Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects

Abstract

An apparatus and a process for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by successive layer-by-layer consolidation of selected zones of a powder stratum, the consolidated zones corresponding to successive sections of the three-dimensional object, each layer being divided into a central internal portion and an external border , said process comprising the following steps in order: a—depositing a powder layer on a holder; b—fusing the external border of said powder layer by means of a laser beam originating from a first energy source by moving the laser beam of said first energy source relative to the object along a preset path that follows the contour of said external border corresponding to the contour of the cross section of the object so as to selectively fuse said layer; and c—fusing the central internal portion of the powder layer by means of an electron beam originating from a second energy source, by moving the electron beam of said second energy source relative to the object so as to sweep it over said central internal portion along a preset path corresponding to the central internal portion of the cross section of the object so as to selectively fuse said layer; or d—repeating steps a and b N times so as to form a plurality of superposed layers of fused material forming a portion of the external border of said object and then carrying out step c so as to fuse the central internal portion of the object corresponding to the N powder layers; and e—repeating steps a to c or a, b and d until all the layers of the object have been consolidated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.