Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable paste is shown and described. The apparatus includes a pastes spreader, at least a portion of which extends into the solidifiable paste. The container holding the solidifiable paste and the spreader are movable relative to one another. In one system, the spreader vibrates as the container and the spreader move relative to one another. In another system, the spreader is part of a spreader assembly in which a first spreader and second spreader are angled with respect to one another, and the assembly is rotatable and lockable into multiple rotational positions. The apparatus and method allow three-dimensional objects to be progressively built upside down by ensuring that the previously solidified object section has a substantially homogeneous layer of solidifiable material available for forming a new layer of the solidified object prior to exposure to solidification energy.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device and contourless object data is shown and described. A voxel matrix is superimposed over an object model defined by three-dimensional object data to determine active voxels that intersect at least a portion of the object model. The active voxels are related to a path generation reference frame of an apparatus for making a three-dimensional object to generate solidification energy source event data that defines scanning (y) axis locations and/or solidification times at which a linear solidification device supplies solidification energy to a solidifiable material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device is shown and described. In certain examples, the linear solidification device includes a laser diode that projects light onto a scanning device, such as a rotating polygonal mirror or a linear scanning micromirror, which then deflects the light onto a photohardenable resin. As a result, the linear solidification device scans a line of solidification energy in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of the laser diode. In other examples, the linear solidification device is a laser device array or light emitting diode array that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of the array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device is shown and described. The apparatus and method compensate for a non-orthogonal angle between the travel axis and scanning axis of a linear scanning device and also provide a substantially constant solidification depth along the scanning axis. In certain examples, a solidification energy control system is also provided to regulate the solidification power supplied to the solidifiable material by modulating the power supplied to the linear solidification device's solidification energy source, examples of which include laser diodes.

Abstract: A dental arch model and method for making the same is shown and described. The dental arch model includes a connector having opposite ends that connect to a respective one of the arch legs. The connector has a three-dimensional shape but does not include a surface that is both planar and parallel to the base of the arch connector along more than two thirds of the arch connector's length. In certain examples, the connector is in the shape of a prism or a trapezoid. In other examples, the connector has an upper surface that is sloped relative to the base of the arch connector. The arch connector may also include a plurality of fluid passageways for allowing fluid flow from an interior area between the inner walls of the arch connector to a location outside of the connector.