US 11,813,794 B2
3D printing system
Matthew Buckby, Ventura, CA (US); Francis Kenyon Whetsell, Ventura, CA (US); Miguel Cuevas Sandoval, Camarillo, CA (US); and Avi N. Reichental, Carpinteria, CA (US)
Assigned to NEXA3D INC., Ventura, CA (US)
Filed by NEXA3D INC., Ventura, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/453,331.
Prior Publication US 2023/0136313 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/286 (2017.01); B29C 64/124 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/286 (2017.08) [B29C 64/124 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vat polymerization printer, comprising:
a tank, wherein a bottom of the tank is formed by a radiation-transparent flexible membrane;
a light source configured to project radiation towards the bottom of the tank;
a mask assembly comprising a mask extending along a first plane with pixels configurable to be individually transparent or opaque to portions of the radiation projected from the light source, and a frame securely attached to a perimeter of the mask, the mask being disposed between the light source and the tank, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of ring members each extending in a first direction parallel to the first plane and a rigid guide portion disposed between two of the plurality of ring members, the rigid guide portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first plane; and
a mask assembly receiving member configured to receive the mask assembly, wherein the plurality of ring members are configured to secure the mask assembly to magnetic posts of the mask assembly receiving member, the ring members each configured to receive a corresponding one of the magnetic posts therein, wherein the tank is removably attached to the magnetic posts via corresponding magnets or ferromagnetic materials disposed on a bottom surface thereof, and wherein the rigid guide portion is insertable into a slot of the mask assembly receiving member.