South Carolina Patent of the Month – March 2022
Some 3D printing systems are designed to use energy to selectively cure materials. This energy is applied using imaging systems or lasers. 3D Systems, Inc. has been leading the additive manufacturing industry for more than 30 years. Throughout this time, they have continually innovated and expanded the industry.
Recently, these innovations have included the design of a 3D printer with a high resolution light engine capable of providing more precision and control over the printed product. This design has a build platform coupled to a vertical positioner. The newly designed light engine generates light spots across the build platform. As the product is being built, the light engine scans the light spots over the build plane. The scanned light spots image the build material along spaced-apart stripes. This is then repeated in the other direction (X and Y) and repeated again until the product is built. The light spots are varied by project and the intensity is modified as needed. By modifying the intensity, a modulated dosage of radiation is distributed and selectively hardens portions of the build material.
The light engine uses a beam expander and deflector to precisely expand and deflect the light as needed. By combining the expander with micro-lenses, the system has enhanced resolution for the light engine. It also provides precision by allowing the light engine to be positioned further away from the focal plane which means there is less likelihood of disturbing the build plane.
With increased resolution and precision, the final products can be made more reliable and more complex without requiring a great deal of additional labor.
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