US 11,833,753 B2
Hinged clamp for securing membrane assembly to tank sidewall in 3D printing system
Miguel Cuevas Sandoval, Camarillo, CA (US); Izhar Medalsy, Ventura, CA (US); Mehdi Mojdeh, Valencia, CA (US); and Avi N. Reichental, Carpinteria, CA (US)
Assigned to Nexa3D Inc., Ventura, CA (US)
Filed by Nexa3D Inc., Ventura, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/658,983.
Prior Publication US 2023/0321909 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/286 (2017.01)
CPC B29C 64/255 (2017.08) [B29C 64/286 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three-dimensional (3D) printing system, comprising:
a tank including:
a tank sidewall;
a hinged clamp secured to the tank sidewall, wherein a first hinge of the hinged clamp is mounted adjacent to an outer surface of the tank sidewall; and
a membrane assembly with a flexible radiation-transparent membrane included in a frame, the membrane assembly for forming a bottom of the tank when secured to the tank sidewall by the hinged clamp and having a lip about the frame for securably receiving a complementary portion of the hinged clamp; and
a light source configured to project radiation towards the bottom of the tank, wherein the frame comprises a first surface facing towards the tank sidewall and a second surface facing away from the tank sidewall, wherein the lip forms a portion of the second surface facing away from the tank sidewall, and wherein the complementary portion of the hinged clamp is secured onto the lip about the frame.