RAPID 3D CONTINUOUS PRINTING OF CASTING MOLDS FOR METALS AND OTHER MATERIALS

摘要

A method of forming a three-dimensional object useful as a casting mold is carried out by providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a liquid photocurable ceramic resin; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid and advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently with the irradiating and/or advancing steps: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.