Method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by means of layer-by-layer material application

A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by layer material application, the method comprising:

• a) providing geometry data for the three-dimensional shaped object, a support part having a base surface for holding the three-dimensional shaped object, a liquid or flowable first material that can be solidified, a liquid, flowable, paste-like or powder-form second material that can be solidified, and a solvent, wherein the second material, in a solidified state, has a greater strength than the first material in a solidified state, and the first material in the solidified state can be dissolved in the solvent;
• b) forming a negative-shape layer, by applying material portions of the flowable first material to the base surface and/or to a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object situated on the base surface, in accordance with the geometry data, wherein the negative-shape layer has at least one cavity on a surface facing away from the base surface, which cavity has a negative shape of a material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object to be produced;
• c) solidifying the negative-shape layer to form a mold;
• d) filling the mold with the second material to form a shaped-object layer, wherein the negative shape is transferred to the shaped-object layer as a positive shape;
• e) solidifying the second material filled into the mold;
• f) removing regions of the solidified negative-shape layer and/or of a solidified shaped-object layer projecting beyond a plane arranged at a predetermined distance from the base surface by machining material removal;
• g) repeating steps a) to f) at least once;
• and
• h) bringing the negative-shape layers into contact with the solvent in such a manner that the solidified first material dissolves in the solvent.