on the movable stage before stacking a subsequent cured layer.   
     
     
         2 . The optical molding method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of ultrasonically vibrating the movable stage while the new photo-curable resin is discharged. 
     
     
         3 . The optical molding method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of increasing or decreasing a temperature at an end of the container while the new photo-curable resin is discharged so as to create a convection current in the photo-curable resin contained in the container. 
     
     
         4 . The optical molding method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of renewing the photo-curable resin contained in the container before stacking the subsequent cured layer.