Abstract: Fast 3D printing with high resolution is made possible by projecting light and an image from optical light engine comprises a micro display chip and a light source, through a projection lens of a multi-projection lens system onto printing material, e.g., a curable resin, wherein the multi-projection lens system comprises two or more projection lenses each with different imaging ratios wherein the image and light are projected through only one projection lens of the multi-projection lens system at a time.

Abstract: A 3-D printing system includes a membrane configured to releasably retain a print sample thereon, a membrane release slidably supported on a portion of the membrane, and a vacuum source. The membrane release includes a housing defining a cavity within an interior portion thereof, a first roller rotatably supported within a portion of the cavity of the housing and rotatably disposed on a first portion of the membrane, and a second roller rotatably supported within a portion of the cavity of the housing in spaced relation from the first roller and forming a gap therebetween. The second roller is rotatably disposed on a second portion of the membrane and the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the cavity of the housing such that the application of a vacuum to the cavity effectuates a corresponding deformation of the membrane between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A method for high resolution projection micro stereolithography for 3-D printing comprising: generating a 3D digital model of the sample to be printed in a computer, slicing the digital model into a sequence of images, wherein each of the images of the sequence represents a layer of the 3D digital model, positioning a transparent printing head relative to a resin vat containing a photo-sensitive resin, moving the transparent printing head into position for selectively exposing the photosensitive resin, sending an image from the sequence of images to a LCD or DLP chip, and together with a light source projecting the image through a lens onto the flat tip of the transparent printing head to initiate cure of the photosensitive resin in areas where the projected image allows light from the light source to reach the photosensitive resin.

Abstract: A method for multi-material high resolution projection micro stereolithography for 3-D printing of a sample, comprising: A) generating a 3D digital model of the sample to be printed in a computer, B) arranging a lens having an optical axis, a charge coupled device (CCD), and a printing head relative to a surface of a substrate, C) positioning the printing head, D) moving the printing head relative to the substrate by moving the substrate, the printing head, or both the substrate and the printing head, E) sending an image from the control computer to an LCD micro display chip, projecting the image from the LCD or DLP chip through the lens onto a surface of the flat tip of the printing head, and F) and changing the printing material to be used for printing a following layer or layer section.