Method for the additive production of a three-dimensional object

A method for an additive production of a three-dimensional object by a selective exposure in successive layers and an associated selective consolidation in the successive layers of construction material layers composed of a construction material that can be consolidated with an energy beam, the method comprising:

• producing, as part of the additive production of the three-dimensional object to be produced additively, a supporting structure directly surrounding the three-dimensional object the supporting structure produced or to be produced additively is formed by the selective exposure in the successive layers and an associated selective pre-consolidation in the successive layers of the construction material layers composed of the construction material that can be consolidated with the energy beam;
• performing the selective consolidation of the construction material in the successive layers to form the three-dimensional object with a first degree of consolidation of the construction material;
• and
• performing the selective pre-consolidation of the construction material in the successive layers to form the supporting structure with a second degree of consolidation of the construction material, the second degree of consolidation of the construction material having a lesser degree of consolidation than that of the first degree of consolidation of the construction material;
• wherein the selective consolidation of the construction material in the successive layers to form the three-dimensional object is performed by a complete melting and a subsequent cooling of the construction material such that the construction material undergoes a solid-liquid phase transition, and the selective pre-consolidation of the construction material in the successive layers to form the supporting structure is performed by an incomplete melting and/or sintering of the construction material such that the construction material does not undergo the solid-liquid phase transition, resulting in removal of the supporting structure from the three-dimensional object via spontaneous crumbling during a process of unpacking the three-dimensional object.