US 12,311,596 B2
Three-dimensional printing device for a small glass object
Gérard Jeandel, Heillecourt (FR); Marie-Alice Skaper, Praye (FR); Denis Garcia, Maron (FR); Simon Aufranc, Vandoeuvre les Nancy (FR); Guilherme Vianna-Santos, Vandoeuvre les Nancy (FR); and Damien Brissinger, Chaligny (FR)
Assigned to Université de Lorraine, Nancy (FR); and CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHES ET DE FORMATION AUX ARTS ARTS VERRIERS (CERFAV), Vannes-le-Chatel (FR)
Appl. No. 17/435,216
Filed by UNIVERSITÉ DE LORRAINE, Nancy (FR); and CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHES ET DE FORMATION AUX ARTS VERRIER (CERFAV), Vannes-le-Châtel (FR)
PCT Filed Feb. 25, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/054945
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 31, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/178081, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1902127 (FR), filed on Mar. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0143908 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B23K 26/34 (2014.01); B23K 103/00 (2006.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); C03B 19/06 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/153 (2017.08) [B23K 26/34 (2013.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); C03B 19/06 (2013.01); B23K 2103/54 (2018.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for three-dimensional printing of an object made of glass, by applying and solidifying successive layers of a glass, in locations corresponding to a section of the object to be produced in a corresponding layer, by a laser, said device comprising:
a supply mechanism for supplying a glass having a non-crystalline solid state to a support on which the successive layers are formed;
a thermal regulator of the successive layers for holding their temperature during the production of the object and for cooling them after the production of the object;
an infrared or UV laser;
a central unit programmed to control the laser to cause the application and solidification of the successive layers and programmed to control the thermal regulator to cause the holding in temperature of the successive layers;
said laser producing a beam whose wavelength allows the direct fusion of the glass having a non-crystalline solid state, in its core, said printing device further comprising a servo-control for servo-controlling the power and speed of the laser in real time,
wherein said thermal regulator comprises:
a heating system of the support heating the first layer of the successive layers, each successive layer of the successive layers n being heated by contact with a lower layer n-1;
a system for heating ambient air around the object,
the thermal regulator being configured to hold the layers of the object at a holding temperature comprised between the glass transition temperature of the glass (Tg) minus 100° C. and the softening temperature of the glass (Tr) so as to limit temperature gradients between a point of the direct fusion of the glass in its core and other points of the object, during the direct fusion and during controlled cooling of the object after its creation.