Industrial 3D printer manufacturerDesktop Metal在德国的法院授予了初步禁令，以防止SprintRayfrom selling its dental systems there.
Desktop Metal alleges that the technology used to power SprintRay’s Pro 95 and Pro 55 3D printers infringes upon the patents covering the ‘layer separation process’ of its subsidiaryEnvisionTEC。遵循该裁决，现在禁止Sprintray在德国出售，进口，使用或存储任何产品，这些产品据称违反了这些专利。
Desktop Health首席执行官Michael Jafar说：“我们对法院的裁决感到非常满意。”“桌面金属在硬件，软件和材料科学领域的研发承诺导致了全球650多个已发行的专利和未决的专利申请，我们打算大力执行。”
Assessing the alleged breach
Acquired by Desktop Metalfor $300 million in January, EnvisionTEC is a manufacturer of both SLA and DLP-powered machines. Known primarily for the latter, the firm now markets a broad portfolio of desktopD4K，更大Perfactory P4K和双4KXtreme 8K3D printers, as well as itsContinuous Digital Light Manufacturing(CDLM)Envision Onesystems.
专门为使聚合物零件的快速生产而建造，设想本身可以在三个迭代中获得：Mechanical，，，，DentalandHT。每种功能略有不同的顶部打印速度，范围从45毫米到每小时120mm，以及反映其独特目标应用的不同加热系统，但它们都具有相似的180 x 101 x 175毫米构建板和常见的CDLM体系结构。
According to EnvisionTEC, the fundamentals behind this technology, which allows for “continuous motion of the build plate to deliver exceptional build speeds,” are based on an approach it came up with ten years ago. In fact, the firm says that its DLP systems’ designs are protected by ‘US7892474B2，，，，’ an old patent covering the “continuous generative process for producing a three-dimensional object.”
公司公开lists its patentsvia its website (which now total 143) and there are many related to the layer separation process carried out by its machines. For instance, the firm was able to protect its technology around creating “separate layers between a flat baseplate and layers of cured polymer,” under patent number ‘DE1119817A1’在2001年的德国，尽管此后已被解除。
Given that Desktop Metal has now brought a suit against SprintRay based on the breach of several European patents, granted in Germany and other countries, it’s therefore difficult to identify which of those it’s contesting. However, it has been made clear by the adjudicating Hamburg District Court, that SprintRay is no longer allowed to sell its Pro 95 and Pro 55 printers in Germany until the matter is resolved.
DM与Sprintray：牙齿灰尘？
自2021年8月发出禁令以来，桌面金属一直在此问题上保持沉默，直到本周早些时候被授予禁令。另一方面，Sprintray尚未公开评论该裁决，但在两家公司的目标客户中肯定有一定程度的交叉，使他们成为市场竞争对手，并在诉讼程序中增加了一层阴谋。
Operating as a subsidiary of 3D printer manufacturerSoonSer，，，，SprintRay is a developer of additive manufacturing resins, software and post-printing systems, but its Pro 95 and Pro 55 machines represent its main products. Much like EnvisionTEC’s Envision One, these resin-based desktop systems are marketed as a “breakthrough tech” that print at “breakneck speeds,” and both sets of machines pack similar >385nm LEDs.
Due to the similarities between the companies’ DLP 3D printers, it’s hardly surprising that they’re equally marketed towards dental clientele. While SprintRay claims that its systems can bulk-print surgical guides, aligners and occlusal guards, EnvisionTEC manufactures a complete Dental iteration of its system, that it says is “perfect for 3D printing orthodontic applications, as well as full dentures.”
毫无疑问，EnvisionTec作为两家公司中更好的一家公司在这一领域的市场份额更大，因此，禁令使他们的至高无上的斗争更加坚定，对其有利。但是，是否将对有争议的专利进行全面审判尚待观察，而Sprintray尚未明确其对他们的质疑/原因的立场。
SprintRay was contacted by 3D Printing Industry regarding its alleged patent breaches, but it was unavailable for comment at time of writing.
过去的专利战
In such a technologically-advanced industry, it’s not surprising that patents are seen by many in 3D printing as a vital means of preventing the loss of trade secrets, and a potential edge on their competitors. While some of the designs in these documents stretch the imagination, such asCellink的bioprinting facelift robots，其他这样的专利最近通过Optomec获得cover its core AJP process.
To make matters more complicated, such patents also tend to be quite broad by nature, making it easier for conflicts between manufacturers to arise than would otherwise be the case. In August 2021, for example, CELLINK was accused by fellow bioprinting firmOrganovoof having infringed upon its Intellectual Property (IP), although these allegations were branded as “invalid” at the time.
在其他地方，在其他情况下，提升了诸如专利的专利Stratasys’ heated build chamber，为该行业中的其他人打开了潜在的机会。当被问及专利到期的影响时可能会在三月回到INTAMSYSsaid that it would enable “more innovation and lower costs,” whereasrish3dquipped that it “doesn’t include patent expiration as a factor” in its product R&D.
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Featured image shows the SprintRay Pro 95 and Pro 55 3D printers that are alleged to have breached Desktop Metal’s patents. Image via SprintRay.
