US 11,685,117 B2
Three-dimensional printing methods for reducing bubbles by de-gassing through build plate
Bob E. Feller, San Mateo, CA (US); David Moore, San Carlos, CA (US); John R. Tumbleston, Menlo Park, CA (US); Ronald Truong, San Mateo, CA (US); and Kyle Laaker, Redwood City, CA (US)
Assigned to Carbon, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed by Carbon, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/39,163.
Application 17/039,163 is a continuation of application No. 16/081,544, granted, now 10,821,667, previously published as PCT/US2017/040376, filed on Jun. 30, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/357,659, filed on Jul. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/357,646, filed on Jul. 1, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0023783 A1, Jan. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/129 (2017.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.01); B29C 37/00 (2006.01); B29C 64/364 (2017.01); B29C 64/371 (2017.01); B29C 33/00 (2006.01); B29C 64/264 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); B29C 64/176 (2017.01); B29C 64/277 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01)
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
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.