Patents by Inventor Bob E. Feller

Bob E. Feller 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: 20240116248
    Abstract: A method of separating excess resin from at least one object, includes: (a) stereolithographically producing at least one object on at least one carrier platform, each carrier platform having a planar build surface to which at least one object is connected, each object carrying excess resin on a surface thereof; then (b) mounting each carrier platform to a rotor; (c) centrifugally separating excess resin from each object by spinning the rotor with each carrier platform connected thereto while each object remains connected to each carrier platform; and then (d) removing each carrier platform from the rotor with each object thereon, with excess resin separated therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Murillo, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11897198
    Abstract: A method of separating excess resin from at least one object, includes: (a) stereolithographically producing at least one object on at least one carrier platform, each carrier platform having a planar build surface to which at least one object is connected, each object carrying excess resin on a surface thereof; then (b) mounting each carrier platform to a rotor; (c) centrifugally separating excess resin from each object by spinning the rotor with each carrier platform connected thereto while each object remains connected to each carrier platform; and then (d) removing each carrier platform from the rotor with each object thereon, with excess resin separated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murillo, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11845200
    Abstract: Provided herein according to some embodiments is a dual cure additive manufacturing resin, comprising: (i) a light polymerizable component, (ii) a photoinitiator, (iii) a heat polymerizable component, and (iv) a non-reactive diluent, which resin is useful for the production of three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing. Methods of using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gordon Wright, Kai Chen, Bob E. Feller
  • Publication number: 20230330937
    Abstract: A method of cleaning residual resin from an additively manufactured object, the method including: producing by additive manufacturing at least one object on at least one carrier platform, each object including a light polymerized resin with a surface coating of viscous, unpolymerized residual resin; operatively connecting each object to a rotor; separating the residual resin from each object; and removing the at least one object from the rotor with the residual resin separated therefrom. The separating step may include: centrifugally separating the residual resin from each object by spinning the rotor with the at least object operatively connected thereto; and rotating (or tilting) each object about at least one axis during the spinning to enhance the centrifugally separating the residual resin from each object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, W. Ryan Powell, Mark O. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11685117
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object includes providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface. The carrier and the build surface define a build region therebetween. The method further includes filling said build region with a polymerizable liquid; continuously or intermittently irradiating said build region with light through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid; applying a reduced pressure and/or polymer inhibitor-enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member to thereby reduce a gas content of the polymerizable liquid; and continuously or intermittently advancing (e.g., sequentially or concurrently with said irradiating step) said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, David Moore, John R. Tumbleston, Ronald Truong, Kyle Laaker
  • Patent number: 11685110
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing includes a drive assembly operatively associated with a carrier and a window mount and configured to advance the carrier and the window mount away from one another. A first fluid switch is connected to a first fluid orifice when a window is present, or connected to the window mount and configured for connection to the window when the window is absent. A second fluid switch is connected to a second fluid orifice when the window is present, or connected to the window mount and configured for connection to the window when the window is absent. A fluid supply is connected to both the first and second fluid switch, and the fluid includes a polymerization inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, R. Griffin Price
  • Publication number: 20230150189
    Abstract: Methods of making a three-dimensional object from a light polymerizable resin are described. A method may include: (a) providing a window, a light polymerizable resin, a laterally translatable substrate between said window and said resin to which said resin is adhered, and a carrier platform above said window; (b) irradiating said resin with light through said window and said translatable substrate, and vertically advancing said carrier away from said window, to produce a growing object on said carrier platform and consume resin beneath said growing object; and (c) laterally advancing said translatable substrate with said resin adhered thereto across said window to drag fresh resin beneath said growing object, continue producing said growing object and continue consuming fresh resin, until said three-dimensional object is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew Panzer, Kyle Laaker, John R. Tumbleston, Bob E. Feller, Soren Rademacher, Stephen Paul Land, Henry Quarles Bibb, III, David Shirvanyants, Alexander Ermoshkin
  • Publication number: 20230078824
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of making a three-dimensional object (31) by bottom-up additive manufacturing, which method may include: providing a carrier platform (14), a light source (13), and a light transmissive window (11) therebetween, the light transmissive window comprising a gas permeable member having a top surface and a bottom surface; depositing a liquid resin (21) on the window, the resin comprising a cyclic olefin monomer and a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) photocatalyst; contacting a gas to said gas permeable member bottom surface; and exposing said resin to light from said light source while advancing aid carrier platform away from said window to form said three-dimensional object on said carrier platform. An apparatus useful for carrying out the method and a method useful for recycling the object are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Justin Poelma, Bob E. Feller
  • Publication number: 20230084371
    Abstract: Provided herein according to some embodiments is a dual cure additive manufacturing resin, comprising: (i) a light polymerizable component, (ii) a photoinitiator, (iii) a heat polymerizable component, and (iv) a non-reactive diluent, which resin is useful for the production of three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing. Methods of using the same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Gordon Wright, Kai Chen, Bob E. Feller
  • Publication number: 20230027112
    Abstract: A method of cleaning residual resin from an additively manufactured object, includes: (a) enclosing an additively manufactured object in an inner chamber of a centrifugal separator, the additively manufactured object including a light polymerized resin with a surface coating of viscous, unpolymerized, residual resin; (b) flooding the chamber with a volatile organic solvent vapor without contacting liquid organic solvent to the object, the vapor present in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the residual resin; and (c) spinning the additively manufactured object in the chamber to centrifugally separate at least a first portion of the residual resin from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, W. Ryan Powell, Mark O. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11548219
    Abstract: A method of improving production performance of an additive manufacturing system includes obtaining a first production plan and a second production plan, different from the first production plan, for the manufacture of a plurality of objects using a fleet of additive manufacturing apparatus, automatically generating a first allocation of a first quantity of the plurality of objects to the fleet of additive manufacturing apparatus using the first production plan, automatically generating a second allocation of a second quantity of the plurality of objects to the fleet of additive manufacturing apparatus using the second production plan, comparing a production performance of the first and second quantity of the plurality of objects after being manufactured by the fleet of additive manufacturing apparatus, and based on the comparison of the production performance, automatically regenerating the first and second allocations to change the first and second quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Truong, John R. Tumbleston, Kyle Laaker, Bob E. Feller, Joshua D. Deetz
  • Patent number: 11524445
    Abstract: An assembly useful for thermoforming a dental aligner from polymer sheet material includes (a) a custom dental model having a planar bottom surface and a receptacle formed in said planar bottom surface; and (b) a reusable die removably received in said receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventor: Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11518096
    Abstract: A build plate for a three-dimensional printer includes: a rigid, optically transparent, gas-impermeable planar base having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a flexible, optically transparent, gas-permeable sheet having an upper and lower surface, the sheet upper surface comprising a build surface for forming a three-dimensional object, the sheet lower surface positioned on the base upper surface. The build plate includes a gas flow enhancing feature configured to increase gas flow to the build surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: David Moore, John R. Tumbleston, Edward T. Samulski, Alexander Ermoshkin, Jason P. Rolland, Ariel M. Herrmann, Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11518089
    Abstract: Provided herein according to some embodiments is a dual cure additive manufacturing resin, comprising: (i) a light polymerizable component, (ii) a photoinitiator, (iii) a heat polymerizable component, and (iv) a non-reactive diluent, which resin is useful for the production of three-dimensional objects by additive manufacturing. Methods of using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gordon Wright, Kai Chen, Bob E. Feller
  • Publication number: 20220379559
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an object from a light polymerizable resin includes (a) an optionally but preferably detachable carrier platform on which an object can be produced (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, R. Griffin Price
  • Patent number: 11504905
    Abstract: A method of making a three-dimensional object (11) from a light polymerizable dual cure resin (16), includes the steps of: (a) producing a green intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in a stereolithography process (e.g., continuous liquid interface production); (i) the object comprising a body portion and a circumferential boundary portion (12) included in at least part of the body portion i (ii) the stereolithography process including overexposing the boundary portion (as compared to the exposure of the body portion) with light; (b) cleaning the intermediate object; and then (c) baking the object to produce the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Laaker, Leah Marie Heist, Bob E. Feller
  • Publication number: 20220355539
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by additive manufacturing includes a drive assembly operatively associated with a carrier and a window mount and configured to advance the carrier and the window mount away from one another. A first fluid switch is connected to a first fluid orifice when a window is present, or connected to the window mount and configured for connection to the window when the window is absent. A second fluid switch is connected to a second fluid orifice when the window is present, or connected to the window mount and configured for connection to the window when the window is absent. A fluid supply is connected to both the first and second fluid switch, and the fluid includes a polymerization inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, R. Griffin Price
  • Patent number: 11491725
    Abstract: A method of cleaning residual resin from an additively manufactured object, includes: (a) enclosing an additively manufactured object in an inner chamber of a centrifugal separator, the additively manufactured object including a light polymerized resin with a surface coating of viscous, unpolymerized, residual resin; (b) flooding the chamber with a volatile organic solvent vapor without contacting liquid organic solvent to the object, the vapor present in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the residual resin; and (c) spinning the additively manufactured object in the chamber to centrifugally separate at least a first portion of the residual resin from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, W. Ryan Powell, Mark O. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11478988
    Abstract: A method of separating excess resin from at least one object, includes: (a) stereolithographically producing at least one object on at least one carrier platform, each carrier platform having a planar build surface to which at least one object is connected, each object carrying excess resin on a surface thereof; then (b) mounting each carrier platform to a rotor; (c) centrifugally separating excess resin from each object by spinning the rotor with each carrier platform connected thereto while each object remains connected to each carrier platform; and then (d) removing each carrier platform from the rotor with each object thereon, with excess resin separated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murillo, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Bob E. Feller
  • Patent number: 11446871
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an object from a light polymerizable resin includes (a) an carrier platform on which an object can be produced; (b) a resin cassette configured for carrying a light-polymerizable resin, said cassette including a light-transmissive window having a liquid inhibitor supply bed therein, said supply bed having an inlet and an outlet; (c) a light source positioned beneath said resin cassette and configured for projecting an enlarged image through said window; (d) a drive operatively associated with said resin cassette and said carrier platform; (e) a gas exchanger comprising a liquid side, a gas side, and an oxygen permeable barrier therebetween; said liquid side having an inlet and an outlet, with said supply bed inlet connected to said liquid side outlet, and said supply bed outlet connected to said liquid side inlet; (f) an oxygen carrying liquid in said liquid inhibitor supply bed and said gas exchanger liquid side; and (g) a pump operatively associated with said supply bed and sa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob E. Feller, R. Griffin Price