Abstract: The invention is in particular directed to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by successive deposition of uniform layers of a viscous material, the method comprising a prior calibrating operation comprising the following steps: positioning at least one calibration stop at a distance comprised between a first distance and a second distance from a working surface, the at least one calibration stop being configured to enable the triggering of a signal in case of contact between the at least one calibration stop and a proximity sensor linked to a recoater blade; moving the recoater blade (310) linked to the proximity sensor towards one of the at least one calibration stop; stopping the movement of the recoater blade as soon as a signal indicates a contact between the calibration stop and the proximity sensor; and estimating (320) the distance between the recoater blade and the working surface after stopping the movement, the at least one calibration value comprising the estimated distance.

Abstract: The invention is in particular directed to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by successive deposition of uniform layers of a viscous material, the method comprising a prior calibrating operation comprising the following steps: positioning at least one calibration stop at a distance comprised between a first distance and a second distance from a working surface, the at least one calibration stop being configured to enable the triggering of a signal in case of contact between the at least one calibration stop and a proximity sensor linked to a recoater blade; moving the recoater blade (310) linked to the proximity sensor towards one of the at least one calibration stop; stopping the movement of the recoater blade as soon as a signal indicates a contact between the calibration stop and the proximity sensor; and estimating (320) the distance between the recoater blade and the working surface after stopping the movement, the at least one calibration value comprising the estimated distance.

Abstract: A method for producing a product including steps for determining whether each working point is inside or outside an object corresponding to the product or part to be produced: determining at least one line from between a line passing through the working point with which is associated a counter dedicated to the working point and a line passing through an image of the working point associated with a counter dedicated solely to the working point image; on each of the surfaces, (i) searching for an intersection between the surface and one of the lines from the line passing through the working point and the line passing through the image of the working point and (ii) modifying the counter if the intersection exists, steps (i) and (ii) being performed in a repeated manner; and determining whether the working point is inside or outside the object as a function of the counter.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for producing a volume object by lithography, comprising a projection of the projection image onto a plane to be illuminated of the layer of material, which involves: moving the mask in a movement having a component along an oblique axis forming an angle with the plane to be illuminated, and transforming a movement of the mask having a component along the oblique axis forming the angle with the plane to be illuminated into a displacement of the projection image on the plane to be illuminated along the first direction of the displacement contained in the plane to be illuminated by means of a mirror that reflects the projection image coming from the mask towards the plane to be illuminated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for producing a volume object by lithography, comprising a projection of the projection image onto a plane to be illuminated of the layer of material, which involves: moving the mask in a movement having a component along an oblique axis forming an angle with the plane to be illuminated, and transforming a movement of the mask having a component along the oblique axis forming the angle with the plane to be illuminated into a displacement of the projection image on the plane to be illuminated along the first direction of the displacement contained in the plane to be illuminated by means of a mirror that reflects the projection image coming from the mask towards the plane to be illuminated.

Abstract: A method for producing a product including steps for determining whether each working point is inside or outside an object corresponding to the product or part to be produced: determining at least one line from between a line passing through the working point with which is associated a counter dedicated to the working point and a line passing through an image of the working point associated with a counter dedicated solely to the working point image; on each of the surfaces, (i) searching for an intersection between the surface and one of the lines from the line passing through the working point and the line passing through the image of the working point and (ii) modifying the counter if the intersection exists, steps (i) and (ii) being performed in a repeated manner; and determining whether the working point is inside or outside the object as a function of the counter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming three dimensional objects by laser sintering that utilizes a broad area thermal vision system such as an infrared camera that can measure multiple temperatures across the target area and use that temperature data as feed back to a control system that both adjusts a zoned radiant heater system and adjusts scan speed and laser power to control temperatures across the target area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming three dimensional objects by laser sintering that utilizes a broad area thermal vision system such as an infrared camera that can measure multiple temperatures across the target area and use that temperature data as feed back to a control system that both adjusts a zoned radiant heater system and adjusts scan speed and laser power to control temperatures across the target area.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fast three-dimensional modeling method comprising the following steps: a phase which consists in transforming the raw material in the work space (32) by means of a device inducing transformation (1); at least at one moment, a phase which consists in supplying non-transformed material, downstream of the doctor blade; a phase which consists in covering the transformed material (PI) with non-transformed material (MAT), which consists in moving the blade in a direction (F), driving in rotation about an axis a rolling member (26, 27) whereon an extruded log of non-transformed raw material (28) is wound, arranging a pushing member (22) such that its proximal edge (23) coincides with the surface of said work space, and positioning said rolling member downstream of the pushing member, and opposite thereof, so as to channel the extruded log of non-tramsformed material towards a cavity formed between the proximal edge and the rolling member facing it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photopolymerizable foam composition to be used in a prototyping procedure, a procedure for obtaining three-dimensional parts through a rapid prototyping procedure from said composition, a device embodying said procedure, a part obtained from said procedure and a use of such a part.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapid prototyping is provided. The apparatus includes a container containing raw material. A working field is defined in the container. A transformation inducing device is arranged above the container. A plate is provided within the container and is movable with respect to the container to move raw material which has been transformed. A least two doctor blades, which are movable over the working field, are provided. The doctor blades are moved via drive elements. At least one of the doctor blades is arranged to create a shadow effect on a shadow region of the working field. The two doctor blades are arranged with respect to each other such that a portion of the working field between the doctor blades and bounded by a shortest closed and continuous contour containing the shadow region is not affected by the shadow effect. This portion of the working field between the doctor blades is ready to undergo transformation after being passed over by only one of the doctor blades.