Patents by Inventor Alexandr Shkolnik

Alexandr Shkolnik has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240293971
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for making at three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material are shown and described. A pattern generator comprising at least one lens transmits light to a photopolymer that solidifies by curing, cross-section by cross-section, in the shape of received patterns of light. The photopolymer curing reactions are exothermic and generate heat within the solidifiable material, causing portions of it to vaporize. A crossflow blower, sometimes referred to as an “air curtain” or “tangential blower”, blows air across the lenses to isolate the lenses from the photopolymer vapors, which prevents the vapors from condensing or otherwise depositing on the lenses. Prevention of such condensation or deposition reduces the likelihood of image distortion and/or reductions in projected light intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamad Janbain, Alexandr Shkolnik, Kirin Xu
  • Publication number: 20240198590
    Abstract: A recoater for an apparatus for making at three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material shown and described. The recoater traverses an exposed surface of the solidifiable material to planarize it before forming each object layer. Techniques for improving the flow of solidifiable material over the most recently formed object surface are described. In accordance with one technique, the recoater has a plurality of heaters embedded in its body along its length. The heaters are operable to heat the recoater, and thus, the solidifiable material, thereby reducing its viscosity relative to its viscosity at standard conditions, such as 25° C. In accordance with another technique, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are provided along the recoater length and are operable to supply ultrasonic energy to the solidifiable material to reduce its viscosity. Recoaters operating at positive pressure and subatmospheric pressure are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamad Janbain, Alexandr Shkolnik, Kirin Xu
  • Patent number: 11633910
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 11220054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Publication number: 20210039309
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10894355
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10632732
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for making three-dimensional objects from a bindable powder are shown and described. A dynamically erected and/or expanded retaining barrier is provided which is erected and/or expanded during an object building operation to retain dispensed powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: 3Dbotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, James Bredt, Kate Van Rees, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10589507
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Chi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10414090
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
  • Publication number: 20190270243
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10335997
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
  • Patent number: 10300663
    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 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Publication number: 20190099947
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
  • Publication number: 20190099948
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Andrius Raulinaitis
  • Patent number: 10124532
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10112345
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Chi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20180272610
    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 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10011076
    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 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik
  • Patent number: 10005237
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik, Alexander Nam, Mohamad Janbain
  • Patent number: 10000023
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Global Filtration Systems
    Inventors: Ali El-Siblani, Alexandr Shkolnik