Granted Patent B2

US 12,275,191 · App. 18/050,797 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram (Santa Clara, CA); Srinivas Kaza (Mountain View, CA); Chunhua Li (Cupertino, CA); Lance Robert Pickens (Campbell, CA); Shawn Stromenger (Milpitas, CA); Jun Sato (San Jose, CA); Siobhan O'Leary (Santa Clara, CA); Peter Webber (San Francisco, CA); Brett E. Kelly (Oakland, CA); Jennifer Chavez (Fremont, CA)

Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.

B29C64/35B08B7/0071B08B7/04B29C35/0805B29C64/30B29C64/357B29C64/379B29C64/386B29C71/04B33Y40/20B33Y50/00B33Y80/00A61C7/08B29C64/124B29L2031/753

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects fabricated from a curable material, wherein excess curable material remains on the plurality of additively manufactured objects after fabrication;

removing the excess curable material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects; and

adjusting an environmental temperature while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects according to a dynamic temperature profile that facilitates removal of the excess curable material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects, wherein the dynamic temperature profile comprises:

setting the environmental temperature to a first temperature during a first time period in which the plurality of additively manufactured objects are rotated at a first rotation speed, the first temperature configured to decrease a viscosity of the excess curable material, and

setting the environmental temperature to a second temperature during a second time period in which the plurality of additively manufactured objects are rotated at a second rotation speed, the second temperature configured to increase a stiffness of the plurality of additively manufactured objects to resist deformation of the plurality of additively manufactured objects due to forces generated by the rotation at the second rotation speed,

wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, and wherein the first rotation speed is less than the second rotation speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured objects comprise a partially cured polymeric resin, and the excess curable material comprises uncured polymeric resin.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the uncured polymeric resin comprises a viscosity of at least 15 Pa-s at 20° C.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic temperature profile comprises decreasing the environmental temperature from the first temperature to the second temperature over time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period occurs before the second time period.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving sensor data indicative of a cleaning status of the plurality of additively manufactured objects; and

adjusting the environmental temperature based on the cleaning status.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental temperature is adjusted toward the first temperature using one or more of the following: an infrared radiation source, a heat sink, a heating plate, a heated gas, or a heated fluid.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the environmental temperature is adjusted toward the first temperature by immersing the plurality of additively manufactured objects in the heated fluid while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environmental temperature is adjusted toward the second temperature using one or more of the following: a thermoelectric cooler, a cold plate, a cold gas, or a cold fluid.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising curing the plurality of additively manufactured objects by applying radiation to the plurality of additively manufactured objects while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a material to the plurality of additively manufactured objects while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the material comprises a wash fluid.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the material comprises a coating.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting at least some of the excess curable material removed from the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising reusing the collected excess curable material in a subsequent additive manufacturing process.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured objects comprise a plurality of orthodontic appliances.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured objects are rotated on a rotor comprising a plurality of adjustable mounting structures, each adjustable mounting structure supporting a subset of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising repositioning the plurality of adjustable mounting structures while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects to apply variable forces to the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the rotor comprises a central shaft and a plurality of arms, each arm comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of each arm is coupled to the central shaft and a second end of each arm is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjustable mounting structures.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein each subset of additively manufactured objects is fabricated on a build platform, and wherein the build platform is coupled to the respective adjustable mounting structure.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (166)