# US 2013/0156952 A1 · Method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156952 A1 - Document ID: US20130156952A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/820,653 - Filed: 2011-08-31 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-02 - Inventors: Renate Keinath - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156952A1 ## CPC - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract In the case of a method and an apparatus, three-dimensional objects (16) can be produced from a solidifiable material by the sequential discharging of discontinuous drops (15). To this end, the solidifiable material is plasticized in the fluid phase and is introduced into a material store (12) having at least one discharging unit (13) which can be clocked. From there, the material is discharged in a dropwise manner by means of a discharging unit (13) in the direction of an object carrier (14) for an object (16), wherein the object carrier (14) and an outlet opening can be moved at a relative spacing in relation to one another in space in order to influence the drop shape. The creation of the drops is supported by changing the relative spacing in an alternating manner in opposite directions during the discharging of the drops from the discharging unit (13) and during the application of the drops to the three-dimensional object (16) during the production of the object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material, which is either in fluid form from the outset or can be liquefied, by sequential discharge of discontinuous droplets, comprising the steps providing the solidifiable material in the fluid phase or plasticising the solidifiable material into the fluid phase, introducing said fluid phase into a material storage means with at least one cyclable discharge unit, discharging the discontinuous droplets from an outlet opening by means of the at least one cyclable discharge unit towards an object carrier for the three-dimensional object to be produced, the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, on the one hand, and the outlet opening, on the other hand, being movable in space at a relative spacing (s) relative to one another in order to influence droplet shape, and - varying the relative spacing alternately in opposite directions on discharge of the discontinuous droplets from the at least one cyclable discharge unit and on application of the discontinuous droplets on the three-dimensional object during production of the three-dimensional object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a droplet is applied by the at least one cyclable discharge unit onto the object carrier or the three-dimensional object in such a manner that the droplet is connected both to the object carrier and to the three-dimensional object, and in that, after impingement of the droplet on the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, increasing the relative spacing (s) assists detachment of the droplet from the discharge unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein, after impingement of a droplet, the object carrier or the three-dimensional object is moved contrary to the a direction of gravity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein, after the movement contrary to the direction of gravity, the relative spacing is reduced such that the at least one cyclable discharge unit is in contact with the droplet located on the three-dimensional object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a plasticising unit known from injection moulding technology is coupled to the material storage means, that can be pressurized, for introducing the fluid phase into the material storage means and for generating a pressure on the fluid phase in the material storage means which generates the discontinuous droplets in directly coupled manner. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from a solidifiable material, which is either in the fluid phase from the outset or can be liquefied, by sequential discharge of discontinuous droplets, comprising an object carrier for the three-dimensional object to be produced, at least one material storage means for the fluid phase of plasticised solidifiable material with at least one cyclable discharge unit for discharge of the solidifiable material through an outlet opening towards the object carrier in the form of droplets, control means for controlling a relative spacing between the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, on the one hand, and the outlet opening, on the other hand, relative to one another in space in order to influence droplet shape, wherein the control means influence alternately in opposite directions one of velocity or direction with which at least one of the elements comprising the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, on the one hand, and the outlet opening, on the other hand, are moved relative to one another with accompanying variation of the relative spacing on discharge of the discontinuous droplets from the at least one cyclable discharge unit and on application of the discontinuous droplets onto the three-dimensional object during production of the object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the relative spacing between the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, on the one hand, and the outlet opening, on the other hand, on discharge of a droplet roughly corresponds to the length of the droplet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the relative spacing between the object carrier or the three-dimensional object, on the one hand, and the outlet opening, on the other hand, after impingement and flattening of the droplet on the three-dimensional object corresponds to the build height of the droplet on the object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the material storage means is formed by a plasticising unit known from injection moulding technology which at the same time plasticises the solidifiable material.