Device and method for making a three-dimensional object

Abstract

A device for the making of a three-dimensional object (3) by means of layer by layer consolidation of a powderlike construction material (11) by electromagnetic radiation or particle beam has a height-adjustable carrier (2), on which the object (3) is built, and whose horizontal dimension defines a construction field (5). Furthermore, an irradiation device (6, 9) is present for directing the radiation onto regions of an applied layer of the construction material within the construction field (5) corresponding to an object cross section (30). A control unit (10) controls the irradiation device (6, 9) such that the powder particles of the construction material (11) are bonded together at the sites where the radiation impinges on the construction material. A selective heating device (18a, 18b) is designed so that any given partial surface (19) of the construction field (5) can be heated before and/or after to a plateau temperature, which is significantly higher than the temperature of at least a portion of the construction field (5) outside the partial surface (19). The control unit (10) actuates the selective heating device (18a, 18b) such that the partial surface (19) has a predefined minimum distance (d) from the edge of the construction field (5).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.