US 12,128,608 B2
Thermal control in a stereolithographic 3D printer
J. Samuel Batchelder, Woodinville, WA (US)
Assigned to Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Stratasys, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,369.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/121,457, filed on Dec. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176623 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.01); B29C 64/20 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/124 (2017.08) [B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/20 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for printing a 3D part in a layer-wise manner, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a pool of polymerizable liquid in a vessel over a build window;
positioning a downward-facing build platform in the pool, thereby defining a build region above the build window;
selectively curing a volume of polymerizable liquid in the build region by imparting electromagnetic radiation through the build window to form a printed layer of the part with a polymerization reaction, wherein the printed layer is adhered to the build platform;
actively cooling the build window to remove energy imparted by the electromagnetic radiation and the polymerization reaction of the polymerizable liquid such that the printed layer is between about 1° C. and about 30° C. below an average part temperature, wherein the active cooling is transient and is performed after the selectively curing step;
separating the cooled printed layer from the top surface of the build window;
raising the build platform to a height of a next layer to be printed; and
repeating the selectively curing, actively cooling, separating and raising steps until the part is printed.