High-viscosity resin stereolithography for filled
This technology enables 3D printing with thick, paste-like resins that traditional stereolithography systems cannot handle because they are too viscous to self-level or flow into thin layers. The approach combines a screw or piston extruder to deposit the resin layer by layer with a light source that selectively cures each deposited layer into the desired shape before the next layer is applied. This hybrid extrusion-plus-photocuring workflow unlocks a much wider class of materials for high-resolution light-based 3D printing, including heavily filled, ceramic-loaded, or otherwise dense resin formulations. The result is printed parts with material properties that were previously inaccessible to mask projection stereolithography.
What you could build
A specialty 3D printing system or process license targeting manufacturers of technical ceramics, dental prosthetics, or aerospace composite parts who need high-resolution printed structures from filled or paste-like photopolymers. Buyers would include dental lab equipment makers, technical ceramics manufacturers, and advanced composites fabricators.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense and aerospace manufacturers in Virginia (e.g., suppliers to the shipbuilding and naval sectors in Hampton Roads) who need custom printed components from high-performance materials could be natural adopters or licensing partners.
Readiness: Concept
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Daniel A. RAU, Christopher B. WILLIAMS
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed September 15, 2023
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240173914A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.