US 12,263,644 B2
Three dimensional printer processing image information to provide optimized mechanical control signals
Nickalaus Podgursky, Huntersville, NC (US); and Martin Alan Johnson, Rock Hill, SC (US)
Assigned to 3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC (US)
Filed by 3D Systems, Inc., Rock Hill, SC (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/935,563.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/477,771, filed on Mar. 28, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2018/0281292 A1, Oct. 4, 2018
Int. Cl. B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/264 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/24 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/393 (2017.08) [B29C 64/135 (2017.08); B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/264 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B29K 2105/0058 (2013.01); B29K 2105/24 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A three dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three dimensional article of manufacture comprising:
a vessel containing for containing photocurable resin;
a light engine;
a movement mechanism for mechanically translating a component of the three dimensional printing system;
a controller configured to:
receive an incoming slice data array defining a two dimensional object having an initial outer boundary;
process the incoming slice data array along an imaging data path further including:
converting the incoming slice data array to control signals for the light engine; and
sending the control signals to the light engine thereby selectively hardening the polymerized layer geometry; and
process the incoming slice data array along a mechanism control data path further including:
process the incoming slice data array to simplify an outer boundary for the object to provide a simplified outer boundary, simplifying an outer boundary defined by a reduction of a perimeter length defined by any channels between portions of the initial outer boundary;
compute an inflow distance (D) for the simplified outer boundary;
process the inflow distance (D) to determine control signals for the movement mechanism, the control signals determine one or more of a translation distance, a translation speed, gripping force, and a delay time;
the controller operates the movement mechanism in the manufacture of the three dimensional article to translate the component according to the determined control signals including one or more of the translation distance, the translation speed, the gripping force, and the delay time.