How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid

Citation count

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A system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed synergistic stimulation, said system comprising: means for drawing upon and forming successive cross-sectional laminae of said object at a two-dimensional interface; and means for moving said cross-sections as they are formed and building up said object in step wise fashion, whereby a three-dimensional object is extracted from a substantially two-dimensional surface. 2. An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of solidification when subjected to prescribed synergistic stimulation, said system comprising: a body of fluid medium capable of transforming its physical state in response to synergistic stimulation; object support means immersed within said fluid medium for supporting a three-dimensional object to be formed; translational means for selectively moving said object support means progressively away from a designated surface of said fluid medium; and reaction means capable of altering the physical state of said fluid medium and operating in a prescribed pattern upon said designated surface of said fluid medium to provide a thin solid lamina at said surface representing a corresponding cross-sectional lamina of said three-dimensional object to be formed, whereby successive adjacent laminae are provided to form said three-dimensional object on said object support means as said translational means moves said support means away from said designated surface. 3. A system as set forth in claim 2, and further including: programmed control means for varying the graphic pattern of said reaction means operating upon said designated surface of said fluid medium. 4. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a beam of impinging radiation. 5. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: an electron beam. 6. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a beam of high energy particles. 7. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a beam of light. 8. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: x-rays. 9. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a beam of ultraviolet light. 10. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a jet of a reactive chemical to induce solidification of said fluid medium. 11. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a patterned mask overlying said designated surface for selectively applying a chemical to induce solidification of said fluid medium. 12. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a patterned mask overlying said designated surface for selectively exposing said surface to synergistic stimulation. 13. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction means includes: a patterned mask overlying said designated surface for selectively exposing said surface to radiation. 14. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said translational means moves said object as it is formed away from said designated surface and further into said fluid medium. 15. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said translational means moves said object as it is formed away from said surface and out of said fluid medium. 16. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein exposure to said reaction means at said designated surface is through a second non-reactive medium. 17. A system as set forth in claim 2, and further including: a container for said fluid medium, wherein exposure of said designated surface to said reaction means is through the bottom of said container and a second non-reactive medium adjacent said designated surface. 18. A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said second non-reactive medium is heavy water. 19. A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said second non-reactive medium is ethylene glycol. 20. A system as set forth in claim 2, and further including: rotational means, supplementing said translational means for altering the orientation of said object relative to said designated surface at which laminae are being formed. 21. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the level of said fluid medium locating said designated surface is variable. 22. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the level of said fluid medium locating said designated surface is maintained constant. 23. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said translational means has multiple degrees of freedom of movement. 24. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein precise focus of said beam of impinging radiation upon said designated surface is maintained. 25. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said prescribed pattern is formed upon said designated surface by radiation emanating from the face of a cathode ray tube. 26. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said prescribed pattern is formed by light directly emanating from a phosphor image. 27. A system for directly producing a three-dimensional object as it is designed by a computer, comprising: deriving graphic image output from said computer, said graphic image defining successive adjacent cross-sections of the three-dimensional object designed by said computer; means for drawing upon and forming successive cross-sections, corresponding to said computer designed cross-sections of said object, at a two-dimensional interface; and means for moving said cross-sections as they are formed and building up said object in a stepwise fashion, whereby the three-dimensional object designed by said computer is automatically extracted from a substantially two-dimensional surface. 28. An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state when subjected to prescribed radiation, said system comprising: a body of fluid medium capable of altering its physical state; means for forming said three-dimensional object from said fluid medium by irradiating a designated surface of said medium to provide integrated, successive surface laminae at said surface, said laminae together defining said three-dimensional object. 29. An improved system for producing a three-dimensional object from a fluid medium, said system comprising: a body of fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to prescribed radiation; a radiation source for impinging said prescribed radiation in a selected pattern upon a designated surface of said fluid medium to provide only at said surface a thin solid lamina representing a cross-sectional lamina of a three-dimensional object to be formed; and means for combining successive adjacent laminae to form said three-dimensional object from said fluid medium. 30. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: a beam of impinging radiation. 31. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: an electron beam. 32. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: a beam of high energy particles. 33. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: a beam of light. 34. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: a beam of ultraviolet light. 35. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source includes: x-rays. 36. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source and pattern includes: a patterned mask overlying said designated surface for selectively exposing said surface to synergistic stimulation. 37. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said radiation source and pattern includes: a patterned mask overlying said designated surface selectively exposing said surface to radiation. 38. A system as set forth in claim 29, wherein exposure to said prescribed radiation at said designated surface is through a second non-reactive medium. 39. A system as set forth in claim 29, and further including: a container for said fluid medium, wherein exposure of said designated surface to said prescribed radiation is through the bottom of said container and a second non-reactive medium adjacent said designated surface. 40. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said second non-reactive medium is heavy water. 41. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said second non-reactive medium is ethylene glycol. 42. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein the level of said fluid medium locating said designated surface is maintained constant. 43. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said translational means has multiple degrees of freedom of movement. 44. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein precise focus of said prescribed radiation upon said designated surface is maintained. 45. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said selected pattern is formed upon said designted surface by radiation emanating from the face of a cathode ray tube. 46. A system as set forth in claim 39, wherein said selected pattern is formed by light directly emanating from a phosphor image. 47. A system as set forth in claim 39, and further including: programmed control means for varying the pattern of said impinging radiation upon said designated surface of said fluid medium.