Method and apparatus for three-dimensional fabrication
The present invention relates to methods and an apparatus for the fabrication of solid three-dimensional objects from liquid polymerizable materials.
1. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object from a polymerizable liquid, comprising:
(a) a support;
(b) a carrier operatively associated with said support on which carrier said three-dimensional object is formed;
(c) a stationary rigid build plate connected to said support, said build plate comprising a fixed semipermeable member, said semipermeable member comprising a build surface and a feed surface separate from said build surface, with said build surface and said carrier defining a build region therebetween;
(d) a polymerization inhibitor source in fluid communication with said feed surface;
(e) a liquid polymer supply operatively associated with said build plate and configured to supply liquid polymer into said build region for solidification polymerization;
(f) a radiation source operatively associated with said build plate and configured to irradiate said build region through said build plate and form a solid polymerized region therein from said liquid polymer; and
(g) a controller operatively associated with said carrier and said light source for advancing said carrier and said build plate away from one another solely in the Z (vertical) direction during or after polymerization of liquid in said build zone.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
said semipermeable member comprises a top surface portion, a bottom surface portion, and an edge surface portion;
said build surface is on said top surface portion; and
said feed surface is on at least one of said top surface portion, said bottom surface portion, and said edge surface portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure source operatively associated with said liquid polymer supply.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said radiation source comprises a light source.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pattern forming element operatively associated with said radiation source and said controller.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said carrier comprises a plate, post, web, film, reel, or combination thereof operatively associated with at least one actuator.