CPC B29C 64/245 (2017.08) [B29C 33/0083 (2013.01); B29C 37/006 (2013.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.08); B29C 64/129 (2017.08); B29C 64/176 (2017.08); B29C 64/264 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B29C 64/277 (2017.08); B29C 64/364 (2017.08); B29C 64/371 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B29C 2033/0005 (2013.01); B29C 2791/006 (2013.01); B29C 2791/008 (2013.01); B29C 2791/009 (2013.01); B29K 2995/006 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0026 (2013.01)] | 24 Claims |
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 gas permeable optically transparent member having a build surface, with said build surface and said carrier defining a build region therebetween;
(d) a liquid polymer supply operatively associated with said build surface and configured to supply liquid polymer into said build region for solidification or polymerization;
(e) a radiation source configured to irradiate said build region through said optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from said polymerizable liquid;
(f) optionally at least one drive operatively associated with either said transparent member or said carrier;
(g) a controller operatively associated with said carrier, and/or optionally said at least one drive, and said radiation source for continuously or intermittently advancing said carrier away from said build surface to form said three-dimensional object from said solid polymer,
(h) a gas/pressure controller in fluid communication with said optically transparent member configured to control a pressure and/or supply a gas to said build surface through said gas permeable member, wherein said gas/pressure controller is configured to
apply a reduced pressure and oxygen-enriched gas to the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member to thereby reduce a nitrogen content of the polymerizable liquid by supplying oxygen through the optically transparent member into the polymerizable liquid while withdrawing nitrogen from the polymerizable liquid through the optically transparent member.
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