Benjamin F Frantzdale

20130329020, Dec 12, 2013

Feb 17, 2012

14/000442

Ilya A. Kriveshko - Littleton MA, US
Benjamin Frantzdale - Shrewsbury MA, US

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY - St. Paul MN

H04N 13/02

348 50

In a system or method where three-dimensional data is acquired as a sequence of frames of data along a camera path, disparate sequences are related to one another through a number of geometric stitches obtained by direct registration of three-dimensional data between frames in the disparate sequences. These geometric stitches are then used in addition to or in place of other camera path relationships to form a single virtual stitch graph for the combined model, upon which an integrated global path optimization can be performed.

20110007138, Jan 13, 2011

Jan 4, 2009

12/811239

Hongsheng Zhang - Farmingham MA, US
Benjamin Frantzdale - Boston MA, US

H04N 13/02

348 50, 348E13074

Disclosed herein are various techniques for improving global path optimization in a system that uses camera path for three-dimensional reconstruction. A subset of frames of data for the global path, the key frames, may be used to reduce the computational complexity of the optimization, while preserving full three-dimensional detail in the optimized model by relating other measurements to the optimized key frame path.

20220194003, Jun 23, 2022

Dec 2, 2021

17/540592

- Somerville MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US
Scott Norton - Cary NC, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

B29C 64/277
B33Y 30/00
B29C 64/268
B29C 64/255

According to some aspects, techniques that address one or more drawbacks of laser-based optical systems in additive fabrication devices are described. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may include one or more variable focus lenses that may be operated (e.g., actuated) during fabrication to adjust the focus, and thereby the spot size, of a laser beam. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a laser array, such as a plurality of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), that may be operated to direct light into a build region, rather than using a single laser beam, such as a single diode laser. In some aspects, an additive fabrication device may comprise a container that includes a flexible display film, such as a flexible LCD screen, which may be operated to direct light into the container to thereby cure a liquid photopolymer therein.

20200338810, Oct 29, 2020

May 8, 2020

16/869932

- Somerville MA, US
Konstantinos Oikonomopoulos - Boston MA, US
Steven Thomas - Cambridge MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US
Nicholas M. Sohn - Somerville MA, US
Maxim Lobovsky - Cambridge MA, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

B29C 64/124
B33Y 30/00
B29C 64/35
B29C 64/214
B29C 64/20

According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device is provided configured to form layers of material on a build platform, each layer of material being formed so as to contact a container in addition to the build platform and/or a previously formed layer of material. The additive fabrication device may comprise a container and a wiper, wherein the wiper comprises a wiper arm and a wiper blade coupled to said wiper arm using a pivoting coupling.

20200307108, Oct 1, 2020

Mar 31, 2020

16/835991

- Somerville MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

B29C 64/40
B29C 64/386

According to some aspects, techniques are described for generating support structures that may be easily removed after fabrication yet provide sufficient structural support during fabrication. In some cases, the techniques may include tuning an extent to which pillars of a support structure are interconnected to one another in regions proximate to the part. In some cases, the techniques may include fabricating very small contact structures, referred to herein as “hair” supports, in regions of a support structure where it connects with the part. In some cases, the techniques may include generating support structures that comprise obliquely-angled tips, which allow forces during fabrication to be applied in a preferred direction even when the support structure does not make a connection to the part in the preferred direction.

20200290282, Sep 17, 2020

Mar 12, 2020

16/817005

- Somerville MA, US
Henry Whitney - Weymouth MA, US
Justin Keenan - Lexington MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US
Michael Fogleman - Cary NC, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

B29C 64/386
B33Y 50/00
G05B 19/4099

According to some aspects, techniques are provided to more accurately produce fine features in additive fabrication. According to some embodiments, the techniques comprise a process that amplifies exposure to edges and thin positive features whilst not substantially affecting negative features. In particular, an area to be cured may be adapted using signal processing techniques to produce an energy density map. The area may subsequently be cured according to the generated energy density map by, for example, adjusting the scan speed, light power and/or number of passes of the light beam according to the map. As a result, the net exposure to edges and thin positive features may be amplified.

20200292415, Sep 17, 2020

Mar 13, 2020

16/818886

- Somerville MA, US
Henry Whitney - Weymouth MA, US
Justin Keenan - Lexington MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US
Michael Fogleman - Cary NC, US
Maxim Lobovsky - Cambridge MA, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

G01M 11/02
B33Y 30/00
B33Y 50/00
B29C 64/386

According to some aspects, calibration techniques are provided that allow an optics module of an additive fabrication device to be installed and operated in a stereolithography device by a user. In particular, the calibration techniques enable the optics module to be calibrated in a way that only depends on the characteristics of the optics module, and not upon any other components of the stereolithography device. As a result, the techniques enable a user of a stereolithography device to remove one optics module and replace it with another, without it being necessary to repair or replace the whole device. In some cases, the calibration techniques may include directing light onto one or more fiducial targets within the stereolithography device and measuring light scattered from said targets.

20190366623, Dec 5, 2019

May 31, 2019

16/427734

- Somerville MA, US
Maxim Lobovsky - Cambridge MA, US
Robert Joachim - Brookline MA, US
Jack Moldave - Lincoln MA, US
Adam Damiano - Somerville MA, US
Christian Reed - Chelsea MA, US
Dmitri Megretski - Carlisle MA, US
Benjamin FrantzDale - Harvard MA, US

Formlabs, Inc. - Somerville MA

B29C 64/124
B33Y 10/00
B33Y 30/00
B29C 64/245

Techniques for producing a flat film surface in additive fabrication are provided. According to some aspects, a movable stage may be arranged beneath a container having a base that includes a flexible film. The movable stage may include a segmented member in which a number of segments are aligned along a common axis. The segmented member may maintain contact with the flexible film as the movable stage moves beneath the container, with the segmented member producing a flat surface of the flexible film, at least within a region above the movable stage. According to some embodiments, multiple segmented members may be provided within the movable stage, such as in parallel with one another.