Apparatus and method for producing a three-dimensional object and for applying a layer of a powder material to a surface
AssigneeEOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
InventorsBernhard Graf, Thomas Mattes, Lutz Reichmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is described for producing a three-dimensional object from a powder material which includes powder particles and which is solidifiable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus includes a support having a substantially plane support surface for supporting said object, an applying device for applying a layer of the powder material to the support surface, a radiation device for selectively exposing the powder material to electromagnetic radiation at places corresponding to the object and a discharge electrode for generating an electric field for reducing charge differences on the powder particles.
Claims15
Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from a powder material comprising powder particles and being solidifiable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, said apparatus comprising support means having a substantially plane support surface for supporting said object, means for applying a layer of said powder material to said support surface, radiation means for selectively exposing said material to electromagnetic radiation at places corresponding to said object and means for generating an electric field for reducing charge differences on said powder particles.
Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object from a powder material comprising powder particles and being solidifiable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the apparatus comprising support means having a substantially plane support surface for supporting said object, means for applying a layer of said powder material to said support surface and radiation means for selectively exposing said powder material to electromagnetic radiation at places corresponding to said object, said applying means comprising a receptacle for said powder material, said receptacle being disposed above said support surface and having a bottom side facing said surface, an outlet aperture provided in said bottom side and having an aperture width, means for displacing said receptacle across said surface and substantially parallel thereto and means for adjusting said aperture width of said outlet aperture.
A method of layerwise producing a three-dimensional object, said method comprising generating a layer of a powder material which comprises powder particles and is solidifiable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, solidifying said layer by selective exposure to electromagnetic radiation at places corresponding to said object and generating an electric field for reducing the charge differences between said powder particles, wherein said step of generating a layer of powder material and selectively solidifying said layer are repeated until the three-dimensional object is formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.