Multi Laser Volume Stereolithography, a new Freeform Fabrication Method

Abstract

A new method creating 3D objects within photopolymer resin has been developed which promises quality enhancement in the field of 3D printed transparent objects. In contrast to common additive manufacturing techniques the volumetric object is not build layer by layer at the surface of the resin. Instead the object is built up within the volume of the resin. This method, called Multi Laser Volume Stereolithography (MLVS), enables hardening of the resin only at the exterior surface of an object. All focus points of six lasers are overlapped in one voxel to cure the resin. Moving this overlap area around the contour of the object hardens the outer shell of the object and leaves the inner material fluid. The method promises higher productivity and higher resolution than current layer by layer techniques. The process and its validation by experiments are presented.