Use of dye-type polarizers in a photopolymer curing device
A curing system for an additive fabrication system includes a light source, a liquid crystal cell, and a first polarizer. The light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength suitable for curing a material. The liquid crystal cell is configured to receive the light from the light source. The first polarizer comprises a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and organic dyes impregnated into the PVA matrix.
1. A curing system for an additive fabrication system, the curing system comprising:
a light source configured to emit light at a wavelength suitable for curing a photopolymerizable material;
a liquid crystal cell configured to receive the light from the light source; and
a first polarizer disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal cell, wherein the first polarizer comprises:
a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix; and
an organic dye impregnated into the PVA matrix.
2. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the light source is between 365 nm and 415 nm.
3. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to provide a flux greater than 20 mW/cm 2 at the first polarizer.
4. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to provide a flux greater than 2 mW/cm 2 at the photopolymerizable material.
5. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the first polarizer is configured to operate at a temperature range from 10 to 120 degrees Celsius.
6. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the organic dye comprises at least one dye made from one or more of metal diazo compounds, trisazo compounds, biphenyldiazo, trisazo or disazomonoazoxy compounds, or metal-containing biphenyldisazo, trisazo or disazomonoazoxy compounds.
7. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the first polarizer is spaced apart from the liquid crystal cell by a first distance.
8. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the first polarizer is laminated to the liquid crystal cell.
9. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the first polarizer is configured to be decoupled from the curing system.
10. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a high-power light emitting diode.
11. The curing system of claim 1 , wherein a light-receiving surface of the liquid crystal cell has a size equal to or greater than a size of a light-emitting surface of the first polarizer.
12. The curing system of claim 1 , further comprising a collimating lens between the light source and the first polarizer.
13. The curing system of claim 1 , further comprising a diverging lens between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal cell.
14. The curing system of claim 1 , further comprising a second polarizer situated on an opposite side of the liquid crystal cell compared to the first polarizer.
15. The curing system of claim 14 , wherein the second polarizer comprises a second PVA matrix and an organic dye impregnated into the second PVA matrix.
16. The curing system of claim 14 , wherein the second polarizer is spaced apart from the liquid crystal cell by a second distance.
17. The curing system of claim 14 , wherein the second polarizer is laminated on the liquid crystal cell.
18. The curing system of claim 14 , wherein the second polarizer is configured to be decoupled from the curing system.
19. A method of additive fabrication, the method comprising:
emitting, from a light source, light at a wavelength suitable for curing a photopolymerizable material;
receiving the light at a liquid crystal cell; and
polarizing the light at a first polarizer disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal cell, wherein the first polarizer comprises:
a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix; and
an organic dye impregnated into the PVA matrix.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
polarizing the light at a second polarizer disposed on an opposite side of the liquid crystal cell as the first polarizer, wherein the second polarizer comprises:
a PVA matrix; and
an organic dye impregnated into the PVA matrix.