Patents Assigned to Global Filtration Systems
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Patent number: 11633910Abstract: A solidification substrate assembly for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material includes a solidification substrate assembly. In certain examples, the solidifiable material solidifies in contact with the solidification substrate, and the tilting of the substrate and/or or the use of a peeling member facilitates separation of the substrate from the solidified material. In other examples, the solidification substrate assembly includes a film that is adjacent to a rigid or semi-rigid layer. The solidifiable material solidifies in contact with the film, and a peeling member peels the film away from the solidified material. Intelligent solidification substrate assemblies are also described in which a force sensor determines when to expose the solidifiable material to solidification energy and/or whether to use a peeling member to separate the solidification substrate from a solidified objection section.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 11413856Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a solidifiable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material to create a “dead zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The dead zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with a container bottom or film. As the solidified object areas get larger and the build platform speed increases, the dead zone increases which can cause the formation of channels in the resulting objects and delamination. A number of techniques including continuous/discontinuous mode switching, multiple illuminations of portions of the same layer, and the use of gray scaling are disclosed for regulating the size of the dead zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Mohamad Janbain
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Patent number: 11220054Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “non-solidification zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The non-solidification zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor tends to cause the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardenable material and the film, which distorts the resulting three-dimensional object. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the flexible film and eliminate or minimize such deformation.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 11104117Abstract: 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 includes a solidification substrate that is tiltable relative to a film about a tilting axis. Layers of the solidifiable material solidify in contact with a film located between the most recently solidified object layer and a solidification substrate that comprises the solidification substrate assembly. The tilting of the solidification substrate relative to the film allows the substrate to be used to squeeze excess solidifiable material from between the film and the most recently solidified object surface while minimizing or eliminating the formation of bubbles in the solidifiable material which can prolong object build times.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventor: Ali El-Siblani
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Patent number: 10894355Abstract: A solidification substrate assembly for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material includes a solidification substrate assembly. In certain examples, the solidifiable material solidifies in contact with the solidification substrate, and the tilting of the substrate and/or or the use of a peeling member facilitates separation of the substrate from the solidified material. In other examples, the solidification substrate assembly includes a film that is adjacent to a rigid or semi-rigid layer. The solidifiable material solidifies in contact with the film, and a peeling member peels the film away from the solidified material. Intelligent solidification substrate assemblies are also described in which a force sensor determines when to expose the solidifiable material to solidification energy and/or whether to use a peeling member to separate the solidification substrate from a solidified objection section.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 10737479Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a solidifiable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material to create a “dead zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The dead zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with a container bottom or film. As the solidified object areas get larger and the build platform speed increases, the dead zone increases which can cause the formation of channels in the resulting objects and delamination. A number of techniques including continuous/discontinuous mode switching, multiple illuminations of portions of the same layer, and the use of gray scaling are disclosed for regulating the size of the dead zone.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Mohamad Janbain
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Patent number: 10737437Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “dead zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The dead zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor causes the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardednable material and the film. A method is provided to compensate the three-dimensional object data based on the deformation of the film.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Mohamad Janbain, Alexander Nam
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Patent number: 10589507Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material using a linear solidification device is shown and described. Either a build platform or a solidification substrate has a curved surface, and each point on the curved surface traverses a trochoidal path during an object solidification operation. The curved surface allows the separation forces between the solidification substrate and the most recently solidified layer of material to be concentrated along a line instead of along a planar section which reduces the overall separation force and the likelihood of damaging a part.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Chi Zhou
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Patent number: 10513108Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for making multiple three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials are shown and described. In accordance with the method, the objects are designed with variable removable support heights along the build axis so that each object has an interface between first and second materials that is the same height from the build platform. The technique simplifies the process of producing multiple three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials which may have different build axis heights of first and second finished object sections so that the sources of solidifiable materials need only be switched once during the building of multiple objects.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventor: Ali El-Siblani
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Patent number: 10414090Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “non-solidification zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The non-solidification zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor tends to cause the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardenable material and the film, which distorts the resulting three-dimensional object. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the flexible film and eliminate or minimize such deformation.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
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Patent number: 10335997Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a three-dimensional object by solidifying a photohardenable material are shown and described. A photohardening inhibitor is admitted into a surface of a photohardenable material through a flexible film to create a “non-solidification zone” where little or no solidification occurs. The non-solidification zone prevents the exposed surface of the photohardenable material from solidifying in contact with the film. The inhibitor tends to cause the film to deform along the build axis, thereby creating a non-planar interface between the photohardenable material and the film, which distorts the resulting three-dimensional object. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the flexible film and eliminate or minimize such deformation.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
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Patent number: 10300663Abstract: 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 includes a solidification substrate assembly that is tiltable about a tilting axis to peel a solidification substrate from a recently formed object surface and to level the solidification substrate assembly and squeeze out accumulated solidifiable material between the solidification substrate and the recently formed object surface. Intelligent peeling and leveling may also be provided by providing a tilting parameter database that is used to adjust tilting parameters based on object geometry and/or solidifiable material properties.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 10245822Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for making multiple three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials are shown and described. In accordance with the method, the objects are designed with variable removable support heights along the build axis so that each object has an interface between first and second materials that is the same height from the build platform. The technique simplifies the process of producing multiple three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials which may have different build axis heights of first and second finished object sections so that the sources of solidifiable materials need only be switched once during the building of multiple objects.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventor: Ali El-Siblani
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Patent number: 10144205Abstract: 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 includes a solidification substrate that is tiltable relative to a film about a tilting axis. Layers of the solidifiable material solidify in contact with a film located between the most recently solidified object layer and a solidification substrate that comprises the solidification substrate assembly. The tilting of the solidification substrate relative to the film allows the substrate to be used to squeeze excess solidifiable material from between the film and the most recently solidified object surface while minimizing or eliminating the formation of bubbles in the solidifiable material which can prolong object build times.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventor: Ali El-Siblani
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Patent number: 10124532Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for making three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials is shown and described. Multiple solidifiable material container assemblies are provided for holding different solidifiable materials. Relative movement between the solidifiable material container assemblies and a build platform allows the solidifiable materials to be switched as an object is built. Several exemplary cleaning stations are provided for removing residual solidifiable materials from the surface of the three-dimensional object as it is built to better ensure smooth transitions between materials on the finished object.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 10112345Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Chi Zhou
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Patent number: 10011076Abstract: 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 includes a solidification substrate assembly that is tiltable about a tilting axis to peel a solidification substrate from a recently formed object surface and to level the solidification substrate assembly and squeeze out accumulated solidifiable material between the solidification substrate and the recently formed object surface. Intelligent peeling and leveling may also be provided by providing a tilting parameter database that is used to adjust tilting parameters based on object geometry and/or solidifiable material properties.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 10005237Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2017Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Alexander Nam, Mohamad Janbain
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Patent number: 10000023Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
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Patent number: 9987804Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for making three-dimensional objects from multiple solidifiable materials is shown and described. Multiple solidifiable material container assemblies are provided for holding different solidifiable materials. Relative movement between the solidifiable material container assemblies and a build platform allows the solidifiable materials to be switched as an object is built. Several exemplary cleaning stations are provided for removing residual solidifiable materials from the surface of the three-dimensional object as it is built to better ensure smooth transitions between materials on the finished object.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Global Filtration SystemsInventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik