Techniques for fluid sensing during additive fabrication and related systems and methods

Abstract

According to some aspects, an additive fabrication device is provided comprising a container removably attached to the additive fabrication device, and a detector configured to sense a fluid level of photopolymer resin within the container, wherein said detector does not contact said container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An additive fabrication device comprising:
 a container removably attached to the additive fabrication device;   a dispensing system configured to automatically dispense liquid photopolymer resin into the container;   one or more temperature sensors arranged in proximity to the container and configured to generate sensor data indicative of the temperature of the container; and   at least one controller configured to:
 control the dispensing system to dispense liquid photopolymer resin into the container; 
 wait for a predetermined period of time subsequent to said control of the dispensing system; and 
 calculate a temperature of photopolymer resin within the container based on calibration data and based on sensor data produced by the one or more temperature sensors after said wait of a predetermined period of time. 
   
     
     
         2 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors do not touch the container. 
     
     
         3 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a resin introduction zone that is arranged beneath the dispensing system and sloped with respect to an interior surface of the container, such that the dispensing system is arranged to dispense the liquid photopolymer resin onto the resin introduction zone and such that liquid photopolymer resin flows down the sloped resin introduction zone onto the interior surface of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more heating elements configured to heat the container. 
     
     
         5 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 4 , further comprising a support base to which the container is removably attached, wherein the one or more heating elements are arranged within or beneath the support base. 
     
     
         6 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are arranged along a side of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors include at least one microelectromechanical (MEMs) sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors include at least one thermopile sensor. 
     
     
         9 . An additive fabrication device comprising:
 a container removably attached to the additive fabrication device;   a dispensing system configured to automatically dispense liquid photopolymer resin into the container;   one or more temperature sensors arranged in proximity to the container and configured to generate sensor data indicative of the temperature of the container, wherein the one or more temperature sensors do not touch the container; and   at least one controller configured to:
 control the dispensing system to dispense liquid photopolymer resin into the container; and 
 calculate a temperature of photopolymer resin within the container based on calibration data and based on sensor data produced by the one or more temperature sensors. 
   
     
     
         10 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 9 , wherein the container includes a resin introduction zone that is arranged beneath the dispensing system and sloped with respect to an interior surface of the container, such that the dispensing system is arranged to dispense the liquid photopolymer resin onto the resin introduction zone and such that liquid photopolymer resin flows down the sloped resin introduction zone onto the interior surface of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more heating elements configured to heat the container. 
     
     
         12 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 11 , further comprising a support base to which the container is removably attached, wherein the one or more heating elements are arranged within or beneath the support base. 
     
     
         13 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are arranged along a side of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors include at least one microelectromechanical (MEMs) sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The additive fabrication device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors include at least one thermopile sensor.