MODELING APPARATUS WITH TRAY SUBSTRATE

• Main Authors: GOETZKE, JEROME, W, SWANSON, WILLIAM J, DUNN, BENJAMIN N
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 03.08.2011
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CALCULATING; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOTDIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g.ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; MACHINE TOOLS; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OFPARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A modeling apparatus includes a platform and a substrate, which are adapted to be releasably locked together to provide a surface for building up models in an additive-process three-dimensional modeling machine. The substrate comprises a substantially rigid, non-dusting tray providing a modeling surface. Male connectors extending from the tray are seated in female connectors in the platform, to engage the substrate to the platform. The engaged substrate is locked to the platform, maintaining accurate positioning of the substrate while a model is built. After modeling is complete, the substrate is released from the platform, the model is removed, and the substrate may be reused.