US 12,472,691 B2
System and method of printing three-dimensional objects having improved surface properties
Alexander Libinson, Holon (IL); Vitali Krasnopolsky, Rishon Lezion (IL); Yuval Frid, Ness Ziona (IL); Karin Dekel, Kefar Shmuel (IL); and Shoval Silbert, Rehovot (IL)
Assigned to STRATASYS LTD., Rehovot (IL)
Appl. No. 18/030,083
Filed by STRATASYS LTD., Rehovot (IL)
PCT Filed Oct. 11, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IL2021/051213
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 4, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/079711, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 21, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/090,444, filed on Oct. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0373163 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/40 (2017.01); B29C 64/112 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/336 (2017.01); B29C 64/371 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/336 (2017.08) [B29C 64/112 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/371 (2017.08); B29C 64/40 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of printing a three-dimensional (3D) object, the method comprising:
providing a 3D inkjet printing system comprising:
(i) a printing chamber accommodating a printing unit having an inkjet printing head and a curing subunit,
(ii) a supply unit including a modeling material and a support material,
(iii) an inert gas source in fluid communication with the printing chamber, and
(iv) a controller configured to control deposition and curing of the modeling material and of the support material in multiple consecutive layers according to a predefined printing sequence that specifies the order of deposition and curing for the modeling material and for the support material, and configured to control:
a concentration of oxygen in the printing chamber to be within a predefined oxygen concentration range below its content in the ambient atmosphere, and
a temperature in the printing chamber to be in a predefined temperature range by injection of a cooled inert gas at a temperature of 1° C. to 20° C., and
printing the 3D object in multiple consecutive layers according to the predefined printing sequence,
wherein deposition and curing of the modeling material and deposition and curing of the support material are carried out separately from each other, such that the modeling material and the support material come into contact only after both of the modeling material and the support material have been fully cured.