Systems and methods that prevent oxygen inhibition of a light-initiated polymerization reaction by forcing the oxygen away from the reaction surfaces. In some embodiments, oxygen is purged by bringing a planarizing surface (e.g., a thin transparent film and/or a transparent planar surface) into contact with a layer of UV curable material disposed on a workpiece and then moving the planarizing surface away from the workpiece one the UV material is cured.

A method of making a three-dimensional object (11) from a light polymerizable dual cure resin (16), includes the steps of: (a) producing a green intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in a stereolithography process (e.g., continuous liquid interface production); (i) the object comprising a body portion and a circumferential boundary portion (12) included in at least part of the body portion i (ii) the stereolithography process including overexposing the boundary portion (as compared to the exposure of the body portion) with light; (b) cleaning the intermediate object; and then (c) baking the object to produce the three-dimensional object.

A method of making a three-dimensional object (11) from a light polymerizable dual cure resin (16), includes the steps of: (a) producing a green intermediate object by light polymerization of the resin in a stereolithography process (e.g., continuous liquid interface production); (i) the object comprising a body portion and a circumferential boundary portion (12) included in at least part of the body portion i (ii) the stereolithography process including overexposing the boundary portion (as compared to the exposure of the body portion) with light; (b) cleaning the intermediate object; and then (c) baking the object to produce the three-dimensional object.

A system determines an object part density relative to a build region in a layer of build material used in an additive manufacturing machine, the object part density based on a relative portion of the build region where an energy absorbing agent is applied. The system controls a thermal characteristic of the build region in the layer of build material based on the determined object part density.

A system determines an object part density relative to a build region in a layer of build material used in an additive manufacturing machine, the object part density based on a relative portion of the build region where an energy absorbing agent is applied. The system controls a thermal characteristic of the build region in the layer of build material based on the determined object part density.

A system for removing and evenly completing cure of residual collected uncured resin from within a 3D printed part, which includes an enclosure which shields UV electromagnetic radiation from entering a space positioned within the enclosure. The system further includes a rotator device positioned in the space within the enclosure and a 3D printed part positioned within the space and associated with the rotator device.

A system for removing and evenly completing cure of residual collected uncured resin from within a 3D printed part, which includes an enclosure which shields UV electromagnetic radiation from entering a space positioned within the enclosure. The system further includes a rotator device positioned in the space within the enclosure and a 3D printed part positioned within the space and associated with the rotator device.

Methods and apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects by photo-curing a photo-curing liquid polymer exposed to a radiation in a space between a base transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate. The supporting plate moves progressively, in some cases continuously, away from said transparent base during the printing process, and that movement is characterized in that it is tilting, swinging, rotating, and/or swirling in three-dimensional space, based on the print geometry, in order to expedite printing speed and resin propagation throughout the build area. In one embodiment, the movement may resemble a spiral or helical path from the standpoint of points around its circumference.

Methods and apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects by photo-curing a photo-curing liquid polymer exposed to a radiation in a space between a base transparent to the radiation and a supporting plate. The supporting plate moves progressively, in some cases continuously, away from said transparent base during the printing process, and that movement is characterized in that it is tilting, swinging, rotating, and/or swirling in three-dimensional space, based on the print geometry, in order to expedite printing speed and resin propagation throughout the build area. In one embodiment, the movement may resemble a spiral or helical path from the standpoint of points around its circumference.

This method describes techniques to create 3D parts by dispensing a liquid polymer or slurry in evenly delivered layers, which are exposed to light from a visual display screen before the print platform upon which it is being built is moved one-layer thickness away and the process is repeated. The process of dispensing the photosensitive material is via a pumped system through a metering device that discharges and levels the material. Multiple dispensing devices can be arranged in sequence to deliver different materials, either multiple photosensitive dispensing heads or alternative mechanisms such as robocasting, fused deposition modelling or inkjet in addition to a photosensitive deposition head.