US 11,878,472 B2
System for window separation in an additive manufacturing process
Christopher Prucha, San Francisco, CA (US); and Joel Ong, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/388,598.
Application 17/388,598 is a continuation of application No. 16/672,415, filed on Nov. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,104,075.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/754,430, filed on Nov. 1, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354392 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/364 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/25 (2017.01); B01D 71/32 (2006.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.01); B29C 64/379 (2017.01)
CPC B29C 64/364 (2017.08) [B01D 71/32 (2013.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/25 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/379 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
a tray seat;
a build window:
defining a first upper surface vertically offset from the tray seat;
substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation within a photo-initiating wavelength range;
vertically offset from the tray seat; and
circumscribed by the tray seat;
a projection system configured to project electromagnetic radiation toward the first upper surface of the build window;
a fluid distribution port;
an interstitial gasket surrounding the build window and the fluid distribution port; and
a fluid distribution channel:
circumscribing the build window; and
intersecting the fluid distribution port;
a separation membrane:
tensioned over the build window;
configured to a seal against and cooperate with the interstitial gasket to define an interstitial region between the first upper surface of the build window and a lower surface of the separation membrane; and
configured to separate from the build window in response to injection of fluid, via the fluid distribution port and the fluid distribution channel, into the interstitial region.