Apparatus for producing three-dimensional workpiece comprising a plurality of powder application devices

An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional workpiece,

• the apparatus comprising:
• a carrier for receiving a raw material powder,
• at least a first irradiation device for selectively irradiating an electromagnetic or particle radiation beam onto raw material powder being deposited on at least one build area of the carrier in order to produce a workpiece made of said raw material powder by an additive layer construction method, and
• at least a first and a second powder application device being configured to simultaneously deposit raw material powder onto the same build area to produce a sequence of raw material powder layers on top of one another,
• wherein
• the irradiation device is configured to irradiate a section of the build area between the powder application devices,
• the build area defines a maximum possible footprint of the workpiece,
• the irradiation device and/or the radiation beam emitted thereby are movable based on a movement of at least one of the powder application devices, and
• the first and the second powder application device are movable individually and independently from each other along a height axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the build area.

A method for operating an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

• a carrier for receiving a raw material powder,
• at least a first irradiation device for selectively irradiating an electromagnetic or particle radiation beam onto raw material powder being deposited on at least one build area of the carrier in order to produce a workpiece made of said raw material powder by an additive layer construction method, and
• at least a first and a second powder application device,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• operating the first and a second powder application devices so as to simultaneously deposit raw material powder onto the same build area to produce a sequence of raw material layers on top of one another;
• and
• irradiating a section of the build area between the powder application devices;
• wherein
• the build area defines a maximum possible footprint of the workpiece, and wherein the irradiation device and/or the radiation beam emitted thereby are moved based on a movement of at least one of the powder application devices, and
• the first and the second powder application device are movable individually and independently from each other along a height axis which extends substantially perpendicular to the build area.