Mirror Assemblies for 3D Printers with Curved Reflective Surfaces

The patent employs curved reflective surfaces (parabolic or elliptical mirrors) to redirect light from a point source or linear source to achieve uniform illumination across the build material bed. The curved geometry transforms the non-uniform light distribution from a conventional source into a uniform pattern, resolving the contradiction by accepting increased device complexity in exchange for significantly improved illumination uniformity.

The mirror assembly creates locally optimized illumination zones across different regions of the build material bed. By using curved reflective surfaces, the system tailors the light distribution to ensure each local area receives the precise amount of energy needed, achieving uniform energy application across the entire bed while maintaining high printing speed. This local quality adjustment resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and productivity.

The mirror assembly acts as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the build material. Rather than modifying the light source itself or directly controlling illumination at each point on the build bed, the mirror assembly mediates the light distribution through carefully designed curved reflective surfaces. This intermediary approach achieves uniform illumination while keeping the overall system relatively simple, as the mirror assembly is a passive optical component rather than an active control system.