Systems and methods for an improved peel operation during additive fabrication

Abstract

According to some aspects, a method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed is provided. The method may comprise forming a layer of material in contact with a container, and subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, actively bending the container around at least one fixed point such that the layer of material separates from the container. According to some aspects, an additive fabrication apparatus configured to form a plurality of layers of material is provided. The apparatus may comprise a container, a build platform, one or more force generators, and at least one controller configured to, subsequent to formation of a layer of material in contact with the container, actively bend the container around at least one fixed point via the one or more force generators, such that the layer of material separates from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed on a build platform, comprising:
 forming a layer of material in contact with a container; and   operating, subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, one or more force generators coupled to the container to apply a force to a portion of the container, thereby actively bending the container around at least one fixed point such that the layer of material separates from the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bending the container around the at least one fixed point comprises moving at least a portion of the container while anchoring the container at the at least one fixed point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixed point includes a first end of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein bending the container comprises moving a second end of the container away from the build platform. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the layer of material to separate from the container comprises separating a first portion of the layer of material from the container prior to separating a second portion of the layer of material from the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one fixed point comprises a first fixed point, and wherein the second portion of the layer of material is closer to the first fixed point than the first portion of the layer of material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the layer of material in contact with the container is performed with the container having a first curvature, and wherein bending the container results in the container having a second curvature, greater than the first curvature. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first curvature is that of a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the build platform such that the combined motion of the build platform and the bending of the container cause the layer of material to separate from the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bending the container comprises moving ends of the container, and wherein the at least one fixed point includes one or more points between the ends of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein causing the layer of material to separate from the container comprises separating a first portion of the layer of material at substantially the same time as a second portion of the layer of material, the first and second portions of the layer of material being non-contiguous. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the build platform relative to the container during operation of the one or more force generators. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from an acrylic plastic. 
     
     
         14 . At least one computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, perform a method of additive fabrication wherein a plurality of layers of material are formed on a build platform, the method comprising:
 forming a layer of material in contact with a container; and   operating, subsequent to the forming of the layer of material, one or more force generators coupled to the container to apply a force to a portion of the container, thereby actively bending the container around at least one fixed point such that the layer of material separates from the container.   
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein bending the container around the at least one fixed point comprises moving at least a portion of the container while anchoring the container at the at least one fixed point. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fixed point includes a first end of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein bending the container comprises moving a second end of the container away from the build platform. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises moving the build platform relative to the container during operation of the one or more force generators.