Method of manufacturing a three-dimensional plastic article

• Main Authors: REIFF; DAVID E, HUNT; STEPHEN D, DORINSKI; DALE W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.12.1992
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; 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 method for producing a three dimensional plastic article having an insert. The three dimensional plastic article (20) is formed by exposing a liquid photopolymer or other material (14) capable of selective solidification or curing to a source of energy (10), preferably a laser beam (30). A portion of the three dimensional plastic article is formed by selectively exposing portions of the surface (12) of the liquid photopolymer to the laser beam. The insert (26) is placed onto the partially formed article (20), and the remainder of the article is formed by selectively exposing additional portions of the surface (16) of the liquid polymer to the laser beam, creating successive layers, whereupon a plurality of the layers form the three dimensional article (20). The insert (26) becomes an integral part of the completed three-dimensional article.