Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a machine chassis, a build vessel, a carriage, an actuator, a build platform, and a light engine. The build vessel is supported by the machine chassis and contains a photocurable liquid. The build vessel includes a downward extending tension ring that tensions a transparent sheet and defines a datum plane. The carriage supports a glass plate and a roller. The carriage is configured to press the roller against the two opposing sides of the tension ring. The actuator is configured to vertically position an upper surface of the glass plate in two positions including (U) an upper position at which the upper surface of the glass plate is coplanar with the datum plane and (L) a lower position in which the upper surface of the glass is spaced away from the datum plane.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a build vessel, a carriage, and a light engine. The build vessel includes a vessel base having a downward extending tension ring that tensions a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet laterally bounds a build plane that is defined over orthogonal lateral axis X and Y. The carriage includes a roller that extends between two opposing sides of the tension ring. The roller exerts an upward force on the transparent sheet and the two opposing sides of the tension ring. The vertical constraint of the roller biased against the tension ring provides a location and improved planarity of a supported portion of the transparent sheet adjacent to the roller. The light engine light engine is configured to selectively apply radiation to a projected area of the build plane through the supported portion of the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D article includes operating a 3D printing system including an elevator coupled to a vertical movement mechanism, and a distance sensor. The elevator includes an elevator actuator. The vertical movement mechanism is coupled to the elevator. The build platform includes a build plate having a lower surface. The method includes loading the build platform onto the elevator, operating the vertical movement mechanism to lower the lower surface of the build platform into a measurement range with the distance sensor, scanning the distance sensor along a lateral axis, concurrent with scanning the distance sensor, receiving a signal from the distance sensor indicative of a plurality of vertical locations along the lateral axis of the lower surface of the build platform, and operating the elevator actuator to adjust a height of the lower surface of the build platform.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system includes a build vessel, a build plate, a horizontal movement mechanism, a light engine, and a controller. The build vessel includes a windowed portion defining a plurality of N openings. The plurality of N openings individually have a major axis along a lateral Y-axis and are spatially separated and arranged along a lateral X-axis. The build vessel includes a transparent sheet that closes the plurality of N openings. The build plate has having a lower surface overlaying and in facing relation with the N openings. The horizontal movement mechanism is configured to impart a change in relative positioning between the windowed portion of the build vessel and the build plate along the lateral X-axis. The light engine is positioned below the build vessel and configured to project pixelated light up through the openings to a build plane above the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system configured to manufacture a three-dimensional (3D) article includes a base, a build vessel, an air control system, a build plate, a light engine, and a controller. The build vessel is configured to contain a body of photocurable resin. The build vessel includes a transparent plate, a support frame, and a transparent sheet. The transparent plate has a planar upper surface. The support frame defines a conduit that extends to a peripheral edge of the transparent plate. The transparent sheet is tensioned over the planar upper surface of the transparent plate and extends over the support frame. The controller is programmed to operate the air control system to inject a controlled volume of air then to apply a controlled negative gauge pressure to the conduit. This has the effect of inflating and deflating the transparent sheet relative to the planar upper surface of the transparent plate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system is configured to print a 3D article in a layer-by-layer manner and includes a vertical beam, an elevator, and a build platform. The elevator is configured for vertical translation along the vertical beam and includes an upper support and a lower support. The lower support includes at least one elevator actuator extending upward from an upper side. The upper support has a lower side including a datum surface in engagement with the actuator. The elevator actuator is configured to modulate a position of the upper side of the upper support. The build platform includes a build plate coupled below a support plate. The build plate has a lower side for formation of the 3D article. The support plate has a lower side that engages the upper side of the upper support of the elevator to support the build platform.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D article includes providing a 3D printing system including a rigid base with a vertical beam, an elevator for translation along the vertical beam, the elevator containing an elevator actuator and a force sensor, a vertical movement mechanism, a build platform including a build plate having a lower surface, a build vessel containing photocurable resin, and a controller. The method includes loading the build platform onto the elevator, operating the vertical movement mechanism to translate the lower surface of the build plate through the resin, the photocurable resin exerting a torque upon the elevator, receiving a signal from the force sensor, operating the controller to compute a force-induced angular discrepancy between the lower surface of the build plate and the horizontal plane, and operating the elevator actuator according to the angular discrepancy to level the lower surface of the build plate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing includes a rigid base, a build vessel supported on the rigid base, and an imaging module. The build vessel includes a lower frame structure, a transparent plate supported by the lower frame structure, a transparent sheet supported above the transparent plate, a vented housing supported by the lower frame structure, a desiccant disposed within the vented housing, and a vessel wall coupled to the lower frame structure. A fixed or variable fluidic region is defined between the transparent plate and the transparent sheet. The vented housing includes openings fluidically communicating with the fluidic region to allow the desiccant to deplete vapor from the fluidic region. The vessel wall and transparent sheet are configured to provide an upward facing reservoir. The imaging module is supported by the rigid base and configured to selectively image the photocurable liquid over a build plane above the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) manufacturing system is configured to fabricate a 3D article. The 3D manufacturing system includes a base, a resin vessel supported by the base, a tension ring, a vertical movement mechanism (VMM), an elevator coupled to the VMM, a build platform, a load sensor, and a controller. The resin vessel includes a transparent sheet that is tensioned by the tension ring. An upper surface of the transparent sheet above the tension ring defines a datum surface. The build platform contains a mechanism and has a build surface. When the build surface is pressed against the datum surface, the mechanism allows the build surface to rotate about a horizontal axis so as to be flush with the datum surface. When the build surface is raised above the datum surface, the mechanism locks in a parallel orientation of the build surface with respect to the datum surface.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a machine chassis, a vessel support, a gas pressure source, a build vessel, a light engine, and a lateral movement mechanism. The build vessel is supported by the vessel support and includes a transparent sheet. The vessel support includes a carriage having a top surface. The carriage is configured to be positioned along a lateral X-axis under the transparent sheet. The carriage defines an optical path and a fluid channel that at least partially surrounds the optical path. The gas pressure source is coupled to the fluid channel. Gas flowing from the gas pressure source and out of the fluid channel is configured to maintain a vertical spacing between the top surface of the carriage and the transparent sheet. The lateral movement mechanism translates and positions the carriage and light engine together along the lateral X-axis.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a machine chassis, a build vessel, a carriage, an actuator, a build platform, and a light engine. The build vessel is supported by the machine chassis and contains a photocurable liquid. The build vessel includes a downward extending tension ring that tensions a transparent sheet and defines a datum plane. The carriage supports a glass plate and a roller. The carriage is configured to press the roller against the two opposing sides of the tension ring. The actuator is configured to vertically position an upper surface of the glass plate in two positions including (U) an upper position at which the upper surface of the glass plate is coplanar with the datum plane and (L) a lower position in which the upper surface of the glass is spaced away from the datum plane.

Abstract: A 3D printing system includes a build vessel, a carriage, and a light engine. The build vessel includes a vessel base having a downward extending tension ring that tensions a transparent sheet. The transparent sheet laterally bounds a build plane that is defined over orthogonal lateral axis X and Y. The carriage includes a roller that extends between two opposing sides of the tension ring. The roller exerts an upward force on the transparent sheet and the two opposing sides of the tension ring. The vertical constraint of the roller biased against the tension ring provides a location and improved planarity of a supported portion of the transparent sheet adjacent to the roller. The light engine light engine is configured to selectively apply radiation to a projected area of the build plane through the supported portion of the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing includes a rigid base, a build vessel supported on the rigid base, and an imaging module. The build vessel includes a lower frame structure, a transparent plate supported by the lower frame structure, a transparent sheet supported above the transparent plate, a vented housing supported by the lower frame structure, a desiccant disposed within the vented housing, and a vessel wall coupled to the lower frame structure. A fixed or variable fluidic region is defined between the transparent plate and the transparent sheet. The vented housing includes openings fluidically communicating with the fluidic region to allow the desiccant to deplete vapor from the fluidic region. The vessel wall and transparent sheet are configured to provide an upward facing reservoir. The imaging module is supported by the rigid base and configured to selectively image the photocurable liquid over a build plane above the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system is configured to print a 3D article in a layer-by-layer manner and includes a vertical beam, an elevator, and a build platform. The elevator is configured for vertical translation along the vertical beam and includes an upper support and a lower support. The lower support includes at least one elevator actuator extending upward from an upper side. The upper support has a lower side including a datum surface in engagement with the actuator. The elevator actuator is configured to modulate a position of the upper side of the upper support. The build platform includes a build plate coupled below a support plate. The build plate has a lower side for formation of the 3D article. The support plate has a lower side that engages the upper side of the upper support of the elevator to support the build platform.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D article includes operating a 3D printing system including an elevator coupled to a vertical movement mechanism, and a distance sensor. The elevator includes an elevator actuator. The vertical movement mechanism is coupled to the elevator. The build platform includes a build plate having a lower surface. The method includes loading the build platform onto the elevator, operating the vertical movement mechanism to lower the lower surface of the build platform into a measurement range with the distance sensor, scanning the distance sensor along a lateral axis, concurrent with scanning the distance sensor, receiving a signal from the distance sensor indicative of a plurality of vertical locations along the lateral axis of the lower surface of the build platform, and operating the elevator actuator to adjust a height of the lower surface of the build platform.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a 3D article includes providing a 3D printing system including a rigid base with a vertical beam, an elevator for translation along the vertical beam, the elevator containing an elevator actuator and a force sensor, a vertical movement mechanism, a build platform including a build plate having a lower surface, a build vessel containing photocurable resin, and a controller. The method includes loading the build platform onto the elevator, operating the vertical movement mechanism to translate the lower surface of the build plate through the resin, the photocurable resin exerting a torque upon the elevator, receiving a signal from the force sensor, operating the controller to compute a force-induced angular discrepancy between the lower surface of the build plate and the horizontal plane, and operating the elevator actuator according to the angular discrepancy to level the lower surface of the build plate.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printing system for manufacturing a 3D article includes a resin vessel, a build plate, a plate support, a hook subsystem, an elevator subsystem, an imaging subsystem, and a controller. The build plate has an upper surface and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The hook subsystem includes a hook. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the elevator subsystem and the imaging subsystem to fabricate the 3D article. (b) Operate the elevator subsystem to raise the 3D article above photocurable resin in the resin vessel. (c) Operate the hook subsystem to configure the hook to be engaged with the proximal end of the build plate. (d) Operate the elevator subsystem to impart a vertical separation distance between the proximal and distal ends of the build plate. The vertical separation distance defines an angular tilt of the 3D article to facilitate draining of residual photocurable.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system includes a vertical support beam, a resin vessel assembly coupled to the vertical support beam and including a resin vessel, and a support tray positioning system. The support tray positioning system includes a support tray elevator, a lead screw nut, a motorized lead screw, an intermediate nut, and a linear bearing. The motorized lead screw engages the lead screw nut to raise and lower the support tray elevator. The linear bearing constrains motion of the support tray elevator to vertical motion. The support tray elevator, the intermediate nut, and the lead screw nut interlock to constrain rotational motion of the lead screw nut with respect to the support tray elevator while allowing for two dimensional lateral motion of the lead screw nut with respect to the support tray elevator to accommodate mechanical tolerances of the lead screw with respect to the linear bearing.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for fabricating or manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a support plate, a resin containment structure, an actuator, a light engine, a support tray coupled to a movement mechanism, and a controller. The resin containment structure is supported by the support plate and includes a lower substructure that is moveably coupled to an upper substructure. The upper substructure defines an upper central opening that is closed by a transparent sheet. The lower substructure defines a lower central opening that is closed by a transparent plate. The actuator is affixed to the support plate and configured to rotate the upper substrate about the hinge between a (1) a raised position in which the transparent plate contacts and supports the transparent sheet and (2) a lowered position in which the transparent plate is out of contact with the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printer includes a light engine, a support plate, and a resin vessel. The light engine is configured to selectively harden photocurable resin at a build plane in the resin vessel. The support plate is formed from cast metal and is in a fixed vertical relation to the light engine. The support plate includes an upper side with an upstanding ridge. The upstanding ridge has an upper datum surface that has been machined to a controlled height. The support plate also includes a separately formed ring disposed upon the upper datum surface. The separately formed ring defines a crest of the upstanding ridge. The resin vessel includes a transparent sheet that defines a lower bound for resin contained in the resin vessel. The transparent sheet impinges upon the crest to define a vertical location of the build plane in relation to the light engine.