Rapid prototyping apparatus

摘要

Apparatus for producing an object by sequentially forming thin layers of a construction material one on top of the other responsive to data defining the object, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of printing heads each having a surface formed with a plurality of output orifices and controllable to dispense the construction material through each orifice independently of the other orifices; a shuttle to which the printing heads are mounted; a support surface; and a controller adapted to control the shuttle to move back and forth over the support surface and as the shuttle moves to control the printing heads to dispense the construction material through each of their respective orifices responsive to the data to form a first layer on the support surface and thereafter, sequentially the other layers; wherein each printing head is dismountable from the shuttle and replaceable independently of the other printing heads.

主权项

1. Rapid Production Apparatus for producing an object by sequentially forming thin layers of a photopolymer material one on top of the other responsive to data defining the object, the apparatus comprising: a shuttle comprising: a printing head block mounted ton the shuttle, the printing head block comprising:
at least one printing head having a surface formed with at least one output orifice and controllable to dispense a photopolymer material in liquid form through the orifice; and a lamp mounted on the shuttle and laterally displaced from the at least one output orifice, said lamp controllable to provide radiation that polymerizes the photopolymer material, wherein the lamp comprises:
a radiation source positioned to direct a substantial portion of its radiation at a normal angle on the layers; anda reflector that reflects the radiation so that a substantial portion is incident at a substantially non-normal angle on the layers,a housing configured to house both the radiation source and the reflector, wherein the radiation source is mounted on the reflector or on the housing through a hole formed in the reflector; and a controller adapted to control the printing head to dispense the photopolymer material and sequentially form the layers and to control the lamp to irradiate and polymerize the dispensed photopolymer material; wherein a substantial portion of radiation provided by the lamp is directed so that it is incident at a substantially non-normal angle on the layers.