Abstract:
A photohardening molding apparatus for forming a hardened layer having a controlled contour by applying light, the irradiation region of which is controlled, to the surface of a photosetting liquid, precipitating the hardened layer, and repeating the step of recoating the upper surface of the hardened layer with an unhardened liquid while making a recoater travel on the hardened layer, wherein the recoater travelling stroke is restricted to a required minimum level so as to reduce the recoating time. To achieve this object, a means for determining minimum and maximum coordinates of the contour of each section is added, whereby a recoater travelling stroke is restricted to within the coordinates.
Abstract:
This invention aims at simplifying a mold preparing process and developing a method capable of easily forming a mold of a very complicated shape, so as to reduce the sintered product manufacturing cost and time. A method capable of achieving the object has the steps of forming, using a photohardening molding method, a resin shell mold the inner surface of which is in conformity with the outer surface of a sintered product to be manufactured, filling a space inside the inner surface of the resin shell mold with a material to be sintered, and sintering the molded material to be sintered.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a photo-curing modeling apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional shape by inputting tessellation data defining a three-dimensional shape, calculating a profile data for each section on the basis of the tessellation data and controlling a light irradiation region on the basis of the profile data calculated. This apparatus includes means for storing the tessellation data, means for calculating a normal vector at the apex of each tessellation data, means for judging whether the normal vector calculated has a direction extending along the light irradiation direction or an opposite direction, means for offsetting the coordinates of the apex, which is judged as having the normal vector in the light irradiation direction by the judgement means, in the light irradiating direction, and means for calculating the profile data for each section on the basis of the tessellation data thus offset. The shape before offsetting can be accurately embodied.
Abstract:
When a flat laminated plate is molded by a photohardening molding method in the present invention, a step of forming layers with unhardened portions left therein, by irradiating the layers with light in a spaced manner, and a step of hardening the unhardened portions while an upper layer is hardened, are used to form a flat laminated plate while offsetting the strain occurring due to the hardening operation. This enables a flat laminated plate the shape of which is faithful to a design to be molded without causing warpage to occur therein.
Abstract:
A photohardening molding apparatus and a photohardening molding method, wherein the reliability of an operation for coating the upper surface of a hardened layer with an unhardened liquid is improved and the time required to carry out the same operation is reduced. To meet the purpose, a clearance shall be formed between the lower surface of a recoater travelling on a hardened layer and the upper surface of the hardened layer. When this condition is satisfied, an unhardened liquid is introduced onto the hardened layer owing to both the force of the lower surface of the recoater of dragging the unhardened liquid and the nature of the unhardened liquid of entering the clearance. When recesses are provided in the lower surface of the recoater, the liquid adsorbed to the surfaces thereof is also introduced onto the unhardened layer.