A method of making an object by additive manufacturing includes: (a) providing an additive manufacturing apparatus including a light source; (b) providing a carrier platform having a substantially planar object adhesion surface, the adhesion surface having a plurality of elongate wash channels formed therein; (c) producing the object on the carrier platform adhesion surface with the additive manufacturing apparatus from a light polymerizable resin, the object having at least one internal cavity formed therein; then (d) washing the object on the carrier platform with a wash liquid under conditions in which the wash liquid reaches the at least one internal cavity through the wash channels; then (e) optionally, at least partially drying the object on the carrier platform by separating the same from the wash liquid, and then agitating the object on the carrier platform to drain excess wash liquid from the object; (f) optionally, further curing the object.

Embodiments related to systems and methods of forming structures on substrates (e.g., flexible substrates, fabrics, textiles, leathers) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming a structure on a substrate is provided. The method may involve submerging at least one surface of the substrate into a resin bath. The method may include patterning electromagnetic radiation through a window onto one or more regions of the substrate to polymerize the resin onto the one or more regions of the substrate. An alternative method may involve covering a surface of the substrate with a layer of polymeric powder. The alternative method may include directing electromagnetic radiation toward one or more regions on the surface of the substrate to heat the polymeric powder to form a layer on the surface of the substrate. A method of depositing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable material onto a substrate by a valve jetting process is also provided.

Embodiments related to systems and methods of forming structures on substrates (e.g., flexible substrates, fabrics, textiles, leathers) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming a structure on a substrate is provided. The method may involve submerging at least one surface of the substrate into a resin bath. The method may include patterning electromagnetic radiation through a window onto one or more regions of the substrate to polymerize the resin onto the one or more regions of the substrate. An alternative method may involve covering a surface of the substrate with a layer of polymeric powder. The alternative method may include directing electromagnetic radiation toward one or more regions on the surface of the substrate to heat the polymeric powder to form a layer on the surface of the substrate. A method of depositing an ultraviolet (UV)-curable material onto a substrate by a valve jetting process is also provided.

Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein can related to an additive manufacturing process involving the use of an algorithm to determine the optimal build orientation of a build that will result in minimal thermal distortion during the build. The algorithm includes a momentum of inertia based objective function, wherein the output of the objective function can be used as a proxy for thermal distortion. In some embodiments, objective function can be configured as a mathematical matrix with mathematical variables modeling rotation angles of a build. The rotation angles can be in the x-, y-, and/or z-geometric planes of the build with respect to the build plate. An objective function output can be calculated for each iterative rotation. The minimum objective function output can be used as the rotation representing the orientation that would result in minimal thermal distortion.

Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein can related to an additive manufacturing process involving the use of an algorithm to determine the optimal build orientation of a build that will result in minimal thermal distortion during the build. The algorithm includes a momentum of inertia based objective function, wherein the output of the objective function can be used as a proxy for thermal distortion. In some embodiments, objective function can be configured as a mathematical matrix with mathematical variables modeling rotation angles of a build. The rotation angles can be in the x-, y-, and/or z-geometric planes of the build with respect to the build plate. An objective function output can be calculated for each iterative rotation. The minimum objective function output can be used as the rotation representing the orientation that would result in minimal thermal distortion.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy toward the stage. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A feed module is configured to support a feed roll of a resin support upstream of the stage about a feed mandrel. A first control device is operably coupled with the feed mandrel. A take-up module is configured to support a take-up roll of the resin support downstream of the stage about a take-up mandrel. A second control device is operably coupled with the take-up mandrel. A computing system is operably coupled with one or more sensors. The computing system is configured to provide commands to at least one of the first control device or the second control device to respectively rotate the first control device or the second control device to obtain a target tension on the resin support.

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a stage configured to hold a component. A radiant energy device is operable to generate and project radiant energy toward the stage. An actuator is configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A feed module is configured to support a feed roll of a resin support upstream of the stage about a feed mandrel. A first control device is operably coupled with the feed mandrel. A take-up module is configured to support a take-up roll of the resin support downstream of the stage about a take-up mandrel. A second control device is operably coupled with the take-up mandrel. A computing system is operably coupled with one or more sensors. The computing system is configured to provide commands to at least one of the first control device or the second control device to respectively rotate the first control device or the second control device to obtain a target tension on the resin support.

An additive manufacturing apparatus can include a stage configured to hold one or more cured layers of resin that form a component. A radiant energy device can be operable to generate and project radiant energy in a patterned image. An actuator can be configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A reclamation system can be downstream of the stage and can be configured to remove at least a portion of the resin from a resin support. The reclamation system can include a first collection structure configured to accept a resin support therethrough along a resin support movement direction. A first scraper is positioned within the first collection structure. The first scraper has an elongation axis that is offset from the resin support movement direction by an offset angle that is less than 90 degrees.

An additive manufacturing apparatus can include a stage configured to hold one or more cured layers of resin that form a component. A radiant energy device can be operable to generate and project radiant energy in a patterned image. An actuator can be configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A reclamation system can be downstream of the stage and can be configured to remove at least a portion of the resin from a resin support. The reclamation system can include a first collection structure configured to accept a resin support therethrough along a resin support movement direction. A first scraper is positioned within the first collection structure. The first scraper has an elongation axis that is offset from the resin support movement direction by an offset angle that is less than 90 degrees.

An improved additive fabrication device and a build platform are provided. The additive fabrication device is configured to form layers of material on a build surface. The additive fabrication device comprising: a build platform comprising: a rigid structure; an actuation structure attached to the rigid structure, wherein the actuation structure comprises one or more sheet handles and a flexible sheet, and wherein a first surface of the flexible sheet forms a build surface on which the additive fabrication device is configured to form layers of materials; and the one or more sheet handles are configured to be actuated to apply a force to the flexible sheet while at least a part of the actuation structure remains attached to the rigid structure, to deform at least a part of the flexible sheet away from the rigid structure.