An additive manufacturing technique uses digital mask-based illumination and a polar-based build environment for increased throughput. In one embodiment, the build environment comprises a rotating element having a surface. A coater is configured to deposit photopolymer material on the rotating element at a given flow rate. As the element rotates and the coater deposits the photopolymer material, a radiation source of an image scanning system projects an array of point sources (an image) onto the photopolymer material for an exposure time to cure a given layer. As the photopolymer material is deposited layer-upon-layer, and for each layer, a control system adjusts a relative position of the coater with respect to the surface, adjusts a speed of rotation of the rotating element, and maintains the flow rate and the exposure time constant.

Method for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising assigning a parameter indicative of the time required for irradiating a respective irradiation zone to a plurality of irradiation zones of a respective build material layer, assigning a first energy beam to the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the longest and second longest time required for irradiating and irradiating these irradiation zones with at least one respective first and second energy beams, wherein after irradiation and consolidating the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the second longest time required for irradiating and irradiating with the second energy beam is completed, assigning the at least one second energy beam to the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the third longest time required for irradiating and irradiating this irradiation zone with the at least one second energy beam.

Method for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising assigning a parameter indicative of the time required for irradiating a respective irradiation zone to a plurality of irradiation zones of a respective build material layer, assigning a first energy beam to the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the longest and second longest time required for irradiating and irradiating these irradiation zones with at least one respective first and second energy beams, wherein after irradiation and consolidating the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the second longest time required for irradiating and irradiating with the second energy beam is completed, assigning the at least one second energy beam to the irradiation zone whose parameter indicates that the irradiation zone has the third longest time required for irradiating and irradiating this irradiation zone with the at least one second energy beam.

An irradiation device for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include a beam generation device that includes a plurality of laser diode arrays. Respective ones of the plurality of laser diode arrays may include a plurality of diode emitters respectively configured to emit an energy beam. The plurality of laser diode arrays may be longitudinally offset relative to one another, and the plurality of laser diode arrays may be laterally offset relative to one another.

An irradiation device for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include a beam generation device configured to generate an energy beam, an optical modulator including a micromirror array disposed downstream from the beam generation device, and a focusing lens assembly disposed downstream from the optical modulator. The micromirror array may include a plurality of micromirror elements configured to reflect a corresponding plurality of beam segment of the energy beam along a beam path incident upon the focusing lens assembly. The focusing lens assembly may include one or more lenses configured to focus the plurality of beam segments such that for respective ones of a plurality of modulation groups including a subset of micromirror elements, a corresponding subset of beam segments are focused to at least partially overlap with one another at a combination zone corresponding to the respective modulation group.

An irradiation device for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include a beam generation device configured to generate an energy beam, an optical modulator including a micromirror array disposed downstream from the beam generation device, and a focusing lens assembly disposed downstream from the optical modulator. The micromirror array may include a plurality of micromirror elements configured to reflect a corresponding plurality of beam segment of the energy beam along a beam path incident upon the focusing lens assembly. The focusing lens assembly may include one or more lenses configured to focus the plurality of beam segments such that for respective ones of a plurality of modulation groups including a subset of micromirror elements, a corresponding subset of beam segments are focused to at least partially overlap with one another at a combination zone corresponding to the respective modulation group.

Systems and methods for additive manufacturing are generally described. According to certain aspects, endcaps optically coupled to optical fibers of additive manufacturing systems are provided. In some aspects, methods for reducing a power area density of laser energy within an endcap are provided. The endcaps described herein may be used to at least partially mitigate thermal cycling that may result from the transmission of laser energy through interfaces of an additive manufacturing system.

Provided are a resin reservoir (1) for photocuring for use in a 3D printer and a 3D printer using the resin reservoir (1). The resin reservoir (1) comprises: a reservoir body (11) for accommodating a liquid photosensitive resin, at least one side wall of the reservoir body (11) being an optically-transmissive wall (111); a transverse guide element (12) disposed at the reservoir body (11); and a load-bearing element (13) disposed inside the reservoir body (11) and capable of moving transversely along the guide element (12), wherein a load-bearing surface of the load-bearing element (13) faces the optically-transmissive wall (111). The resin reservoir (1) and the 3D printer enable a printed object to be transversely formed at the load-bearing element (13) and kept immersed in the liquid photosensitive resin, and a buoyancy provided by the liquid photosensitive resin can substantially offset the weight of the printed object. Therefore, structural strengths of the load-bearing element (13) and a transmission unit do not need to be reinforced, and the size of an object to be printed can be increased from 14 inches to 20-120 inches.

A printing device (106) includes a laser source and a LCOS-SLM (Liquid Crystal on Silicon Spatial Light Modulator). The printing device generates a laser control signal and a LCOS-SLM control signal. The laser source (110) generates a plurality of incident laser beams based on the laser control signal. The LCOS-SLM (112) receives the plurality of incident laser beams, modulates the plurality of incident laser beams based on the LCOS-SLM control signal to generate a plurality of holographic wavefronts (214,216) from the modulated plurality of incident laser beams. Each holographic wavefront forms at least one corresponding focal point. The printing device cures a surface layer or sub-surface layer (406) of a target material (206) at interference points of focal points of the plurality of holographic wavefronts. The cured surface layer of the target material forms a three-dimensional printed content.

A three dimensional printing system includes a light engine having a spatial light modulator for curing individual layers of a photocure resin to form a three dimensional article of manufacture. The light engine is configured to: (1) receive a slice image that defines an array of energy values for curing a layer, (2) process the slice image to define an image frame compatible with the spatial light modulator, (3) receive an on signal, (4) activate the first light source in response to the on signal; (5) repeatedly send the first defined image frame to the first spatial light modulator during a defined cure time for the single layer of resin; (6) receive an off signal; (7) deactivate the first light source in response to the off signal; and (8) repeat steps (1)-(7) until the three dimensional article of manufacture is formed.