Apparatus for three dimensional printing using image layers

A three-dimensional printer (3DP) adapted to generate an object assembled from a plurality of cross sections, comprising:

• a drum adapted to receive a bulk layer consisting of sinterable powder;
• a powder applicator adapted to:
• dispense sinterable powder in bulk to the drum, and
• normalize the density of sinterable powder dispensed to the drum;
• an incoherent energy source is adapted to focus the energy and fuse at least a portion of the bulk layer of sinterable powder on the drum into a sintered image, the sintered image corresponding to one of said cross sections;
• a transfer mechanism adapted to concurrently:
• transfer the sintered image from the drum to the object being assembled, and
• fuse the sintered image to the object being assembled;
• a first heating element adapted to hold the object being assembled at a first predetermined temperature;
• and
• a second heating element adapted to hold a surface of the object being assembled at a second determined temperature during assembly of the object.

A method of generating an object assembled from a plurality of cross sections, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a layer comprising sinterable powder on a first surface, wherein the layer comprises a bulk layer of sinterable powder from which one or more of said cross sections is imaged;
• generating a sintered image using a radiant energy source configured to fuse at least a portion of the layer of sinterable powder while on the first surface;
• and
• transferring the sintered image from the first surface to the object being assembled.

A three-dimensional printer (3DP) adapted to generate an object assembled from a plurality of crass sections, comprising:

• a first surface configured to receive a layer of sinterable powder;
• a focused radiant energy source configured to selectively fuse a portion of the layer of sinterable powder on the first surface into a sintered image, the sintered image corresponding to one of said cross sections;
• and
• a transfer mechanism adapted to transfer the sintered image from the first surface to the object being assembled.