U.S. patent application number 12/374165 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for method and system for layerwise production of a tangible object.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOR TOEGEPASTNATUURWEETEN SCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO. Invention is credited to Ronaldus Jacobus Johannes Boot, Jacobus Hubertus Theodoor Jamar, Herman Hendrikus Maalderink.
Application Number | 20100227068 12/374165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37497883 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100227068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boot; Ronaldus Jacobus Johannes ;
et al. |
September 9, 2010 |
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.
Inventors: |
Boot; Ronaldus Jacobus
Johannes; (Son en Breugel, NL) ; Maalderink; Herman
Hendrikus; (Nuenen, NL) ; Jamar; Jacobus Hubertus
Theodoor; (Vessem, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
1801 EAST 9TH STREET, SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-3108
US
|
Assignee: |
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOR
TOEGEPASTNATUURWEETEN SCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
DELFT
NL
|
Family ID: |
37497883 |
Appl. No.: |
12/374165 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
June 1, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2007/050258 |
371 Date: |
October 22, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
427/346 ;
118/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B33Y 10/00 20141201;
B29C 64/124 20170801; B29C 64/135 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
427/346 ;
118/56 |
International
Class: |
B05D 3/12 20060101
B05D003/12; B05C 9/12 20060101 B05C009/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2006 |
EP |
06076434.7 |
Claims
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).
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a method for layerwise production
of a tangible object according to the preamble of claim 1. The
invention also relates to a system for layerwise production of a
tangible object.
[0002] Such a method is known. For example it is known from
DE10256672A1 that the liquid reservoir has a transparent bottom
plate whose upper side has a separation layer. In the space above
the bottom plate there is a carrier plate which can be moved up and
down. During its movement, the carrier plate can reach positions
ranging from under the liquid level to above it. A firstly formed
solid layer of the tangible object is adhered to the underside of
the carrier plate by selectively solidifying the liquid.
Consecutively formed solid layers are each adhered to a previously
formed solid layer, respectively.
[0003] Each time after solidification of a new layer, the carrier
plate together with the earlier solidified layers adhered thereon
are moved upwards in order to separate the last formed solid layer
from the separation layer of the bottom plate. Each time after such
separation, the separated solid layer is moved to a predetermined
position at a distance from the separation layer of the bottom
plate for letting the liquid flow-in between the separated solid
layer and the separation layer of the bottom plate. By solidifying
a predetermined area of a layer containing the flown-in liquid, a
successive solid layer of the tangible object is obtained.
[0004] A drawback of the known method is, that during each method
cycle the time required for said separation and for the liquid to
flow-in between the separated solid layer and the separation layer
of the bottom plate is relatively long. This restricts the speed of
the production process.
[0005] Note that this restriction in production speed is especially
severe for objects having strongly varying cross-sections. This is
explained as follows. The upward separation movement of the carrier
plate requires an external force to be exerted on the carrier
plate. This external force results in an increase of internal
stresses in the tangible object being produced. If these stresses
become too high, the object can deform, deteriorate or break.
Hence, for the known method, the maximum permissible internal
stress level in the tangible object restricts the maximum
permissible level of external forces to be applied, and hence
restricts the production speed. Since vertical tensile stresses in
objects with varying cross-sections can become locally very high,
the restriction in production speed is especially severe for such
objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to enable a faster
production of a tangible object.
[0007] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, a
method according to claim 1 is provided.
[0008] In this method according to the first aspect of the
invention, 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 takes place simultaneously with
separating of other, already solidified parts of the layer.
Favourable effects of such simultaneous solidifying and separating
are elucidated as follows.
[0009] At first, the simultaneous solidifying and separating
provides a speed gain of the process in itself. That is, the start
of separating a layer does not have to wait until all parts of the
layer have been solidified. Hence, there is little or no downtime
of the separating means. Also, there is little or no downtime of
the solidifying means.
[0010] Secondly, the separating of the layer is carried out more
gradually in that it is performed part by part, instead of the
whole layer at once. This means that, as compared to known methods,
external forces to be exerted for the separation movement, and
therefore the internal stresses in the tangible object, do not need
to be that high anymore for a given separation speed. In fact, such
external forces can be increased relative to known methods, without
violating a maximum permissible internal stress level in the
tangible object. In this respect, a further gain in production
speed can be obtained.
[0011] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the invention,
a system according to claim 9 is provided.
[0012] Specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the
dependent claims.
[0013] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent
from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described
hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention
will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
drawings.
[0015] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sectional side view of an
example of an embodiment of a system according to the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 schematically shows a sectional side view of an
example of another embodiment of a system according to the
invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 schematically shows a sectional side view of an
example of yet another embodiment of a system according to the
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a fragmentary sectional
side view of an example of yet another embodiment of a system
according to the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show a fragmentary sectional
side view of an example of yet another embodiment of a system
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Each of the examples of FIGS. 1-5 relates to a system
according to claim 9 that can perform an example of a method
according to claim 1. In the respective figures sometimes the same
reference signs are used for similar or identical parts or aspects
of the systems.
[0021] Hence, each of the examples of FIGS. 1-5 relates to a system
for layerwise production of a tangible object, the system
comprising:
[0022] a liquid reservoir for containing a liquid therein;
[0023] a construction shape for being in contact with the liquid in
the liquid reservoir;
[0024] solidifying means for solidifying a predetermined area of a
layer of the liquid, said liquid layer adjoining the construction
shape, so as to obtain a solid layer of the tangible object, the
solid layer thus having a predetermined shape;
[0025] separating means for separating said solid layer from said
construction shape;
[0026] moving means 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 flown-in between the separated solid layer and the
construction shape, so as to obtain a successive such solid layer
adhered to the solid layer;
[0027] wherein the system is arranged for carrying out said
solidifying and said separating such that solidifying of certain
parts of the layer takes place simultaneously with separating of
other, already solidified parts of the layer.
[0028] In each of the examples of FIGS. 1-5 the tangible object is
shown while being produced. It may for example be a prototype or
model of an article of manufacture or other suitable type of
object.
[0029] In each of the examples of FIGS. 1-5 the solidifying means
can use any suitable chemical or physical process to solidify the
predetermined area of the liquid layer. The solidifying means may
for example initiate a chemical reaction of a component in the
liquid which results in a solid reaction product. For example, the
liquid may be a liquid resin which can be cured by electro-magnetic
radiation, for example a photo-polymer of which polymerisation can
be activated by projecting light of a suitable wavelength. The
liquid can be transformed into a solid by a suitable type of energy
and the solidifying means may include a source of energy which can
selectively provide the energy to the predetermined area. The
source of energy may for example include a source of
electro-magnetic radiation. The solidifying means may include a
light source which can emit light which is projected onto the
predetermined area of the liquid layer via a projection unit of the
solidifying means in a pattern corresponding to the desired shape
and size of the solid layer.
[0030] In each of the examples of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the construction
shape comprises a flexible layer having a liquid contacting side
for being in contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir, and
the construction shape 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 are in contact
with the liquid layer for solidifying said certain parts of the
layer, while time-dependently varying other parts of the liquid
contacting side of the flexible layer have been separated from said
other, already solidified parts of the layer.
[0031] Such application of such flexible layer can easily and
effectively be incorporated in many different methods and systems
for layerwise production of tangible objects.
[0032] Furthermore, in each of the examples of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,
the construction shape comprises guiding means arranged for being
in pressing contact with a side of the flexible layer opposite to
the liquid contacting side for defining the time-dependently
varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting side of the
flexible layer.
[0033] Such application of such guiding means is an easy and
effective way of carrying out the bending of the flexible
layer.
[0034] In the example of FIG. 1, the guiding means is arranged for
realizing said pressing contact by means of sliding of the guiding
means along said opposite side of the flexible layer.
[0035] Such sliding contact allows for a large area of said
pressing contact, which is for example favourable for keeping the
time-dependently varying contacting parts of the liquid contacting
side of the flexible layer flat in conditions when the liquid in
the reservoir would exert relatively large pressure on these
contacting parts.
[0036] In the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3, the guiding means is
arranged for realizing said pressing contact by means of rolling of
the guiding means along said opposite side of the flexible
layer.
[0037] Such rolling contact reduces the wear of the flexible
layer.
[0038] In the example of FIG. 2, said rolling of the guiding means
is realized at least in that the flexible layer is rollable in a
closed loop around at least two rollers.
[0039] This allows for a compact way of realizing the construction
shape with rolling guiding means.
[0040] In the example of FIG. 3, said rolling of the guiding means
is realized at east by means of a winding and rewinding mechanism
for the flexible layer.
[0041] This allows for an alternative way of realizing the
construction shape with rolling guiding means.
[0042] In the examples of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B, said
simultaneous taking place of solidifying and of separating is
realized in another way than in the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 3. More in particular, for the embodiments of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A
and 5B, said simultaneous taking place of solidifying and of
separating is realized in that a relative rotative movement is
performed between the construction shape and the object under
construction.
[0043] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows a system 1
according to the invention.
[0044] The system 1 comprises a liquid reservoir 2 which, in the
shown example, is filled with a liquid 3 up to a liquid level 4.
The system 1 further comprises a construction shape 6 which is
positioned below the liquid level 4 in the liquid reservoir 2. In
the shown example the reservoir 2 comprises a bottom platform 7 and
the construction shape 6 comprises, located above platform 7, a
flexible layer 8.
[0045] The system 1 further comprises solidifying means 9 for
solidifying a predetermined area of a layer 10 of the liquid 3,
said liquid layer 10 adjoining the construction shape 6, so as to
obtain a solid layer 14 of the tangible object 5, the solid layer
thus having a predetermined shape.
[0046] In the shown example, the solidifying means 9 is situated
below the bottom platform 7. To enable the light or other radiation
15 of the solidifying means 9 to enter the liquid reservoir 2, the
bottom platform 7 and the flexible layer 8 of the construction
shape 6 are transparent to the radiation 15.
[0047] As will be explained somewhat further below, the system 1
further comprises separating means for separating said solid layer
14 from said construction shape 6.
[0048] The system 1 further comprises moving means for moving,
relative to one another, the separated solid layer 14 and the
construction shape 6 to a predetermined position relative to one
another for similar solidifying a predetermined area of a
successive such liquid layer containing liquid 3 flown-inbetween
the separated solid layer 14 and the construction shape 6, so as to
obtain a successive such solid layer adhered to the solid layer
14.
[0049] In the shown example, the moving means comprises a carrier
plate 20 located above the construction shape 6. As indicated by
double-arrow 25 in FIG. 1, the carrier plate 20 is movable up and
down relative to the construction shape 6 by the action of a
carrier plate actuator 21. During its movement, the carrier plate
20 can reach positions ranging from under the liquid level 4 to
above it. A firstly formed solid layer 24 of the tangible object 5
is adhered to the underside of the carrier plate 20. Consecutively
formed solid layers 34 are each adhered to a previously formed
solid layer, respectively.
[0050] Each time after solidification and separation of a new
layer, the carrier plate together with the solidified layers
adhered thereon are moved upwards. Hence, the method for layerwise
production of a tangible object is a cyclic method, wherein the
described steps of solidifying, separating and positioning together
are comprised in a single cycle of the method.
[0051] The system is arranged for carrying out said solidifying and
said separating such that solidifying of certain parts of the layer
takes place simultaneously with separating of other, already
solidified parts of the layer. This is explained as follows
[0052] The separating means for separating said layer 14 from said
construction shape 6 simultaneously with the solidifying of a
predetermined area of the layer 14 is explained as follows.
[0053] The flexible layer 8 has a liquid contacting side for being
in contact with the liquid 3. Inbetween the flexible layer 8 on the
one hand and the bottom platform 7 on the other hand, there is
situated a guiding means 81 of the construction shape 6. Upper
parts in FIG. 1 of the guiding means 81 are in pressing contact
with a side of the flexible layer opposite to the liquid contacting
side. In the shown example, said pressing contact is realized by
means of sliding of the guiding means along said opposite side of
the flexible layer. Lower parts in FIG. 1 of the guiding means 81
are in rolling contact with a side of the bottom platform 7 by
means of rollers 80. In the shown example, on the opposite side of
the platform 7 also the solidifying means 9 are in rolling contact
with the platform 7 via similar such rollers 80. Both the guiding
means 81 and the solidifying means 9 are synchronously movable
relative to the platform 7 via these rollers 80 in either or both
directions indicated by double arrow 73 in FIG. 1.
[0054] In the shown example, the platform 7 is transparent to the
radiation 15, while the guiding means 81 contains a passageway for
the radiation 15. Alternatively, the guiding means 81 can also be
transparent to the radiation 15 instead of having a passageway
therefor.
[0055] As an example it is now assumed that, in the course of time
during the performing of a method cycle, the guiding means 81 and
the solidifying means 9 are synchronously moving in the right-hand
direction of arrow 73 in FIG. 1. Then, at the instantaneous moment
in time shown in FIG. 1, there are contacting parts of the liquid
contacting side of the flexible layer 8 which are in contact with
the layer 10 for solidifying certain parts of the layer 10. During
the movement of the guiding means 81 and the solidifying means 9,
these contacting parts are time-dependently varying. In FIG. 1 on
the left-hand side of these contacting parts there are
time-dependently varying other parts of the liquid contacting side
of the flexible layer 8 which have been separated from said other,
already solidified parts of the layer 10. The liquid 3 is able to
flow inbetween said other parts of the liquid contacting side of
the flexible layer 8 and said other, already solidified parts of
the layer 10. This is possible because the flexible layer 8 is
bended by the movement of the guiding means 81 in the direction
73.
[0056] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3 which show examples
of other embodiments of a system for layerwise production of a
tangible object 5.
[0057] A difference with the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that for the
embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 an upper layer 14, instead of a lower
layer 14, of an object 5 under production is solidified during each
method cycle. The carrier plate 20 is situated under the object
under production, instead of above it, while the solidifying means
9 is situated above the object under production, instead of under
it. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the carrier plate 20 is movable up and down in
directions 125 by the action of an actuator 21 which extends
through the bottom of the liquid reservoir 2 of the system. It is
remarked that it is not essential that the actuator extends through
a bottom of the liquid reservoir. Instead, different other types of
actuators are possible, for example an actuator extending from the
carrier plate in upwards direction until above the liquid level
4.
[0058] In the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 the flexible layer is
indicated by reference numeral 108.
[0059] A further difference with the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that
for the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 a different guiding means is
applied. That is, the guiding means in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises
rollers 85 for realizing said pressing contact by means of rolling
(instead of sliding) of the guiding means along said opposite side
of the flexible layer 108.
[0060] A difference between the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 is that
for the example of FIG. 2 said rolling of the guiding means is
realized at least in that the flexible layer 108 is rollable in a
closed loop around at least two rollers 85, while for the example
of FIG. 3 said rolling of the guiding means is realized at least by
means of a winding and rewinding mechanism for the flexible layer
108. The winding and rewinding mechanism of FIG. 3 comprises two
winding and rewinding rollers 88.
[0061] For the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly
comprising the flexible layer 108, the rollers and the solidifying
means are synchronously movable relative to the reservoir 2 in
either or both directions indicated by double arrow 173. The
necessary driving means for such movement are not shown in the
drawings. During such movement the flexible layer 108 is moving in
one of the directions indicated by double arrow 174, such that the
parts of the flexible layer 108 that are in contact with the layer
10 are not moving relative to the layer 10.
[0062] Note, that in the example of FIG. 1 the sliding of the
guiding means along said opposite side of the flexible layer is
applied for a system in which a lower layer 14 of an object 5 under
production is solidified during each method cycle, while in the
examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 the rolling of the guiding means along
said opposite side of the flexible layer is applied for a system in
which an upper layer 14 of an object 5 under production is
solidified during each method cycle. However, it is remarked that
the vice versa situation is also possible. That is, it is also
possible to apply rolling of the guiding means for a system in
which a lower layer of an object under production is solidified
during each method cycle, while it is also possible to apply
sliding of the guiding means for a system in which an upper layer
of an object under production is solidified during each method
cycle.
[0063] Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A and 4B. These figures show
a fragment of a system 201 for layerwise production of a tangible
object 5. The system 201 comprises: a construction shape 206 having
a liquid contacting side 211 for being in contact with liquid 3 in
a liquid reservoir of the system 201, as well as solidifying means
9 for emitting radiation 15. Reference numeral 214 denotes the last
formed solid layer of the object 5. The construction shape 206 and
the solid layer 214 have nonmatching shapes. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B said nonmatching shapes are realized in
that the solid layer side 214 has a non-flat shape.
[0064] The solidification that the solid layer 214 has undergone,
has been carried out by moving the object 5 relative to the
construction shape 206 in a kind of rotative manner indicated by
double arrow 275. To further illustrate this, FIG. 4B shows a
condition during said rotative movement, in which condition the
object 5 has an orientation relative to the construction shape 206,
which orientation differs from that of FIG. 4A. In the course of
time during such rotation, different parts of the liquid 3 between
the solid layer side 270 and the contacting side 211 are being
solidified by exposing these parts to the radiation 15. In this way
the solid layer 214 has been formed in the course of time.
[0065] For this embodiment, the application of the said nonmatching
shapes results in improved separation, since the liquid 3 will
quickly fill up the expanding interspace between the solid layer
214 and the construction shape 206.
[0066] Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. These figures show
a fragment of a system 301 for layerwise production of a tangible
object 5. The system 301 comprises: a construction shape 306 having
a liquid contacting side 311 for being in contact with liquid 3 in
a liquid reservoir of the system 301, as well as solidifying means
9 for emitting radiation 15. Reference numeral 314 denotes the last
formed solid layer of the object 5. The construction shape 306 and
the solid layer 314 have nonmatching shapes. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B said nonmatching shapes are realized in
that the liquid contacting side 311 has a non-flat shape.
[0067] The solidification that the solid layer 314 has undergone,
has been carried out by moving the construction shape 306 relative
to the object 5 in a kind of rotative manner indicated by double
arrow 375. To further illustrate this, FIG. 5B shows a condition
during said rotative movement, in which condition the object 5 has
an orientation relative to the construction shape 306, which
orientation differs from that of FIG. 5A. In the course of time
during such rotation, different parts of the liquid 3 between the
solid layer side 370 and the contacting side 311 are being
solidified by exposing these parts to the radiation 15. In this way
the solid layer 314 has been formed in the course of time.
[0068] Again, also for this embodiment, the application of the said
nonmatching shapes results in improved separation, since the liquid
3 will quickly fill up the expanding interspace between the solid
layer 314 and the construction shape 306.
[0069] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the
invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications
and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended
claims. For example, the liquid reservoir may be higher or lower
than shown in the FIG. 1. Furthermore, the object may have any
suitable size and shape. Also, the invention is not limited to
physical devices or units implemented in non-programmable hardware
but can also be applied in programmable devices or units able to
perform the desired device functions by operating in accordance
with suitable program code. Furthermore, the devices may be
physically distributed over a number of apparatuses, while
functionally operating as a single device. Also, devices
functionally forming separate devices may be integrated in a single
physical device. However, other modifications, variations and
alternatives are also possible. The specifications and drawings
are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in
a restrictive sense.
[0070] In the claims, any reference signs placed between
parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word
`comprising` does not exclude the presence of other elements or
steps than those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words `a` and
`an` shall not be construed as limited to `only one`, but instead
are used to mean `at least one`, and do not exclude a plurality.
The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different claims does not indicate that a combination of these
measures cannot be used to advantage.
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