System and method for automated successive three-dimensional printing
A system and method for autonomously creating subsequent physical objects using a 3-dimensional printer. The system includes a build platform which is ejected with a printed object adhered to it, with a replenishing mechanism to place a blank build platform into the expected build area such that printing a subsequent object may occur autonomously. The replenishing mechanism may draw from a plurality of stored blank build platforms which may be reusable in some embodiments and disposable in others.
1. A print area, for accepting and subsequently ejecting an object printed thereon by a 3-dimensional printer, the print area comprising:
a build plane;
a replenishing mechanism located proximately and external to the build plane;
a plurality of build platforms arranged in an order,
the order having a beginning and an end,
each build platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of walls extending therebetween,
wherein the top surface is configured to adhere to the object;
a holding mechanism having a perimeter,
wherein the holding mechanism is configured to hold a first build platform even with the build plane when the 3-dimensional printer is printing thereon;
and a displacement mechanism,
wherein the displacement mechanism is configured to eject the first build platform beyond the perimeter of the holding mechanism and concurrently displace a second build platform at the beginning of the order into the perimeter of the holding mechanism.
2. The print area of claim 1 , wherein the order is a vertical stack.
3. The print area of claim 2 , wherein the beginning of the vertical stack is a bottom of the vertical stack and the end of the vertical stack is a top of the vertical stack.