Patent ID: 8083989
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: B22F,B29C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object, comprising the steps of: forming a sintering region by irradiating an optical beam to an aggregate of one of: molding along with cutting the sintering region while moving a rotating tool with respect to a surface of the sintering region, wherein, in order to form a hollow part below a region on which a bottom part of the shaped object is to be located in a base pedestal supporting the powder resulting in molding of the shaped object caused by the sintering and the cutting, a surrounding frame surrounding the hollow part is provided, and in a state where an upper end of the hollow part forms a hole surrounded by an upper end of the surrounding frame, the molding process of the bottom part is enabled by the following successive steps: (a1) filling the hollow part with the powder; (a2) forming a powder layer having a predetermined thickness on a region above the hole located at the upper end of the hollow part and a region above the surrounding frame located around the region; (b) sintering one of: and the powder with which the hollow part is filled, using the optical beam; (c1) forming a sintering region by irradiating an optical beam to the powder aggregated on the sintering region obtained by the step (b); (c2) molding the shaped object by cutting the sintering region while moving the rotating tool with respect to the surface of the sintering region; (c3) molding at least three supports having a height at least equivalent to that of the shaped object, and at least two support frames having one end part supporting the shaped object and another end part connected to one of: by cutting the sintering region while moving the rotating tool with respect to the surface of the sintering region; (d1) reversing molded products obtained by the step (c) and the base pedestal in a vertical direction; (d2) removing the sintering region of the step (b) in a state where the base pedestal and the molded products of the step (c) are supported by top parts of the supports; and (d3) further performing a molding process of the bottom part of the shaped object; and (e) cutting and separating the shaped object from the support frames molded in the step (c).