SprintRay, Inc.

A replaceable illumination cartridge system for three-dimensional (3D) printers. The illumination cartridge system includes a cradle assembly that is mounted to an underneath side of a resin tank in a 3D printing system. An illumination cartridge assembly is removably attached to and supported by the cradle for use in providing resin-curing light into the resin tank. Quick release attachment mechanisms may be used to secure the cartridge assembly to the cradle. The illumination cartridge assembly may be removed from the cradle for replacement and/or maintenance, and a new and/or refurbished cartridge may be subsequently reattached to the cradle for continued 3D printing. The illumination cartridge may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen or other suitable illumination device.

The invention is a system and method for printing 3D objects. The method may include providing a disposable cartridge including a build chamber coupled to a storage chamber adapted to hold a build material; seesawing a piston and a platform within the storage chamber and the build chamber, respectively, to transfer the build material between the storage chamber and the build chamber via a feeding path; and curing a layer of the build material onto the platform or onto a cured layer of the build material on the platform until the 3D object is formed. The system may include the cartridge; a movement module coupled to the piston and the platform of the cartridge; and a controller configured to drive the movement module to seesaw the piston and the platform to hydraulically transfer a portion of the printing material to a printing area in order to build the 3D object.

The invention is a system and method for forming a dental appliance. A control module may be configured to receive data concerning a dental model and determine a toolpath for creating a pre-cut substrate based on the data. A cutting module may be configured to create the pre-cut substrate based on the toolpath. A forming module may be configured to apply a second substrate to the pre-cut thermoforming substrate received from the cutting module and form a dental appliance from the pre-cut substrate and the secondary substrate. The method may include receiving data concerning a dental model, determining a toolpath for cutting a substrate into a pre-cut thermoforming substrate based on the data, pre-cutting a first substrate based on the toolpath to form a pre-cut substrate, applying a second substrate to the pre-cut substrate, and thermoforming a dental appliance from the pre-cut substrate and the second substrate.

A three-dimensional printing subassembly is configured to detect debris within the photosensitive resin used within its resin tank. The subassembly includes a stepper motor configured to move a build platform with respect to the resin tank, and a motor step count module to count the motor steps initiated by the stepper motor during this movement. The subassembly analyzes information regarding the motor steps to determine information regarding lost motor steps and to ascertain the presence of debris within the resin.

A light control system for use with three-dimensional printing systems includes dedicated lenses disposed between backlight source elements and an LCD display. The lenses each include an upper convex surface and a lower concave surface. The upper convex surfaces may each include a central recess. Each lens's upper surface, lower surface, and/or central recess may cause light passing through the respective lens to further diverge thereby forming an annular band of light delivered by the lens to the LCD display as backlight. The annular bands of light provided by the plurality of such lenses may combine at the LCD display to fill any gaps or areas of lower intensity or insufficient curing light that may potentially cause visible transition lines on a resulting 3D-printed object. In this way, such visible blemishes may be reduced or eliminated.

A system and method for providing three-dimensional printing is disclosed. The three-dimensional printing technology includes enhanced functionality to provide better resolution printing, filtration of forming materials stored within a reservoir tank, and a simple and efficient cleaning process to remove debris from the reservoir subsequent to a printing cycle.

The invention is a system and method for forming a dental appliance. A control module may be configured to receive data concerning a dental model and determine a toolpath for creating a pre-cut substrate based on the data. A cutting module may be configured to create the pre-cut substrate based on the toolpath. A forming module may be configured to apply a second substrate to the pre-cut thermoforming substrate received from the cutting module and form a dental appliance from the pre-cut substrate and the secondary substrate. The method may include receiving data concerning a dental model, determining a toolpath for cutting a substrate into a pre-cut thermoforming substrate based on the data, pre-cutting a first substrate based on the toolpath to form a pre-cut substrate, applying a second substrate to the pre-cut substrate, and thermoforming a dental appliance from the pre-cut substrate and the second substrate.

The present invention concerns a system and reservoir assembly for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The reservoir assembly includes a top frame that may be filled with liquid material, and a tensioned film being held underneath the top frame. The tensioned film may be air permeable and flexible, wherein surfaces of the tensioned film may be micro textured. A bottom frame is coupled to the top frame and secures a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate. In exemplary embodiments, one or more filters may be positioned below the tensioned film. The one or more filters may employ a texture that is adapted to control blurring of a projected image during a printing process in order to enhance a surface finish of a 3D-printed object.

The invention is generally a system for drying, recycling, and washing off residual resin from three-dimensionally (3D) printed objects. Exemplary systems may include a system for washing off residual printing material from a surface of a 3D-printed. In an exemplary embodiment, a chamber is adapted to receive the 3D-printed object and a printing material disruption module is adapted to disrupt a composition of residual printing material on a surface of the 3D-printed object. Additionally, a washing force module may be adapted to apply a washing force field to the 3D-printed object and wash off the residual printing material.

The present invention concerns a system and reservoir assembly for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The reservoir assembly includes a top frame that may be filled with liquid material, and a tensioned film being held underneath the top frame. The tensioned film may be air permeable and flexible, wherein surfaces of the tensioned film may be micro textured. A bottom frame is coupled to the top frame and secures a transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate. A permeable substrate is sandwiched between the tensioned film secured to the top frame and the transparent or semi-transparent rigid substrate secured to the bottom frame.