IP Library Granted Patent US 7,674,423
Granted Patent B2
US 7,674,423 · App. 10/840,634 · Granted Mar 9, 2010

Process for producing three-dimensional model

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,674,423
App. No.
10/840,634
Granted
Mar 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process for producing a three-dimensional model is provided. The process includes (a) a layer formation step of forming a layer of a powder material having a refractive index n 1 above a support, (b) a shape formation step of bonding the powder material layer into a predetermined shape by a binder that gives a refractive index n 2 , and (c) sequentially repeating the above steps. The absolute value of the difference between the refractive index n 1 of the powder material and the refractive index n 2 given by the binder is 0.1 or less, and the binder includes two or more types of binders selected from the group consisting of at least one type of colored binder, a white binder, and a colorless transparent binder.

Claims (16)

1. A process for producing a three-dimensional model, the process comprising:

(a) a layer formation step of forming a layer of a synthetic organic powder material having a refractive index n 1 above a support, wherein the synthetic organic powder material comprises organic copolymer particles that are derived from at least two types of monomers, and wherein the organic copolymer particles comprise a copolymer of an aromatic vinyl compound and a (meth)acrylate ester;

(b) a shape formation step of bonding the powder material layer into a predetermined shape by a binder that gives a refractive index n 2 , wherein a region to which the binder has been applied is cured by exposure to UV rays from UV irradiation; and

(c) sequentially repeating the above steps;

the absolute value of the difference between the refractive index n 1 of the powder material and the refractive index n 2 given by the binder being 0.1 or less, and

the binder comprising two or more types of binders selected from the group consisting of at least one type of colored binder, a white binder, and a colorless transparent binder, wherein each of the colored binder, the white binder, and the colorless binder includes UV-curing compound,

the two types of monomers being a monomer (a) and a monomer (b), a homopolymer of the monomer (a) having a refractive index of 1.55 to 1.75, and a homopolymer of the monomer (b) having a refractive index of 1.35 to less than 1.55,

monomer (a) being the aromatic vinyl compound and monomer (b) being the (meth)acrylate ester, and

the binder comprising a (meth)acrylate ester of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol.

2. The process for producing a three-dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the colored binder comprises at least a yellow binder, a magenta binder, and a cyan binder.

3. The process for producing a three-dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the colored binder comprises at least a yellow binder, a magenta binder, a cyan binder, and a black binder.

4. The process for producing a three-dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the organic copolymer particles have an average particle size of 0.8 to 50 μm.

5. The process for producing a three dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the aromatic vinyl compound is a substituted or unsubstituted styrene.

6. The process for producing a three dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the (meth)acrylate ester is a methacrylate ester of a lower alcohol having 1 to 4 carbons.

7. The process for producing a three dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the refractive index n 1 of the organic copolymer is in the range of 1.4 to 1.7.

8. The process for producing a three dimensional model according to claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a polymerizable compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2007
From: FUJIFILM HOLDINGS CORPORATION (FORMERLY FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.)
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018904/0001 →