There are proposed a 3D printer optical engine and printing system capable of forming a single light engine by integrating light sources. A light engine installed under a tank accommodating a photocurable resin and configured to provide a light source for the molding of an output product to the tank includes: a light engine case detachably mounted under the tank, and having an accommodation space therein; a backlight module detachably installed in the lower portion of the accommodation space of the light engine case, and configured to provide backlight; and an image switching module detachably installed in the upper portion of the accommodation space of the light engine case while being spaced apart from the backlight module, and configured to cure the photocurable resin by radiating a light source corresponding to a tomographic image of the output product onto the tank.

Provided herein is a system for producing a product. The system generally comprises a large-area micro-stereolithography system, an optical imaging system, and a controller in communication with the large-area micro-stereolithography system and the optical imaging system. The large-area micro-stereolithography system is capable of generating the product by optically polymerizing successive layers of a curable resin at a build plane. The controller is capable of analyzing a focus level of the reference target based on the captured image; and based on the analyzing, adjusting a focus property of the projected image beam of the stereolithography system.

Provided herein is a system for producing a product. The system generally comprises a large-area micro-stereolithography system, an optical imaging system, and a controller in communication with the large-area micro-stereolithography system and the optical imaging system. The large-area micro-stereolithography system is capable of generating the product by optically polymerizing successive layers of a curable resin at a build plane. The controller is capable of directing the optical imaging system to obtain one or more optical images of the product or of a reference component located at the build plane, and adjusting a parameter associated with the large-area micro-stereolithography system based on the one or more images.

An apparatus and a method of additive manufacturing is provided. The apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light between 0 and 500 nm in wavelength. At least one vessel is provided that includes a chamber and a transparent base. The chamber contains a volume of liquid print material. The transparent base being made of Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through which the relevant wavelength can be received into the chamber to cure a portion of the volume of print material through at least one mask, the at least one mask being made of paper, polymer, glass, metal, composites, or laminated substrates, the at least one mask defining a series of patterns associated with layers of a three-dimensional (3D) object, the at least one mask being position-able between the light source and the transparent base, via a mechanism, wherein the at least one mask defines the pattern of the light that is received through the transparent base and into the print material.

An apparatus and a method of additive manufacturing is provided. The apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light between 0 and 500 nm in wavelength. At least one vessel is provided that includes a chamber and a transparent base. The chamber contains a volume of liquid print material. The transparent base being made of Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) or Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through which the relevant wavelength can be received into the chamber to cure a portion of the volume of print material through at least one mask, the at least one mask being made of paper, polymer, glass, metal, composites, or laminated substrates, the at least one mask defining a series of patterns associated with layers of a three-dimensional (3D) object, the at least one mask being position-able between the light source and the transparent base, via a mechanism, wherein the at least one mask defines the pattern of the light that is received through the transparent base and into the print material.

A method of printing a hydrogel scaffold is provided which includes providing a container containing an ink and a liquid that is immiscible with the ink; applying light from a light source to the ink to form a portion of the hydrogel scaffold; and from a light source one or more additional times to produce one or more additional portions of the hydrogel scaffold.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for additive manufacturing or three dimensional (3D) printing of objects using a set of physical masks. An additive manufacturing device can include one or more light sources, a vessel containing a volume of print material and a transparent base through which light can enter the vessel to cure a portion of the volume of print material, and a set of masks defining a series of patterns associated with layers of a 3D object that are each positionable between the light source and the transparent base to control a pattern of the light that is received through the transparent base and therefore the pattern of the cured portion of print material.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are described for additive manufacturing or three dimensional (3D) printing of objects using a set of physical masks. An additive manufacturing device can include one or more light sources, a vessel containing a volume of print material and a transparent base through which light can enter the vessel to cure a portion of the volume of print material, and a set of masks defining a series of patterns associated with layers of a 3D object that are each positionable between the light source and the transparent base to control a pattern of the light that is received through the transparent base and therefore the pattern of the cured portion of print material.

In vat polymerization printer, light is projected from a digital light processing (DLP) light source towards an opening in a tank containing photo-curable liquid resin. A mask is used to filter the light from the DLP light source, the mask having pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of the light from the DLP light source. In a build area of the tank, the filtered light is used to cure the photo-curable liquid resin so as to form a layer of a partially formed object. The operation of the DLP light source is synchronized with the operation of the mask, such that light from the DLP light source with high intensity is transmitted through the transparent pixels of mask and light from DLP light source with low intensity is blocked by the opaque pixels of mask. The mask may enhance the resolution of DLP light source.

In vat polymerization printer, light is projected from a digital light processing (DLP) light source towards an opening in a tank containing photo-curable liquid resin. A mask is used to filter the light from the DLP light source, the mask having pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of the light from the DLP light source. In a build area of the tank, the filtered light is used to cure the photo-curable liquid resin so as to form a layer of a partially formed object. The operation of the DLP light source is synchronized with the operation of the mask, such that light from the DLP light source with high intensity is transmitted through the transparent pixels of mask and light from DLP light source with low intensity is blocked by the opaque pixels of mask. The mask may enhance the resolution of DLP light source.