Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions based on blood vessel data from an individual; and making a rapid-prototyped blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the one or more blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

Abstract: V-CAD data is prepared by dividing external data 12 consisting of boundary data of an object into rectangular parallelepiped cells 13 having boundary planes orthogonal to each other in accordance with octree division and separating the respective divided cells into internal cells 13a positioned on the inner side of the object and boundary cells 13b including a boundary face, and a modeling unit quantity of a prototyping material 7 is changed in accordance with sizes of the internal cell 13a and the boundary cell 13b of a modeling portion. The prototyping material 7 is a resin, lumber powder, a low-fusing-point metal, metal powder, ceramics powder or a mixture of a binder and one of these materials, and its modeling unit quantity is set in such a manner that the modeling unit quantity is smaller than a capacity of a corresponding cell and does not protrude from the boundary plane of the cell.

Abstract: A method and system for building one or more three-dimensional objects, where the method includes providing a computer-aided design model of a three-dimensional object having an initial spatial orientation in a coordinate system, and determining an optimal spatial orientation of the computer-aided design model in the coordinate system based on one or more criteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (12, 13) for producing a multi-layered three-dimensional component (14). In a first step, a layered geometrical structure is formed, said structure consisting of at least two webs (16) of an at least high temperatures-resistant material. In a second step, an at least partly material connection is produced between the individual webs of the entire layered structure by means of at least one thermal treatment.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object is fabricated from powder. A powder layer is deposited. The powder layer is selectively wetted to hinder movement of the powder. A binder is applied to selected areas of the powder layer to harden the areas of the powder layer. The steps are repeated until the three-dimensional object is fabricated.

Abstract: A system that prints three dimensional products, the system including at least one object incorporation device that incorporates non-printed objects into partially completed product, the non-printed objects not being printed by the system.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for layer-on-layer manufacture of shaped three dimensional items. The process is controlled by a computer (36). The item is supported upon a build platform (2) and the apparatus additionally includes at least one build station (4) which serves to form upon the item under manufacture a layer of material having a controlled depth, and a shape determined by the computer controller. The build station and/or the build platform is/are mounted and driven to rotate about an axis. In this way the surface of the item under manufacture is repeatedly presented to the build station. The item is thereby built up from multiple layers of material. The rotational motion is advantageous in comparison with the reciprocal relative motion of existing “rapid proto-typing” machines.

Abstract: A digital assembler for creating three-dimensional objects from digital materials made out of discrete components comprises an assembly head, error correction mechanism, parts feeder, and a controller. The assembly head comprises several blades, each with a different function, that move in a linear direction as a unit, assembling the object line-by-line. One blade adds digital materials, another performs error recognition, another performs error removal, and another fills in new digital material where previously removed. In a method for building a structure out of digital materials, a new line is fed to the assembly head and added to the structure. Simultaneously, the new line is pressed down, the last line is checked for errors, the line before last is removed if errors were found during the last cycle, and the line second before last is replaced if it was removed during the previous cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for building three dimensional objects may adjust data used to build the objects to, for example, improve quality or correct for defects. A printer may, for example, accept data representing the object and modify the data according to an adjustment parameter; the printer may build the object according to the parameter. The parameter may be, for example, calculating an adjustment parameter in an X-Y slice plane to compensate for inaccuracies caused by diffusion of materials into one another.

Abstract: The method for assembling an architectural site model facilitates repeated placement and removal of foliage to the model. The site model is constructed as an upper shell portion and a lower base portion. Model foliage is attached to the shell portion. The upper shell portion of the site model is configured for removable attachment to the lower base portion. Thus, removal of the shell from the site model also allows the foliage to be removed from the site model in one motion.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and a method 50 for the creation of a tool 40. The apparatus 10 and the method 50 allow for dynamic measurement of the tool 40 as it is being created and further allows for the use of positive feedback to increase the likelihood that the produced tool will be structurally similar to a certain model. The apparatus 10 and method 50 further allow sections of varying thicknesses to be used and provide a technique to create surfaces which further increase the likelihood that the produced tool will be structurally equivalent to a desired and modeled tool.

Abstract: The invention concerns a contactless numerical printing machine for products of average fluidity, such as varnish, glue, and conducting or scratchable ink, onto a substrate of variable thickness and dimensions. The machine includes a special device for printing without contact by projection. The projected materials are materials of average fluidity or composed of large-dimension molecules. The process used includes an electro-acoustic device for control of the projection, and a multiplicity of projection nozzles, each controlled individually. The machine also includes a production chain with different work stations, whose printing devices are controlled by a computer management system. The production chain allows printing with a certain precision in given zones located during the processing by an appropriate work station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material solidifiable under the action of electromagnetic radiation by means of energy input via an imaging unit comprising a predetermined number of discrete imaging elements (pixels). The method comprises performing solidification with exposure using bitmap mask. The bitmap mask may be formed from a stack of bitmap data provided by an overlap analysis of a three-dimensional volume completely or partially enclosing a three-dimensional model of at least a part of the three-dimensional object to be produced. Alternatively, bitmap mask may be formed from a two-dimensional data set comprising overlap information. Solidification may be performing with exposure using bitmap mask generated “on the fly”. The invention is also directed to devices, and a computer and a data carrier useful for performing or executing the method.

Abstract: A solid freeform fabrication system includes a powdered build material deposited as a layer in a fabrication bin; a binding powder deposited as a layer over the layer of powdered build material; and an activating fluid that is selectively dispensed from an ejection head to activate the binding powder. The activated binding powder then selectively binds the build material into a cross-section of an object being fabricated.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that identifies an area in a mask layout which is likely to cause manufacturing problems due to a missing or an improperly placed assist feature. During operation, the system receives an uncorrected or corrected mask layout. The system then dissects the mask layout into segments. Next, the system identifies a problem area associated with a segment using a process-sensitivity model which can be represented by a multidimensional function that captures process-sensitivity information. Note that identifying the problem area allows a new assist feature to be added or an existing assist feature to be adjusted, thereby improving the wafer manufacturability. Moreover, using the process-sensitivity model reduces the computational time required to identify the problem area.

Abstract: A method of producing electron beam writing data in which a figure cell contained in the cell-based device pattern in electron beam lithography of character projection scheme is extracted as a character pattern is disclosed. The method comprises removing an overlap of pattern data included in the figure cell, producing a character pattern cutting frame from a cell allocation frame in the figure cell, assigning a figure inside of the produced character pattern cutting frame to a pattern to be shot in a character projection scheme as a character pattern, defining a figure outside of the character pattern cutting frame as a non-character pattern, removing an overlap between an adjacent pattern and the non-character pattern, and assigning a portion of the non-character pattern, which is not overlapped on the adjacent pattern to a pattern to be shot in a variable shaping beam scheme.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing three-dimensional objects and auxiliary systems used in conjunction with the aforementioned apparatus and methods. The apparatus and methods involve continuously printing radially about a circular and/or rotating build table using multiple printheads. The apparatus and methods also include optionally using multiple build tables. The auxiliary systems relate to build material supply printhead cleaning diagnostics, and monitoring operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a direct-metal deposition (DMD) process used to deposit successive layers in accordance with instructions from a CAD/CAM program, the laser beam, or an additional beam, is deployed as a localized heat treatment tool instead of a deposition tool. The use of laser energy during the process can minimize, if not eliminate, the periodic heat treatments now required for stress alleviation, thereby compressing the DMD fabrication cycle. In the preferred embodiment, every deposition run may be followed by a dry (i.e., without powder) run of one or more intensities to manipulate the stress magnitude and location. Since it is well known that residual stress is a function of cooling rate, a plurality of laser beams may alternatively be used to control the cooling rate of the deposited layer. Examples of stress reduction using H13 tool steel are provided.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system including a plurality of printheads, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously, the system configured to enable at least one first printhead that is initially configured to print at least part of a first layer to be dynamically reconfigured to print at least part of a second layer, and wherein if at least one printhead initially configured to print the second layer fails whilst printing said second layer, said at least one first printhead is dynamically reconfigured to complete the printing of at least part of said second layer.

Abstract: A programmed material consolidation apparatus includes at least one fabrication site and a material consolidation system associated with the at least one fabrication site. The at least one fabrication site may be configured to receive one or more fabrication substrates, such as semiconductor substrates. A machine vision system with a translatable or locationally fixed camera may be associated with the at least one fabrication site and the material consolidation system. A cleaning component may also be associated with the at least one fabrication site. The cleaning component may share one or more elements with the at least one fabrication site, or may be separate therefrom. The programmed material consolidation apparatus may also include a substrate handling system, which places fabrication substrates at appropriate locations of the programmed material consolidation apparatus.

Abstract: A programmed material consolidation apparatus includes at least one fabrication site and a material consolidation system associated with the at least one fabrication site. The at least one fabrication site may be configured to receive one or more fabrication substrates, such as semiconductor substrates. A machine vision system with a translatable or locationally fixed camera may be associated with the at least one fabrication site and the material consolidation system. A cleaning component may also be associated with the at least one fabrication site. The cleaning component may share one or more elements with the at least one fabrication site, or may be separate therefrom. The programmed material consolidation apparatus may also include a substrate handling system, which places fabrication substrates at appropriate locations of the programmed material consolidation apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming an object, the method comprising jetting a first material to form a plurality of layers that define a support structure increment, and extruding a second material to form a layer of the object. The layer of the object substantially conforms to an interior surface of the support structure increment.

Abstract: A method for aligning multiple nozzle members in a solid free form build unit is disclosed. A geometric test shape having at least one investigational topographic region projecting outward from a central base is formed and analyzed for at least one physical characteristic correlative with nozzle member targeting accuracy. The physical characteristic is at least one of color hue shift, surface pattern irregularity, and dimensional accuracy.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system including a plurality of printheads, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously, wherein the printheads are configured such that at least one of the layers may be printed with a first set of materials and at least one other of the layers may be printed with a second set of materials, and wherein the first and second sets are not the same.

Abstract: A printing system including at least one printhead for printing material to create a printed product, and an object incorporation device that incorporates inorganic semiconductors into the product being printed whilst the at least one printhead prints the product.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture is disclosed for providing a dental crowns using electronic models, and more particularly to a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for creating dental crowns using a lost-wax manufacturing process from electronic model files corresponding to patient teeth impressions and corresponding electronic models for tooth crowns. The system and method permit the electronic generation and specification of crown, bridge, and implant dental appliances that may be specified in an industry standard file specification. This specification is utilized in a rapid prototyping process to generate a wax impression for the appliance that may then be fabricated using standard lost-wax fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A programmed material consolidation apparatus includes a support with a surface that receives at least one substrate and prevents unconsolidated material from contacting undesired regions, such as the bottom surface, of the at least one substrate. When a programmed material consolidation process is used to form one or more objects on or adjacent to a substrate, the substrate may be secured to a support surface. Additionally, unconsolidated material may be prevented from contacting one or more undesired areas of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and a system for three-dimensional printing of a three dimensional model is provided. The method includes dispensing a first interface material from a printing head, dispensing at least a second interface material from the printing headland combining the first and second interface material in pre-determined proportions to produce layers for forming the three-dimensional model. In one embodiment, the layers forming the construction layers of the model are formed from interface material having a harder modulus of elasticity from the layers forming the release layers, thereby allowing for the forming complex three-dimensional shapes.

Abstract: A method of construction of an inkjet printhead having a large array of inkjet nozzle arrangements by defining a single inkjet nozzle arrangement for the ejection of ink from a single nozzle and utilizing a series of translations and rotations of the single inkjet nozzle arrangement to form all the inkjet nozzles of the inkjet print head. The utilizing step can comprise: initially forming those nozzles in a pod; forming a group of pods corresponding to each color utilized in the print head; forming a firing group of pods; forming a segment of the printhead; forming each segment of the print head. The inkjet nozzle arrangements can include a series of layers deposited and etch utilizing a mask.

Abstract: A system that prints three dimensional products, the system including at least one printhead that prints electrical connections to at least one object incorporated in the products.

Abstract: A system and method for building three dimensional objects may adjust data used to build the objects to, for example, improve quality or correct for defects. A printer may, for example, accept data representing the object and modify the data according to an adjustment parameter; the printer may build the object according to the parameter. The parameter may be, for example, fixed in the printer, user entered, and/or calculated by the printer. In one embodiment, a support pedestal may be built of deposited material before the object is built.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system including a plurality of printheads, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: a hot plate that heats an article to be processed; a temperature control section that controls temperature of the hot plate; a main body control section that controls the entirety of the apparatus based on a process recipe; and an elevating mechanism that elevates the article to be processed above the hot plate. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus further includes: a storage section that stores temperature data of the hot plate; an elevation control section that controls the elevating mechanism and sends elevation timing data to the storage section; a management range calculation section that calculates a management range corresponding to parameter behavior in a transient gradient state based on the temperature data, process recipe data, and the elevation timing data; and an abnormality detection section that detects apparatus abnormality with the use of the management range calculated by the management range calculation section.

Abstract: A method of operating a computing system to determine reticle data. The reticle data is for completing a reticle for use in projecting an image to a semiconductor wafer. The method receives circuit design layer data comprising a desired circuit layer layout, and the layout comprises a plurality of lines. The method also identifies in the plurality of lines a first line portion for use as a first circuit function and a second line portion for use as a second circuit function that differs from the first circuit function. The first line portion is parallel and adjacent to the second line portion. The method also provides the reticle data in an output data file for use in forming features on the reticle.

Abstract: A printing system including a least two printheads, wherein a first printhead is actively maintained at a first temperature and a second printhead is actively maintained at a second temperature.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously, wherein each layer is defined by a plurality of voxels arranged in a regular array and wherein the voxels of each layer are printed so as to be offset by half a voxel relative to the voxels of adjacent layers in a first direction, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction or both the first and second directions.

Abstract: A three dimensional object creation system that prints objects layer by layer, the system including a plurality of printheads, the system printing at least part of each of multiple layers simultaneously, wherein the printheads are configured to enable printing of at least two different materials in at least one layer.

Abstract: A method for rapid prototyping by using linear light as sources employs DLP (Radiation Hardening Formation) or LCD, together with the portable devices and linear light source to treat the raw material in two stages. The first stage is to spread the raw material to a selected zone by nozzles or rollers and illuminating the material to let the material being processed and have physical o mechanical changes. The second stage is to use more powerful linear light source with the cooperation of the portable DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) to illuminate the material to make it have a second times of physical o mechanical changes. By the piling up the layers of the material, a complete 3-D work piece is obtained.

Abstract: A system for creating three dimensional products is provided. The system has a plurality of subsystems, with each subsystem configured to print one layer of N1 of a plurality of layers making up a three dimensional product, where N1 is greater than 1 and to change the layer being printed on receipt of a change instruction. In the event that one of the subsystems fails, the system configures at least one of the remaining subsystems to synchronously change to print the layer of the failed subsystem without requiring transfer of data relating the respective layer to the said at least one remaining subsystems. When a subsystem is changed to printing a different layer, the system is arranged to reconfigure the subsystem to be capable of printing N2 of the plurality of layers, where N1 and N2 are the same number of layers.

Abstract: A stereolithographic method which comprises irradiating the surface of a photohardenable resin composition with light through an image drawing mask capable of changing its mask image with the image drawing mask being moved in parallel to the surface of the photohardenable resin composition and the mask image of the image drawing mask being changed in synchronism with the movement of the image drawing mask according to the sectional shape pattern on the photohardened resin layer to be formed to form a photohardened resin layer having a predetermined sectional shape pattern and a stereolithographic apparatus therefor.

Abstract: Manufacturing tools having a base and a working surface, such as trim steels, flange steels and die inserts, are formed by fabricating or casting a substrate out of a relatively ductile, low wear-resistant metal and forming the working surfaces such as cutting edges, flanging surfaces, die surfaces and die inserts by depositing layers of relatively hard, wear-resistant materials to the substrate by closed-loop direct-metal deposition or laser cladding. A multi-axis numerically controlled robot may be used to position and move a beam and deposition material over large substrates in forming such tooling.

Abstract: A modeling apparatus includes a platform and a substrate, which are adapted to be releasably locked together to provide a surface for building up models in an additive-process three-dimensional modeling machine. The substrate comprises a substantially rigid, non-dusting tray providing a modeling surface. Male connectors extending from the tray are seated in female connectors in the platform, to engage the substrate to the platform. The engaged substrate is locked to the platform, maintaining accurate positioning of the substrate while a model is built. After modeling is complete, the substrate is released from the platform, the model is removed, and the substrate may be reused.

Abstract: A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object with non-reactive powder includes spreading a non-reactive powder on a substrate, selectively dispensing a reactive resin onto the non-reactive powder forming a mixture of reactive resin and non-reactive powder, wherein the selective dispensing of the reactive resin defines the three-dimensional object, and curing the reactive resin thereby encapsulating the non-reactive powder.

Abstract: An implant designing method to be applied to a body of bone which has a bone deficient portion, wherein the bone being substantially symmetric with respect to a plane of symmetry, includes generating three-dimensional data of the bone based on a plurality of pieces of tomographic data of the bone, and estimating a shape of a bone that is to exist at the bone deficient portion using part of the three-dimensional data corresponding to a symmetrical part of the bone deficient portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a method for automatically analyzing an article of manufacture comprising the steps of a) providing a master model and a context model specification; b) creating a context model from the master model and the context model specification; c) translating the context model into an engineering analysis model compatible with an engineering analysis program; d) executing the engineering analysis program to generate a performance estimate form the engineering analysis model; and e) optionally modifying the master model to improve the performance estimate.

Abstract: A method for rapid prototyping by using plane light as sources treats the raw material by two stages. The first stage includes a step of spreading raw material onto a defined zone by nozzles and rolling the material to have a flat surface and a step of illuminating the raw materials by plane light and electronic beams to cause a first time of physical or chemical changes. The second stage includes a step of using more powerful plane light source with cooperation with portable Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to scan the selected zones of the material to cause a second time of physical or chemical changes, and a step of stacking the 2-D images so as to obtain a solid work piece.

Abstract: A system useful in producing a three-dimensional body comprising bone or tissue-compatible material includes a detection and analysis site which identifies and simulates a portion of a body in connection with an implantation situation. A production device produces a model responsive to the simulation information. A flame-spraying apparatus provides the bone-compatible and/or tissue-compatible material in a powder form through a nozzle. Relative movement between the nozzle and a support member supporting the model or die is controlled to apply one or more layers of the bone-compatible material to the model. A method includes using a computer to identify and simulate a body in connection with a given implantation situation, and producing a model or die accordingly. the bone or tissue-compatible material is flame-sprayed in a powder form. Movements of a nozzle and/or a supporting member are controlled so as to effect a desired surface characteristic on the three-dimensional body.

Abstract: A multi-layer immersion medium monitoring system for a lithographic process monitors characteristics of an immersion medium of a semiconductor manufacturing process. The multi-layer immersion medium includes at least a first liquid of a first density (or viscosity) and a second liquid of a lower density (or viscosity), both of which are interspersed between a final optical component and a semiconductor layer. The higher density layer is provided to reduce turbulence in the immersion medium during the lithographic processes. A scatterometry system monitors optical characteristics of the multi-layer immersion medium to effectuate control of a lithographic process.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and a method 50 for the creation of a tool 40. The apparatus 10 and the method 50 allow for dynamic measurement of the tool 40 as it is being created and further allows for the use of positive feedback to increase the likelihood that the produced tool will be structurally similar to a certain model. The apparatus 10 and method 50 further allow sections of varying thicknesses to be used and provide a technique to create surfaces which further increase the likelihood that the produced tool will be structurally equivalent to a desired and modeled tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a shaped body by selective laser melting, in which a shaped body is built up from pulverulent metallic material using CAD data of a model, in which a powder layer is applied using an applicator unit, and in which the applied powder layer is fixed to a layer below it using a focused laser beam, in which process the powder layer is levelled to a desired layer thickness as a result of a levelling device passing over the shaped body at least once, and during the levelling elevations that project above the desired layer height of the applied powder, of the layer which was last melted by the laser beam are uncovered by the levelling device.