Title:
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RAPIDLY PROTOTYPING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS FROM A PLURALITY OF LAYERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2000067991
Kind Code:
A8
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus are provided for rapidily prototyping a three-dimensional object from a plurality of sequential layers wherein each layer is cut after being fused with a preceding layer. A first sequential layer having a peripheral edge and an exposed face is cut from a first sheet of material using a machine tool path generated from a CAD model of the object. A solvent is then applied to a face of a second sheet of material. The second sheet of material is placed in contacting face-to-face relation with the first sequential layer such that the solvent fuses the face of the second sheet of material with the exposed face of the first sequential layer. A second sequential layer having a peripheral edge and an exposed face is cut from the second sheet of material along a respective machine tool path generated for the second sequential layer. The above procedure is repeated until all remaining layers of the prototype part are produced.
Inventors:
CORMIER DENIS R (US)
TAYLOR JAMES B (US)
WEST HARVEY A II (US)
TAYLOR JAMES B (US)
WEST HARVEY A II (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2000/012557
Publication Date:
April 05, 2001
Filing Date:
May 09, 2000
Export Citation:
Assignee:
UNIV NORTH CAROLINA STATE (US)
CORMIER DENIS R (US)
TAYLOR JAMES B (US)
WEST HARVEY A II (US)
CORMIER DENIS R (US)
TAYLOR JAMES B (US)
WEST HARVEY A II (US)
International Classes:
B29C67/00; B32B38/10; C08J5/12; B29C65/48; (IPC1-7): B29C67/00; B32B31/00; C08J5/12
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