FORMLABS, INC.

Washing apparatus and methods used to process additively fabricated (e.g., 3D printed) parts are described herein. The apparatus and methods may be used to wash uncured liquid resin from the parts. In some aspects, a method comprises directing a liquid photopolymer into a container removably attached to a rotating device configured to rotate the container and including one or more inlets and one or more outlets, forming a three-dimensional object using a process including: controlling an optics engine to project a sequence of optical patterns onto the container while rotating it on the rotating device, thereby causing the sequence of optical patterns to irradiate the liquid photopolymer from different angles and curing a portion of the liquid photopolymer; and in response to forming an object in the liquid photopolymer, opening the one or more outlets to drain uncured liquid photopolymer in the container.

A method for producing a three-dimensional object on an additive fabrication device includes placing a first composite material patch on a bottom of a vessel of the additive fabrication device. The method also includes moving a build plate of the additive fabrication device whereby at least one of the build platform or a layer of at least partially cured resin on the build plate touches the first composite material patch. The method further includes irradiating resin contained inside the vessel with an energy source to at least partially cure a layer of resin integrated with the first composite material patch.

Techniques are described for generating a support structure that connects to a part while avoiding connecting to regions that include one or more less desirable features, such as at edges, corners and/or high detail regions. A computing device may be configured to identify regions of the surface of a part that contain less desirable surface features, and exclude and/or disfavor those regions for connection to a support structure when generating the support structure. In some embodiments, regions containing less desirable surface features can be defined by a user, such as via a graphical user interface displaying a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a part to be fabricated.

Techniques are described to gather information from an end user relating to fabrication process failures in a standardized manner. This information may be provided to an additive fabrication device manufacturer and analyzed by the manufacturer. Analysis may include identifying patterns in the data to identity problems relating to an additive fabrication device, software used to operate the device and/or user operations. Identification of such patterns may aid in selecting and/or generating support solutions to be provided the end user, or to improve the additive fabrication device and/or software.