发明人：
VAN ESBROECK, HUBERTUS THEODORUS PETRUS | SUWONO, BOYLE | GUPTA, HARSH
摘要：
Abstract
A device comprising; a controller arranged to receive data for an article to print; a sub-
device comprising a resin source arranged to provide material for printing the article; a
radiation source arranged to direct radiation for the printing of said article; a plurality of
10 stations, said stations including a printing tank in which the article is printed, at least
one cleaning station for cleaning the printed article and a curing station arranged to at
least partially complete the curing of the printed article; a build surface upon which the
article is arranged to be printed; wherein controller is arranged to move the build
surface and the plurality of stations relative to each other.
Figure 3
权利要求：
1. A device comprising;
a controller arranged to receive data for an article to print;
5 a sub-device comprising a resin source arranged to provide material for printing
the article;
a radiation source arranged to direct radiation for the printing of said article;
a plurality of stations, said stations including a printing tank in which the article
is printed, at least one cleaning station for cleaning the printed article and a
10 curing station arranged to at least partially complete the curing of the printed
article;
a build surface upon which the article is arranged to be printed;
wherein controller is arranged to move the build surface and the plurality of
stations relative to each other.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stations include any
one or a combination of: a post-curing station, a second cleaning station and an
unloading station from where a finished printed article is unloaded.
20 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of stations are
located on a moveable tray.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the moveable tray is arranged to rotate
about a vertical axis, and the build surface is located on a vertically oriented
linear slide, such that the movable tray is arranged to sequentially rotate a
relevant station and the build surface is arranged to vertically deliver the article
to said relevant station.
5 5. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moveable tray is arranged to
move linearly in a horizontal direction, and the build surface is located on a
vertically oriented linear slide, such that the movable tray is arranged to
sequentially move a relevant station and the build surface is arranged to
vertically deliver the article to said relevant station.
6. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of stations are fixed
spatially relative to each other, in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and the
build surface is located on a vertically oriented linear slide, such that the build
surface is arranged to sequentially deliver the article to said relevant station on
15 moving vertically on said slide.
7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of stations are fixed
spatially relative to each other and located on a platform, and the build surface is
located on a movable arm, said arm articulated so as to provide positioning of
20 the build surface with up to/ maximum of 6 degrees of freedom, such that the
build surface is arranged to sequentially deliver the article to said relevant
station on moving said articulated arm.
8. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the build surface is arranged to
25 attach to a platform plate at the start of a print cycle.
9. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the build surface is arranged to
release a platform plate at the end of a print, wash, cure or post-curing cycle.
5 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the printing tank includes a resin
vessel with a translucent or transparent bottom wall surface.
11. The additive manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing
10 tank includes a resin vessel, said resin vessel comprising an external vessel.
12. The additive manufacturing device according to claim 11, wherein the printing
tank further includes an internal vessel within said external vessel.
15 13. An internal resin vessel for use with an additive manufacturing device according
to claim 12, wherein said internal resin vessel is arranged to be selectively
removable from the external resin vessel.
14. The internal resin vessel according to claim 13, wherein the internal vessel is
20 arranged to contain a polymerisable material.
15. The internal resin vessel according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the internal resin
vessel includes a coating on an internal surface of a bottom wall of said internal
25 resin vessel.
16. An internal cleaning vessel for use with an additive manufacturing device
according to claim 1, wherein said internal cleaning vessel is arranged to be
30 selectively removable from the at least one cleaning station.
17. The internal cleaning vessel according to claim 16, wherein the internal cleaning
vessel is arranged to contain a cleaning solution for cleaning the printed article.
5 18. A method for printing an article using an additive manufacturing process, the
method comprising the steps of:
a) collecting the 3D scan data of the article;
b) digitally transferring the 3D data to a centralised location;
c) preparing a digital file for controlling the printing of said article at said
10 centralised location;
d) downloading the digital file from the centralised location to an additive
manufacturing device, and consequently;
e) printing the article.
15 19. The method according to claim 18, further including the steps of:
f) wash the article;
g) post-cure the article;
h) dispense printed article.
20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the centralised location is one
of: an external facility, data/information support service, web portal, an area
network (local or otherwise) or a cloud-based service.