OLED LIGHT SOURCE AND MULTI-MATERIAL MEMBRANE FOR VAT POLYMERIZATION PRINTER
A vat polymerization printer may comprise a tank assembly for containing a photo-curing liquid resin. The tank assembly may include a tank sidewall and a tank bottom formed by a membrane assembly. The membrane assembly may comprise a radiation-transparent flexible membrane and a frame affixed to a perimeter of the radiation-transparent flexible membrane. In one embodiment, the radiation-transparent flexible membrane may include a radiation-transparent flexible substrate sandwiched between two fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) films or two polyolefin polymer films. In another embodiment, the radiation-transparent flexible membrane may include an FEP or polyolefin polymer film bonded to a layer of silicone rubber at a first side of the layer of silicone rubber, the layer of silicone rubber having a coating on a second side thereof. The vat polymerization printer may also comprise an OLED light source.
1 . A three-dimensional (3D) printing system, comprising:
an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) light source;
a tank assembly containing resin; and
a multi-material membrane disposed between the OLED light source and the tank assembly, the multi-material membrane comprising:
a radiation-transparent flexible substrate with a first and a second side;
a first fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or polyolefin polymer film bonded to the first side of the radiation-transparent flexible substrate; and
a second FEP or polyolefin polymer film bonded to the second side of the radiation-transparent flexible substrate.
2 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation-transparent flexible substrate comprises silicone.
3 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation-transparent flexible substrate comprises fumed silica.
4 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the first FEP or polyolefin polymer film has a thickness of 0.01-0.1 mm.
5 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the second FEP or polyolefin polymer film has a thickness of 0.01-0.1 mm.
6 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation-transparent flexible substrate has a thickness of 0.01-0.1 mm.
7 . The 3D printing system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-material membrane is secured in a frame having a lip that engages with a groove of a sidewall of the tank assembly.
8 . A three-dimensional (3D) printing system, comprising:
an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) light source;
a tank assembly containing resin; and
a multi-material membrane disposed between the OLED light source and the tank assembly, the multi-material membrane comprising:
a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or polyolefin polymer film bonded to a layer of silicone rubber at a first side of the layer of silicone rubber, the layer of silicone rubber having a coating on a second side thereof, the coating configured to reduce surface energy of the layer of silicone rubber.
9 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises a silicone elastomer.
10 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based material.
11 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the coating is a cured layer of a silicone elastomer.
12 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the coating comprises a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
13 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the FEP or polyolefin polymer film has a thickness of 0.03-0.1 mm.
14 . The 3D printing system of claim 8 , wherein the layer of silicone rubber has a thickness of 0.03-0.1 mm.