US 11,718,019 B2
System for hybrid 3D printing with photo-curable materials
Mehdi Mojdeh, Fremont, CA (US); Michael Christopher Cole, San Jose, CA (US); Peter Dorfinger, Woodside, CA (US); and Shiva P. Sambu, Milpitas, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/689,854.
Application 17/689,854 is a continuation of application No. 16/571,029, filed on Sep. 13, 2019, granted, now 11,318,667.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/731,610, filed on Sep. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0193986 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/264 (2017.01); B29C 64/307 (2017.01); B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B29C 64/232 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/232 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/264 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/307 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (3D) printer, comprising:
a platform;
a dispenser comprising a nozzle and a heating element, wherein the heating element is configured to heat a material and the nozzle is configured to extrude the heated material onto the platform to form a first layer of an extruded material, wherein the first layer of extruded material has a first shape specified by one or more digital files, and wherein the first shape corresponds to a first minimum line width based on a diameter of the nozzle; and
a light source configured to emit a light beam that is directed onto the first layer of extruded material according to the one or more digital files to cure a portion of the first layer of extruded material to create a first cured layer of the material, wherein the first cured layer of material corresponds to a second shape of a first layer of a three-dimensionally (3D) printed object specified by the one or more digital files, wherein the light beam has a beam diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the nozzle, and wherein the second shape has a second minimum line width that is smaller than the first minimum line width.