CHARLES WILLIAM HULL
Pilots at Live Oak Spg Cyn Rd, Santa Clarita, CA

5447822, Sep 5, 1995

Apr 20, 1994

8/230443

Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA
Adam L. Cohen - Sherman Oaks CA
Stuart L. Spence - S. Pasadena CA
Charles W. Lewis - Sherman Oaks CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

B05D 306, G03C 908

430269

An apparatus and related method for providing a substantially flat working surface of photocurable resin for the formation of a next layer of a stereolithographic part. A substantially flat surface of a rigid member is substantially covered by and spaced from the resin by a substance or film, which is placed in contact with the photocurable resin to form the working surface. Various embodiments are described including where the rigid member is a quartz including a fused silica plate, a bar, a vat wall, the face of a CRT, a fiber-optic bundle, or the bottom of a piston, and also including embodiments where the substance or film is a thin teflon or mylar film, an inert liquid, wax, a thin coating of trichlorosilane or ethoxysilane, or oxygen-saturated resin. Embodiments are also described whereby the next layer is exposed by transmitting solidifying radiation through the member and substance or film.

8048359, Nov 1, 2011

Oct 20, 2008

12/254579

Hongqing V. Wang - Ft. Mill SC, US
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA, US
Thomas Alan Kerekes - Calabasas CA, US

3D Systems, Inc. - Rock Hill SC

B29C 35/04

264401, 264308, 4251744

There is provided methods and apparatus for compensation of intensity profiles of imagers used in three-dimensional modelers. The intensity profile of the actinic radiation projected from the imager is determined by a variety of techniques, including but not limited to manually operated sensors, exposed and scanned actinic radiation-sensitive paper, and intensity profilers. Once the intensity profile of the imager is determined, each layer of the solidifiable liquid material is cured by projecting a plurality of patterns (as opposed to a single pattern) defining the two-dimensional cross-section of the part being cured. The patterns vary in duration, number, and/or shape to correlate to the intensity profile so that a single layer of selectively cured solidifiable liquid material is cured with a substantially equivalent (or otherwise controlled) amount of actinic radiation per unit of surface area to provide generally controlled and consistent part quality.

5130064, Jul 14, 1992

Oct 30, 1989

7/429435

Dennis R. Smalley - Baldwin Park CA
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

B29C 3508, B29C 4102, B29C 4152

264 22

A stereolithographic method for constructing an object from a medium capable of solidification upon exposure to synergistic stimulation (e. g. a laser beam). Stacked layers of solidified medium are constructed by exposing the medium to synergistic stimulation in magnitude and pre-selected pattern, such that each layer is formed with external boundaries and up and down facing surfaces as necessary. At least a portion of a layer which is neither upfacing nor downfacing is also skinned, e. g. , provided with a continuous skin formed by overlapping skin vectors or traces of the laser beam. Alternatively, all intermediate or internal cross-sectional layers are provided with skin and cross-hatch. Upfacing and downfacing features, and intermediate layers may be provided with a skin created by scanning in a first pass using non-consecutive skin vectors followed by scanning in at least one additional pass that completes the exposing process by filling in between the originally drawn vectors. To reduce waffling, regions of intersecting vectors at least in down-facing surfaces are determined.

5104592, Apr 14, 1992

Apr 17, 1989

7/339246

Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA
Stuart T. Spence - So. Pasadena CA
Charles W. Lewis - Van Nuys CA
Wayne A. Vinson - Valencia CA
Raymond S. Freed - Northridge CA
Dennis R. Smalley - Baldwin Park CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

B29C 3508, B29C 4102

264 22

An improved sterolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object from object defining information, the information defining the object being structurally specified to reduce curl, stress and distortion in the ultimately formed object is described. A stereolithographic distortion known as curl is reduced by the system, and several techniques to eliminate or reduce curl are utilized by the system, including dashed line, bent line, secondary structure, rivets, and multi-pass techniques.

5855836, Jan 5, 1999

Jun 12, 1997

8/876695

Richard N. Leyden - Topanga CA
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

B29C 3508, B29C 4102

264401

A novel thermopolymer material adapted for use in thermal stereolithography. More particularly, a thermopolymer material comprising a mixture of: a low shrinkage polymer resin; a low viscosity material such as paraffin wax; at least one microcrystalline wax; a toughening polymer, a plasticizer. Alternative embodiments further include components to improve the materials ability to transfer heat and to improve strength. The subject material, together with the described process greatly reduce part building distortions while retaining desirable toughness, strength and jetting properties.

6133355, Oct 17, 2000

Jun 12, 1997

8/873389

Richard N. Leyden - Topanga CA
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA
Dinh Ton That - Irvine CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

C08K 504

524277

A novel thermopolymer material adapted for use in thermal stereolithography. More particularly, a thermopolymer material comprising a mixture of: a low shrinkage polymer resin; a low viscosity material such as paraffin wax; at least one microcrystalline wax; a toughening polymer; a plasticizer. Alternative embodiments further include components to improve the materials ability to transfer heat and to improve strength. The subject material, together with the described process greatly reduce part building distortions while retaining desirable toughness, strength and jetting properties.

7614866, Nov 10, 2009

Sep 17, 2007

11/856172

Charles R. Sperry - Leeds MA, US
Suzanne M. Scott - Springfield VT, US
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA, US
Jouni Partanen - Palo Alto CA, US
Mehdi Mojdeh - Valencia CA, US
William J. Pappas - San Luis Obispo CA, US

3D Systems, Inc. - Rock Hill SC

B29C 35/08

4251744, 425375, 425185

A solid imaging apparatus is provided that includes a replaceable cartridge containing a source of build material and an extendable and retractable flexible transport film for transporting the build material layer-by-layer from the cartridge to the surface of a build in an image plane. An operator using the device needs merely to remove a spent cartridge and replace it with a fresh cartridge to continue solid imaging virtually uninterrupted. The apparatus also includes the capability of withdrawing and inserting an imager without the operator having to perform a separate alignment step. A brush attached to the transport film and forming part of the cartridge provides for intra-layer removal of excess uncured build material. If desired, the apparatus can produce a fully reacted build. A high intensity UV source cures the build between layers.

5902537, May 11, 1999

Jan 28, 1997

8/790005

Thomas A. Almquist - San Gabriel CA
Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA
Jeffrey S. Thayer - Simi Valley CA
Richard N. Leyden - Topanga Canyon CA
Paul F. Jacobs - La Crescenta CA
Dennis R. Smalley - Newhall CA

3D Systems, Inc. - Valencia CA

B29C35/08;41/02

264401

Methods and apparatus for use in building three-dimensional objects on substantially a cross-sectional basis including methods and apparatus for forming successive layers using counter-rotating rollers, ink jet recoaters, spinning members which sling material, applicator bars that dispense material via a meniscus and/or independently dispensed streams, and also including methods and apparatus to determine a preferred region over which to form a layer and to check for building errors.

2006007, Apr 13, 2006

Oct 8, 2004

10/961976

Scott Holmboe - Corvallis OR, US
Gary Reynolds - Santa Clarita CA, US
Matthew Stonesmith - Grand Junction CO, US
Charles Hull - Santa Clarita CA, US
Abraham Reichental - Simpsonville NC, US

B29C 35/08, B29C 41/02

425174400

An improved stereolithography apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects using multiple chambered resin vats and a quick disconnect mounting system to permit concurrent use of multiple photopolymer build materials and easy change over of resin vats is disclosed. The apparatus permits easy change over from multiple chambered vat use to single chamber vat use and vice versa or change over between multiple chambered vats.

D575313, Aug 19, 2008

Jan 17, 2007

29/276139

Charles W. Hull - Santa Clarita CA, US
Charles R. Sperry - Leeds MA, US
Suzanne M. Scott - Springfield VT, US
Jason Rittenhour - Claremont NH, US

3D Systems, Inc. - Rock Hill SC

1509

D15141