CONSECUTIVE PIECEWISE MOLDING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method for additively fabricating a solid object from a series of components. The method utilizes additive fabrication with a programmed computer operating a machine to produce a solid object based on a three dimensional, computerized rendering of the solid object. Each component is produced from one or more molds which are filled with a fluid material that solidifies into a component that attaches to a previously manufactured component by way of the same process.

主权项

1. A method for using a programmed computer operating a machine to additively produce a solid object from a three dimensional rendering of the solid object comprising the steps of:
(1) positioning a first mold or first mold group in a first predetermined position against a support; (2) filling the inside volume of the first mold or first mold group with a first volume of fluid material; (3) permitting the fluid material to at least partially solidify into a first component; (4) removing the first mold or first mold group from the first predetermined position; (5) positioning a second mold or second mold group in a second predetermined position; (6) filling the inside volume of the second mold or second mold group with a second volume of fluid material; (7) permitting the second fluid material to at least partially solidify into a second component; (8) removing the second mold or second mold group from the second predetermined position; (9) positioning a subsequent mold or subsequent mold group in a subsequent predetermined position; (10) filling the inside volume of the subsequent mold or subsequent mold group with a subsequent volume of fluid material; (11) permitting the subsequent volume of fluid material to at least partially solidify into a subsequent component; (12) removing the subsequent mold or subsequent mold group from the subsequent predetermined position; and (13) repeating steps 9 through 12 until all components of the solid object are formed.