Method and device for controlling an irradiation system for producing workpieces

A method for controlling an irradiation system, wherein the irradiation system is used in a device for the additive manufacture of three-dimensional workpieces, the irradiation system comprising at least three irradiation units, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• defining an irradiation region for each of the irradiation units, wherein the irradiation regions each comprise a portion of an irradiation plane which extends parallel to a carrier of the device and wherein the irradiation regions each comprise at least a portion of a raw material powder layer arranged on the carrier to produce a workpiece layer, and wherein the irradiation regions are so defined that they overlap in a common overlap region;
• subdividing the overlap region into a plurality of partitioning regions;
• associating at least one of the plurality of partitioning regions with one of the irradiation units;
• irradiating the raw material powder layer arranged on the carrier using the defined irradiation regions to produce the workpiece layer, wherein the at least one of the irradiation units continues the irradiation along a predetermined irradiation vector beyond the at least one of the plurality of partitioning regions, wherein the continuing of the irradiation comprises not immediately ceasing the irradiation on reaching the partition regions;
• and
• arranging a further raw material powder layer on the already irradiated raw material powder layer to produce a further workpiece layer.