Abstract: An apparatus and process for reducing variations in the profile of a sheet metal stock are shown and described. The process includes the use of two passes, each comprising two smoothing surfaces. The smoothing surfaces of each pass are mateable to define a profile between the smoothing surfaces. The profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the first pass is substantially the inverse of the profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the second pass. As a sheet metal is processed between the first and second passes, it is formed with the first profile and the second profile thereby reducing variations in the profile of the sheet metal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material such as a photopolymer is shown and described. In accordance with the method, positions relative to a build axis are subdivided into first and second exposure data subsets, and the first and second exposure data subsets are solidified in alternating sequences to reduce the surface area of solidified material in contact with a solidification substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a food grade food grade lubricant, such as one of synthetic or mineral oil origin, which can be used for the lubrication of compressors and vacuum pumps. The lubricant composition can include a blend of alkylated aromatics, such as naphthalenes, and synthetic hydrocarbons comprised of polyalphaolefin fluids. The blend can be compounded with additives including one or more of antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antiwear additives, metal passivators, and anti foam agents that are cleared for incidental food contact.

Abstract: Device for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels), said device comprising a computer unit, an IC and/or a software implementation respectively with the ability of adjusting and/or controlling the energy input via a specific gray value and/or color value in a voxel matrix.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for producing a three-dimensional object, comprising: providing a material to be solidified, the material comprising a filler and a binder; delivering electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation in a pattern or an image to a building region for solidifying said material; wherein said delivering of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is performed selectively to a defined area or volume of said material to be solidified; and wherein an energy density of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is varied within said pattern or image and/or between patterns or images of different building regions of said material. The present invention may be directed also to a system where different first and second materials are to be solidified.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising: providing a material to be solidified; delivering electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation in a pattern or an image to a building region for solidifying said material; wherein said delivering of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is performed selectively to a defined area or volume of said material to be solidified; and wherein an energy density of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is controlled and/or adjusted in a border region of said pattern or image and/or is varied in border regions of patterns or images of different building regions of said material, to have an energy density different from the building region other than said border region(s), wherein the controlling and/or adjustment is dependent on, alone or in combination: (a) intensity of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation delivered to said defined area or volume

Abstract: An apparatus and process for reducing variations in the profile of a sheet metal stock are shown and described. The process includes the use of two passes, each comprising two smoothing surfaces. The smoothing surfaces of each pass are mateable to define a profile between the smoothing surfaces. The profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the first pass is substantially the inverse of the profile defined between the smoothing surfaces of the second pass. As a sheet metal is processed between the first and second passes, it is formed with the first profile and the second profile thereby reducing variations in the profile of the sheet metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process or device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise solidification of a material which is solidifiable under the application of electromagnetic irradiation by means of mask illumination, wherein the mask is produced using an image forming unit having a prescribed resolution, which is formed from a constant number of image forming elements (pixels) being discrete and being arranged in a spatially mutually fixed manner. For the improvement of the resolution along the outer and inner contours of the sectional areas of the object to be generated layer-wise in the sub-pixel range, a multiple illumination per layer is performed, which consists of a series of multiple images that are mutually shifted in the sub-pixel range in the image/construction plane, wherein a separate mask/bitmap is produced for each shifted image.

Abstract: The invention describes device and method for producing a three-dimensional object by solidifying a solidifiable material under an action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels). The energy input related to a specific cross-sectional area of the three-dimensional object is controlled by exposure by means of multiple successive raster masks (bitmaps; e.g. bitmap 1 and bitmap 2 and possibly additional ones). The imaging unit is suitably controllable such that at least two masks can be generated, including a first overall mask covering the cross-sectional area (bitmap 1; with pixel-specific area elements exposing in white light) and a partial mask (bitmap 2; in which only a fraction of the area elements are exposed pixel-specifically with white light) within the overall mask. A voxel matrix may be formed.

Abstract: The invention describes a process and a device for producing at least one three-dimensional object, a photo-polymerizable material is solidified by means of simultaneous or almost simultaneous exposure of a build area or partial build area in a building plane via electromagnetic radiation, wherein a distance between a support plate, at which the object to be generated is built, and the building plane is changed during at least one exposure phase. It is possible according to the invention to solidify the three-dimensional object in a main direction during a radiation phase exceeding a current prescribed hardening depth, without interrupting supply of electromagnetic energy during the irradiation phase. Further, it is possible to control a current hardening depth of the photopolymerizable material during a building phase. Embodiments of suitable devices are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process or a device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise solidification of a photo-polymerizable resin by means of a planar or essentially planar construction/reference plane, at which the photo-polymerizable resin contained in the liquid material is to be hardened by electromagnetic irradiation, and wherein the material application for the subsequent layer automatically results from the separation of the last hardened layer from the construction/-reference plane, whereby the construction/reference plane is formed by an elastic film. The film is fixed in a frame, and the height position of the frame with the film is adjusted in a basin containing the liquid material such that the pressure of the liquid material compensates the sagging of the film (formation of a negative meniscus), and that the lower side of the film is permanently in contact with the material during the whole construction process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels), The method comprises performing solidification with exposure using bitmap mask. The bitmap mask may be formed from a stack of bitmap data provided by an overlap analysis of a three-dimensional volume completely or partially enclosing a three-dimensional model of at least a part of the three-dimensional object to be produced. Alternatively, bitmap mask may be formed from a two-dimensional data set comprising overlap information. Solidification may be performing with exposure using bitmap mask generated “on the fly”. The invention is also directed to devices, and a computer and a data carrier useful for performing or executing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process or a device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise solidification of a material which is solidifiable under the application of electromagnetic irradiation by means of mask illumination, wherein the mask is produced using an image forming unit having a prescribed resolution, which is formed from a constant number of image forming elements (pixels) being discrete and being arranged in a spatially mutually fixed manner. For the improvement of the resolution along the outer and inner contours of the sectional areas of the object to be generated layer-wise in the sub-pixel range, a multiple illumination per layer is performed, which consists of a series of multiple images that are mutually shifted in the sub-pixel range in the image/construction plane, wherein a separate mask/bitmap is produced for each shifted image.

Abstract: Device for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels), said device comprising a computer unit, an IC and/or a software implementation respectively with the ability of adjusting and/or controlling the energy input via a specific gray value and/or color value in a voxel matrix.