Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a three-dimensional object by generating a cross-sectional pattern of energy of an object to be formed at a selected surface of a medium capable of altering its physical state in response to the energy projected or transmitted onto the selected layer. By impinging radiation, particle bombardment, or chemical reaction by a method controlled by a spatial light modulator, successive adjacent cross-sections of the object are rapidly formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar build-up of the desired object creating a three dimensional manifestation from bitmap images of a series of cross-sections of a computer generated model.

Abstract: An improved method for creating a three-dimensional object by generating a cross-sectional pattern of energy of an object to be formed at a selected surface of a medium capable of altering its physical state in response to the energy projected or transmitted onto the selected layer. By impinging radiation, particle bombardment, or chemical reaction by a method controlled by a spatial light modulator, successive adjacent cross-sections of the object are rapidly formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar build-up of the desired object creating a three dimensional manifestation from bitmap images of a series of cross-sections of a computer generated model.