Morphosynthesis by space resolved thermal polymerization induced by IR lasers

Abstract

This paper describes a process for the manufacture of three‐dimensional objects, layer by layer, using thermal irradiation by moving the beam of a computer controlled CO2 laser. Computer simulations of the system performance under different experimental conditions (for example, irradiation time, characteristics of the reactive medium), combined with experiments prove the feasibility of the process. The objects are spatially well resolved since the reactive area is matched with the laser beam surface area.

Light–Matter Complex Interactions in Stereolithographies

“…However, by seeking to polymerize voxels larger than abou the heat-producing polymerization reaction results in polymerization of the entir content of the reactor, as shown in Figure 8. It is with a thermal effect of this type that it is possible to produce 3D objects using infrared (CO 2 ) lasers [23,24] from a layered process allowing heat transfer outside the polymerization zones. However, by seeking to polymerize voxels larger than about 1 cm, the heat-producing polymerization reaction results in polymerization of the entire resin content of the reactor, as shown in Figure 8.…”

“…However, by seeking to polymerize voxels larger than about 1 cm, the heat-producing polymerization reaction results in polymerization of the entire resin content of the reactor, as shown in Figure 8. It is with a thermal effect of this type that it is possible to produce 3D objects using infrared (CO2) lasers [23,24] from a layered process allowing heat transfer outside the polymerization zones. However, by seeking to polymerize voxels larger than about 1 cm, the heat-producing polymerization reaction results in polymerization of the entire resin content of the reactor, as shown in Figure 8.…”

Computer-aided manufacture of three-dimensional objects by laser space-resolved photopolymerization

“…Most of these difficulties have to be solved before an industrial process working on this principle becomes attractive. In the first [1][2][3][4], successive layers of thickness Az are made. This is shown qualitatively in Figure 3.…”

“…In order to surmount these difficulties, we have developed [1][2][3][4], along with others [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17], a process which makes three-dimensional objects by polymerizing a liquid monomer using a laser energy source. This we have called 'stereophotolithography' (SPL).…”