Method and device for producing three-dimensional objects
AssigneeArcam AB
InventorsMorgan Larsson, Anders Snis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material which is capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy beam is disclosed. The method comprises homogeneously pre-heating the powder material by scanning with the high-energy beam along predetermined paths over a pre-heating area so that consecutive paths are separated by a minimum security distance which is adapted to prevent undesirable summation effects in the pre-heating area, and then solidifying the powder material by fusing together the powder material. Apparatus for producing such three-dimensional objects is also disclosed.
Claims10
A method for producing three-dimensional objects from a powder material capable of solidification by irradiation with a high-energy electron beam, said method comprising initially homogeneously pre-heating said powder material by scanning a predetermined pre-heating area including said powder material with said high-energy electron beam along a plurality of predetermined paths distributed over said predetermined pre-heating area in a manner such that consecutive paths of said plurality of predetermined paths are separated by at least a predetermined minimum security distance adapted to prevent undesirable charge summation effects in said predetermined pre-heating area, said minimum security distance being a function of the scanning velocity of said high energy electron beam and the length of said plurality of predetermined paths, whereby said minimum security distance is adapted to allow for a minimum time period between scanning of consecutive ones of said plurality of predetermined paths, followed by the step of solidifying said powder material by fusing together said powder material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.