Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Laura Bishop
  • Patent number: 6600965
    Abstract: An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Hull, Stuart T. Spence, David J. Albert, Dennis R. Smalley, Richard A. Harlow, Phil Stinebaugh, Harry L. Tarnoff, Hop D. Nguyen, Charles W. Lewis, Tom J. Vorgitch, David Z. Remba
  • Patent number: 6399010
    Abstract: A rapid prototyping and manufacturing (e.g. stereolithography) method and apparatus for making three-dimensional objects on a layer-by-layer basis by selectively exposing layers of material to prescribed synergistic stimulation including forming portions of a lamina using a first exposure, allowing a time delay, and then applying a second exposure. The time delay is sufficient to allow shrinkage of the material to occur that results from the first exposure. It is preferred that the solidified portion resulting from the first exposure does not adhere to the previously formed lamina. It is also preferred that the portion solidified by this first exposure does not adhere to any boundary region that may have been exposed and adhered to the previously formed lamina. The time delay associated with a given cross-sectional region may be occupied by exposing other cross-sectional regions. The delay may occur between two exposures of overlaying hatch or fill vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle D. Guertin, Charles W. Hull, Hop D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6333741
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for slicing a three-dimensional object representation into a plurality of layer representations is described, wherein the layer representations are subsequently used to form the object layer-by-layer according to the principles of stereolithography. If not already provided in the object representation, a plurality of layer boundary representations are first formed, and then the boolean difference of successive layer boundary representations are computed to derive boundaries of up and down-facing regions, enabling different cure parameters to be specified for these different regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Snead, Dennis R. Smalley, Adam L. Cohen, Joseph W. Allison, Thomas J. Vorgitch, Thomas P. Chen
  • Patent number: 6264873
    Abstract: An improved method for stereolithographically making an object by alternating the order in which similar sets of vectors are exposed over two or more layers. In another method, a pattern of tightly packed hexagonal tiles are drawn. Each tile is isolated from its neighboring tiles by specifying breaks of unexposed material between the tiles. Using an interrupted scan method, vectors are drawn with periodic breaks along their lengths. In another method, modulator and scanning techniques are used to reduce exposure problems associated with the acceleration and deceleration of the scanning system when jumping between vectors or changing scanning directions. In another method, a capability for automatically inserting vents an drains into a three-dimensional object representation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Gigl, Dennis R. Smalley, Jan Richter, Thomas H. Pang, Kerry J. Allen, Chris R. Manners, Paul F. Jacobs, Hop D. Hguyen, Charles W. Hull, Richard N. Leyden
  • Patent number: 6261077
    Abstract: A rapid prototyping and manufacturing (e.g. stereolithography) apparatus includes a secondary frame located within a primary frame of the system. The secondary frame defines an enclosure for housing a number of peripheral heat-producing components and peripheral vibration-producing components. The heat generated by these peripheral heat-producing components is substantially isolated in the enclosure and is removed from the primary frame so as not to cause an undesired impact on other components within the main frame. The secondary frame preferably sits directly on the floor or other surface without touching the primary frame, thus substantially avoiding transmittance of vibration from components in the enclosure to the primary frame of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Bishop, Michael A. Everett, Arvind Chari, Timothy A. Ferris
  • Patent number: 6261507
    Abstract: An improved method for stereolithographically making an object by alternating the order in which similar sets of vectors are exposed over two or more layers. In another method, a pattern of tightly packed hexagonal tiles are drawn. Each tile is isolated from its neighboring tiles by specifying breaks of unexposed material between the tiles. Using an interrupted scan method, vectors are drawn with periodic breaks along their lengths. In another method, modulator and scanning techniques are used to reduce exposure problems associated with the acceleration and deceleration of the scanning system when jumping between vectors or changing scanning directions. In another method, a capability for automatically inserting vents an drains into a three-dimensional object representation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Gigl, Dennis R. Smalley, Thomas H. Pang, Kerry J. Allen, Paul F. Jacobs, Hop D. Nguyen, Charles W. Hull, Richard N. Leyden