Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object layer by layer

Applying module, adapted to the insertion into an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying a powdery constituent material layer by layer at the positions corresponding to the profile of the object to be manufactured in the corresponding layer, by the action of a laser or another energy source, comprising

• a first applying element suited for applying and distributing the powdery constituent material,
• at least one insertion element to which the applying element is attached and which is formed to insert the applying module in a predetermined position into the apparatus in a way that the applying module can be exchangeably inserted into and removed from the apparatus in a way that a predetermined position of the applying module in the apparatus is reproducibly determined,
• a supporting device allowing a swiveling movement of the applying module around a predetermined swiveling axis in the apparatus,
• a stop for determining the predetermined position, and
• a return unit for urging the applying module by a swiveling movement around the predetermined swiveling axis until it abuts against the stop.

Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by solidifying a powdery constituent material layer by layer at the positions corresponding to the profile of the object to be manufactured in the corresponding layer, by the action of a laser or another energy source, comprising:

• a support on which the object is formed,
• an applicator for applying a layer of the constituent material onto the support or a layer at least partially solidified in advance, and
• an applying module,
• wherein the applicator has a receiving device for receiving the applying module,
• the receiving device being formed in a way so that an applying module selected from a plurality of differently pre-adjusted applying modules can be exchangeably inserted into and removed from the receiving device in a way that a predetermined position of the applying module in the receiving device is reproducibly determined, by a swiveling of the applying module in the receiving device,
• wherein the apparatus further comprises:
• a supporting device allowing a swiveling movement of the applying module around a predetermined swiveling axis
• a stop for determining the predetermined position, and
• a return unit for urging the applying module by a swiveling movement around the predetermined swiveling axis until it abuts against the stop.