Methods and apparatus for rapidly prototyping three-dimensional objects from a plurality of layers

摘要

Methods and apparatus are provided for rapidly prototyping a three-dimensional object from a plurality of sequential layers wherein each layer is cut after being fused with a preceding layer. A first sequential layer having a peripheral edge and an exposed face is cut from a first sheet of material using a machine tool path generated from a CAD model of the object. A solvent is then applied to a face of a second sheet of material. The second sheet of material is placed in contacting face-to-face relation with the first sequential layer such that the solvent fuses the face of the second sheet of material with the exposed face of the first sequential layer. A second sequential layer having a peripheral edge and an exposed face is cut from the second sheet of material along a respective machine tool path generated for the second sequential layer. The above procedure is repeated until all remaining layers of the prototype part are produced.