Abstract: For increasing the safety monitoring of a plant with several functional units, such as a production plant, the invention provides a method and apparatus, in which each functional unit is individually monitored or checked by its own redundant two-channel safety device. The safety devices constantly inform one another of their monitoring state. In the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated. For achieving this objective, an apparatus is constructed with each functional unit being associated with a safety device and the safety devices are interconnected so that, in the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated.

Abstract: For increasing the safety monitoring of a plant with several functional units, such as a production plant, the invention provides a method, in which each functional unit is individually monitored or checked by its own safety device, in which the safety devices constantly inform one another on their monitoring state and in the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated. For achieving this objective, an apparatus is so constructed that with each functional unit is associated its own safety device and that the safety devices are so interconnected that in the case of a malfunction of at least one functional unit or safety device, at least one safety-relevant actuator is operated.

Abstract: A stereolithography system employing a more powerful laser and faster dynamic mirrors to speed up part building without sacrificing accuracy is described, especially large or complex parts. A controllable shutter is placed in the beam path of the laser to selectably block the passage of the beam and prevent unwanted solidification. A suitable servo controlled feedback loop is provided to accurately position the mirrors at the higher velocity. Also described is a means to reduce data flow by distributing tasks in a multiple processor environment, and to improve user interaction by the use of a spreadsheet model. These also improve the speed of part building, especially for large or complex parts.

Abstract: A stereolithography system employing a more powerful laser and faster dynamic mirrors to speed up part building without sacrificing accuracy is described, especially large or complex parts. A controllable shutter is placed in the beam path of the laser to selectably block the passage of the beam and prevent unwanted solidification. A suitable servo controlled feedback loop is provided to accurately position the mirrors at the higher velocity.Also described is a means to reduce data flow by distributing tasks in a multiple processor environment, and to improve user interaction by the use of a spreadsheet model. These also improve the speed of part building, especially for large or complex parts.