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AssigneeMatsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
InventorsSatoshi Abe, Isao Fuwa, Hirohiko Togeyama, Norio Yoshida, Masataka Takenami, Shuushi Uenaga
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To make a three-dimensional object, an optical beam is first irradiated on a predetermined portion of a powder layer to form a sintered layer, which is then covered with a new powder layer. The optical beam is again irradiated on a predetermined portion of the new powder layer to form another sintered layer that has been united with the underlying sintered layer. These processes are repeatedly carried out to form a plurality of sintered layers united together. When the second lower density layer is formed on the first higher density layer, a powder material layer for the lower density layer is formed at a predetermined thickness so as to have a thickness suitable for sintering condition and then the powder material layer is sintered to form the lower density layer.
A method of preparing a three-dimensional sintered product which comprises (a) sintering a predetermined portion of a first powder material layer by irradiation of a first optical beam to form a first layer having a higher density, (b) forming a second powder material layer on the first layer and (c) sintering a predetermined portion of the second powder material layer by irradiation of a second optical beam to form a second layer having a lower density and bond the second lower density layer to the first higher density layer and (d) repeating (a) to (c) to form a three-dimensional sintered block comprising a plurality of the first and second layers,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.