Apparatus for fabrication of three dimensional objects

Abstract

An apparatus for bottom-up fabrication of three dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising: a vat for a photosensitive polymer, the floor of the vat including a working surface arranged such that, in use, light incident on the working surface interacts with the photosensitive polymer at the working surface to fabricate a portion of the three dimensional object; a build platform capable of being inserted into the vat, the build platform having a planar surface; an elevator mechanism capable of adjusting the separation between the working surface of the vat and the planar surface of the build platform; and a rotation mechanism capable of varying the relative rotational position of the vat relative to the build platform, the relative rotation being about an axis which is normal to the working surface of the vat.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
 a build head for holding at least a portion of said 3D object;   a base for holding a resin;   an actuator operatively coupled to said base, wherein said actuator is configured to move said base, to adjust a vertical distance between said base and said build head;   an optical source configured to provide a light to said resin that is disposed between said base and said build head, wherein said light is sufficient to cure at least a portion of said resin; and   a processor operatively coupled to said optical source and said actuator, wherein said processor is configured to:
 (a) direct said optical source to provide said light to said resin, to cure said at least said portion of said resin, thereby to print said at least said portion of said 3D object adjacent to a surface of said build head; and 
 (b) subsequent to (a), direct said actuator to move said base, to adjust said vertical distance between said base and said build head. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said movement of said base increases said vertical distance between said base and said build head. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said movement of said base decreases said vertical distance between said base and said build head. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein, subsequent to (b), said processor is further configured to (c) direct said actuator to move said base, to further adjust said vertical distance between said base and said build head, to provide an additional resin between said base and said build head for printing an additional portion of said 3D object. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said optical source is configured to direct said light through of said base and toward said resin. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said base comprises an optically clear surface. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said optically clear surface is a polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said optically clear surface is removable from said base. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said actuator is a stepper motor. 
     
     
         27 . A method for printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, comprising:
 (a) providing a resin adjacent to a base, such that said resin is disposed between said base and a build head, wherein said build head is for holding at least a portion of said 3D object;   (b) directing an optical source to provide a light to said resin, to cure at least a portion of said resin, thereby to print said at least said portion of said 3D object adjacent to a surface of said build head; and   (c) subsequent to (b), directing an actuator to move said base, to adjust a vertical distance between said base and said build head.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein movement of said base by said actuator increases said vertical distance between said base and said build head. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein movement of said base by said actuator decreases said vertical distance between said base and said build head. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, subsequent to (c), directing said actuator to move said base, to further adjust said vertical distance between said base and said build head, to provide an additional resin between said base and said build head for printing an additional portion of said 3D object. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said optical source directs said light through of said base and toward said resin. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said base comprises an optically clear surface. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said optically clear surface is a polymer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said optically clear surface is removable from said base. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said actuator is a stepper motor.