Abstract:
The production of three-dimensional bodies is performed by selective solidification, wherein surface impurities on the layers to be produced, which may occur during the production process using “powder shuttle” technology, are significantly reduced or eliminated. In this manner the production process is more efficient, produces a higher grade product and is more economical to implement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selective solidification of a build material applied in layers. 
     The invention relates in particular to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selective solidification of a build material applied in layers, in which build material is applied with the aid of an application device onto a substrate or an already solidified layer of the object to be manufactured, the application device including a movably mounted reservoir container for the reception of build material, which reservoir container is, for application of a layer, transferred from a waiting position into an application position and, before solidification of the layer, from the application position back into the waiting position, and the reservoir container comprising a separating element that is mounted movably, in particular shiftably, with respect to container walls and in the application position extends substantially parallel to the layer to be generated, displacement of which separating element causes a part of the reservoir container, said reservoir container being arranged in the application position, firstly to be opened for the application of build material and then to be closed again for manufacture of the layer to be solidified, by partial removal of the applied, not yet solidified build material. 
     The invention further relates in particular to an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selective solidification of a build material applied in layers, having an application device with the aid of which build material is applied onto a substrate or an already solidified layer of the object to be manufactured, the application device including a movably mounted reservoir container for the reception of build material, which reservoir container is, for application of a layer, transferable from a waiting position into an application position and, before solidification of the layer, from the application position back into the waiting position, and the reservoir container comprising a separating element that is mounted movably, in particular shiftably, with respect to container walls and in the application position extends substantially parallel to the layer to be generated, displacement of which separating element causes a part of the reservoir container, reservoir container being arranged in the application position, firstly to be opened for the application of build material and then to be closed again for manufacture of the layer to be solidified, by partial removal of the applied, not yet solidified build material. 
     Methods for manufacturing three-dimensional objects by selective solidification of a build material are known in large numbers from the existing art. Mention may be made here, for example, of laser sintering or selective mask sintering. In these methods, three-dimensional objects are manufactured directly from CAD data with the aid of an additive fabrication method. Construction of the object occurs in this context in layers, by the fact that layers of a build material are applied successively onto one another. Before application of the respective subsequent layers, the locations in the respective layers corresponding to the object to be fabricated are selectively solidified. Solidification is accomplished by local heating, with the aid of a radiation source, of the usually powdered layering raw material. By targeted introduction of radiation in suitable fashion into the desired region, an exactly defined object structure of any kind can be generated. Such methods are usable in particular for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects by successively generating multiple thin, individually configured layers. 
     Materials that are utilized in such layer manufacturing methods are, for example, resins, plastics, metals, or ceramics. Units with which a layer manufacturing method of this kind is carried out are also referred to as layer manufacturing units or rapid prototyping systems. 
     In a novel layer manufacturing method such as the one described in German Patent Application DE 10 2008 022 946, it is proposed that the build material not be applied, as previously generally usual, by way of a horizontal movement of an application element (doctor, blade, roller, etc.). Instead, what is proposed in order to bring about “non-contact” material application is the use of a reservoir container for the reception of build material, out of which build material is applied in a first layer thickness onto a substrate or an already solidified layer of the object to be manufactured. A portion of the applied, not yet solidified build material is then removed again so that a defined layer of unsolidified build material remains, which layer has, at least in predetermined regions, a second layer thickness that is less than the originally applied first layer thickness. The build material is thus first applied “thickly,” and is then removed again so as to generate the desired layer thickness, the removal occurring in such a way that shear or thrust forces that might act on the remaining layer of not yet solidified build material are avoided or in any case greatly reduced. A separating element that comprises a separating edge extending parallel to the surface of the layer to be produced is used for this purpose, the separating element being moved horizontally in the build material in order to remove that portion of the applied material which is not needed. In summary, the technology described therein therefore relates to the application of build material in a manner free of transverse forces, by the use of “loose feeding” rather than doctor blade application or the like. Because of the back-and-forth movement of the reservoir container, this technology is also referred to as “powder shuttle” technology. 
     The reservoir container out of which the build material is applied must be transferred from its application position into a waiting position for solidification of the layer being generated. Removal of the reservoir container from the application position exposes the layer to be solidified. In other words, space is created for the radiation, deriving from a radiation source, that is introduced into the layer to be solidified. 
     The horizontal removal of the reservoir container from its application position into the waiting position, however, causes turbulence of the gas molecules at the surface of the layer to be solidified. The resulting suction causes the formation of very fine surface disruptions, in particular of so-called “ripples.” These disruptions occur in particular when fine or ultrafine powders are used as build material. This is disadvantageous in particular because the reservoir container must be moved particularly slowly in order to avoid such disruptions, resulting in long production times for the individual layers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is therefore to improve the technology for manufacturing three-dimensional objects by selective solidification in such a way that when powder shuttle technology is used, no surface disruptions occur on the layer to be generated, or such disruptions are at least greatly reduced. It is an object of the invention in particular to greatly reduce process times, and in particular coating times, in the context of powder shuttle technology. 
     This object is achieved by the respective apparatuses and methods described in the Claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. The advantages and configurations explained below in conjunction with the methods according to the present invention also apply mutatis mutandis to the apparatuses according to the present invention, and vice versa. 
     A first method according to the present invention is notable for the fact that transfer of the reservoir container from the application position into the waiting position includes a lifting of the reservoir container away from the layer to be solidified, and/or that transfer of the reservoir container from the waiting position into the application position includes a lowering of the reservoir container. 
     This inventive idea is based on the realization that a displacement of the reservoir container relative to a layer to be solidified (or vice versa) in an exclusively horizontal direction, as described in DE 2008 022 946, results in an air flow over the surface and, associated therewith, in turbulence above the layer to be solidified, which is responsible for the creation of surface disruptions, in particular of so-called “ripples.” If, on the other hand, the reservoir container is raised during transfer into the waiting position, in particular before a horizontal displacement of the reservoir container, the turbulence at the surface of the layer is thus reduced. 
     The effect described can be achieved correspondingly if, instead of a raising of the reservoir container, a lowering of the layer to be solidified occurs. What is essential is the creation of an air space between the reservoir container and layer during, but in particular after, the usually horizontal movement of the reservoir container away from the layer into the waiting position. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the reservoir container is raised and lowered inhomogeneously, so that it is tilted with respect to the layer to be generated, i.e. the reservoir container is oriented obliquely when it is moved away from the layer to be generated, or toward the layer. In other words, what is important is that the spacing between the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand be modified inhomogeneously. In this case the turbulence still present at the layer surface even in the case of parallel lifting, as a result of the suction effect, is further considerably reduced. This is attributable to the fact that as a result of the tilting, or the creation of an inhomogeneous spacing, a relatively large opening is produced comparatively quickly between the underside of the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand, so that the flow velocity of the gas molecules in the gap between the underside of the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand, and in particular directly above the layer to be generated, is comparatively small, whereas in the case of a horizontal displacement of an untilted reservoir container, high flow velocities occur in the comparatively small gap between the underside of the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand, if such a gap is present at all. 
     Tilting of the reservoir container represents a particularly uncomplicated approach to rapidly creating an air space between the reservoir container and layer. The air space is generated much faster as compared with parallel lifting of the reservoir container. The result is that this enables particularly rapid, in particular horizontal displacement of the reservoir container. 
     Once solidification of the layer has occurred, the reservoir container is brought back into the application position for application of a new layer. The description above applies correspondingly in this case. The reservoir is preferably brought in an oblique posture to its target position at the layer to be produced (the application position), and is then tilted back into a substantially horizontal posture. Here as well, the comparatively large opening between the underside of the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand reduces the formation of turbulence and surface damage. Once the reservoir container has been straightened and the bottom element has been removed, application of the powder by loose feeding once again occurs, as well as removal of the excess build material by the separating element. 
     Based on the aforementioned realization, a first basic concept of the invention is therefore to reduce the gas movements that can be caused by a displacement of the reservoir container and, especially with fine and ultrafine powders, can result in turbulence at the surface of the layer to be generated, by minimizing the velocity of the gas flowing between the underside of the reservoir container on the one hand and the layer on the other hand, and in particular at the surface of the layer. The actions proposed make possible displacement speeds of the reservoir container from more than 500 mm/s to 2000 mm/s, so that coating times in the context of powder shuttle technology can be appreciably reduced. 
     A second inventive idea is described below. 
     Based on the aforementioned realization, a further basic concept of the invention, with the goal of decreasing coating times, is to decrease gas movement by reducing the quantity of gas that is flowing. For this, it is proposed according to the present invention to carry out the method in a vacuum environment. 
     A further method according to the present invention is therefore notable for the fact that movement of the reservoir container from the application position into the waiting position and/or from the waiting position into the application position, and/or displacement of the separating element for opening and/or closing the reservoir container, brings about a gas flow moving along the surface of the layer to be solidified or along the surface of the layer already solidified; and that the method proceeds under vacuum in order to reduce the quantity of gas flowing along the surface of the layer to be solidified or along the surface of the layer already solidified, with the goal of reducing gas movements that can result in turbulence at the layer surface and thus in surface disruptions. 
     The use of vacuum in layer manufacturing methods is in principle already known. Hitherto, however, vacuum has been used only as an alternative to the use of inert gas, with which the process space is continually flushed in order, in particular, to suppress oxidation processes that proceed during sintering in the presence of external air. The present invention proposes for the first time to use vacuum in order to reduce the quantity of gas flowing at the surface of the layer to be generated, in order to decrease gas movements that can result in turbulence at the layer surface and thus in surface disruptions. 
     Execution of the method in a “process space that is under vacuum” means, for purposes of the invention, that a particularly low pressure exists at least in the build chamber in which the object is produced, but preferably also in the displacement region of the reservoir container. The absolute pressure is preferably equal to less than 100 mbar. It is particularly advantageous to carry out the layer manufacturing method in a process space at absolute pressures below 30 mbar. A preferred working pressure range is between 30 mbar and 0.5 mbar. 
     A third inventive idea is described below. 
     As already indicated in DE 10 2008 022 946, the reservoir container can be embodied to be open. Especially when powdered build material is used, however, it is advantageous to use a closed reservoir container, since undesired emergence, in particular sloshing out, of build material from the reservoir container, and thus undesired contamination of the process environment, can thereby be avoided. A further inventive idea is thus based on the realization that when a closed reservoir container is used, closing of the reservoir container as a result of displacement of the separating element for removal of the build material brings about a pressure increase in the interior of the reservoir container. This overpressure is caused by the separating element displacing build material during the closing operation. If the reservoir container is a closed one, the overpressure would move the build material along under the blade of the separating element and over the surface, which in turn would result in surface disruptions. Particularly large surface disruptions would result when the turbulence of the gas molecules at the layer surface is particularly severe due to a high displacement speed of the separating element. 
     Process times can be further shortened by a particularly fast displacement of the separating element if, according to a third method according to the present invention, the pressure increase that occurs in the interior of the reservoir container is equalized. Displacement speeds of the separating element of over 250 mm/s thereby become possible. 
     The pressure equalization can be accomplished, for example, by the use of active elements, for example by aspiration or the like. 
     Pressure equalization becomes possible in particular simple fashion if the equalization volume is made available by the surroundings of the reservoir container to which the reservoir container is connected through an equalization opening. According to the present invention, the equalization opening is arranged in the reservoir container in such a way that an escape of build material through the equalization opening is precluded. In particular, the equalization opening is provided in such a way that upon a movement of the reservoir container, in particular upon displacement from the application position into the waiting position and back, sloshing of the build material in the reservoir container, and in particular emergence, associated therewith, of build material from the equalization opening, is avoided. The equalization opening is preferably embodied in such a way that further elements for preventing an undesired emergence of build material, for example slosh baffles or the like, can be omitted. 
     To achieve this, it is proposed in particular that the opening be embodied as a funnel, extending over the entire width of the reservoir container and preferably arranged perpendicular to the movement direction of the reservoir container, that on the one hand has a sufficient height and on the other hand comprises a constriction through which only a small quantity of build material can slosh back when the reservoir container decelerates upon reaching the waiting position. 
     A further advantage of a closed reservoir container having an equalization opening, as compared with an open reservoir container, is that the opening reservoir container would need to be made appreciably larger, in particular would need to have appreciably higher side walls, in order reliably to preclude undesired emergence of build material. The reservoir container according to the present invention, on the other hand, can be made much more compact and thus also lighter, thereby enabling very fast back-and-forth movements of the reservoir container. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the equalization opening is opened only as required. The risk of an unintentional escape of build material from the reservoir container is thereby further minimized. 
     It is of course possible to combine the inventive ideas described above with reference to the various methods with one another in order to enhance the effects achieved by the individual methods. It is likewise possible to combine the devices embodied for executing the above-described methods with one another, and to use them in a single layer manufacturing unit. 
     Apparatuses according to the present invention for carrying out the methods described above are likewise indicated in the Claims. The apparatuses according to the present invention that are indicated can moreover include further devices necessary and/or useful for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, in particular those devices indicated in DE 10 2008 022 946. Also possible, however, is the use of devices deviating therefrom, provided the basic principle of powder shuttle technology is thereby implemented. 
     Exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a sequence of method steps in accordance with the existing art described in DE 10 2008 022 946, 
         FIG. 2  shows a separating element in accordance with the existing art described in DE 10 2008 022 946, 
         FIG. 3  shows a method step in accordance with the present invention, 
         FIG. 4  shows a further method step in accordance with the present invention, 
         FIG. 5  shows a sequence of method steps in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All the Figures show the invention merely schematically and with its essential constituents. Identical reference characters refer, in this context, to elements of identical or comparable function. 
       FIGS. 1   a ) to  1   g ) depict, in various method phases, the method described in DE 10 2008 022 946 for manufacturing a three-dimensional object  10 . The build material used here is a plastic powder, for example polyamide, although for example a metal or ceramic powder, or corresponding fibers or pastes, can also be used. 
     As  FIG. 1   a ) shows, object  10  is already made up of several superimposed solidified or hardened layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . A powdered coating material  30  has been hardened, solidified, melted, or fused in predetermined regions in a manner commonly known from the existing art. As a result, each layer  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  has the desired contour of object  10  that is to be manufactured. 
     A container  20  is shown schematically in  FIG. 1   a ) in vertical section. Container  20  is embodied here as a reservoir container in which the loose powder  30  is stocked. Container  20  comprises walls  22 ,  24  that, together with a bottom  26 , constitute container  20 . Container walls  22 ,  24 , together with further container walls (not depicted here) and bottom  26 , constitute an open reservoir space in which powder  30  for processing is stored. 
     Object  10  that is to be manufactured rests on a vertically movable carrier plate  28  that is movable upward and downward via means not depicted here. Located above object  10 , which here is partly produced, is a radiation source  100  that can include, for example, an array of a plurality of infrared radiators. As an alternative to this it is also possible to provide, as a radiation source, a laser beam that is to be directed. 
     In the context of the arrangement shown here by way of example, a mask  110 , which can be created for example by printing onto a glass plate, is located below radiation source  100 . On this mask  110 , the regions of a new layer  50  that is to be produced are left open, and the other regions of the glass plate are embodied to be substantially impenetrable to the electromagnetic radiation of radiation source  100 , for example are blacked out. This configuration thus shows a configuration in which the so-called selective mask sintering (SMS) method is utilized, in which, instead of a laser beam, a wide-area radiation source such as, for example, an array of infrared radiators is used to harden or solidify defined layer regions. The definition as to which regions of a layer are to be hardened or solidified occurs by way of a mask that must be generated anew for each layer. 
     In addition, carrier plate  28  together with lateral walls constitutes here a collection container  40  in which unhardened coating material remains above carrier plate  28 . The walls can be arranged in stationary fashion with regard to carrier plate  28 . 
     It is evident from the following sequences in accordance with  FIGS. 1   b ) to  1   g ) that container  20  is mounted movably; in particular, it is movable horizontally in the views depicted in accordance with  FIG. 1 . In addition, container bottom  26  is mounted shiftably with respect to walls  22 ,  24 . 
     According to the view in accordance with  FIG. 1   a ), layer  18  of object  10  that is to be manufactured has been hardened or solidified by means of the known technologies. To manufacture a new layer  50 , carrier plate  28 , along with layers  14 ,  16 ,  18  that have already been produced and hardened, is displaced a specific travel distance downward. This step is depicted in  FIG. 1   b ). 
     As  FIG. 1   c ) shows, container  20  is now displaced above layer  18  that was most recently produced. Container bottom  26  is then (as depicted in  FIG. 1   d )) pulled out to the left in the view shown; powder  30  in container  20  slides downward and covers the most recently produced layer  18 . This method phase is also shown in further detail in  FIG. 1   e ). The pulling away or sliding out of container bottom  26  thus results in a layer  50  of loose material having a large thickness D 1  that is higher or thicker than the layer thickness D 2  that is actually to be produced. 
     Bottom panel  26  is then moved inward in the step in accordance with  FIG. 1   f ), resulting in layer thickness D 2 . D 2  is the final layer thickness if no further compression or densification takes place after separating element  26  is moved in. In other words, the result of the method sequence depicted by way of example in  FIG. 1  is firstly to form, on the most recently prepared layer  18 , a layer of material  30  to be solidified which has a greater layer height or layer thickness than what is then desired later as final layer thickness D 2 . The movement of bottom  26  back in under container  20  results in layer thickness D 2  of the new layer  50  to be manufactured. This is particularly apparent in  FIG. 1   f ). 
     In the step in accordance with  FIG. 1   g ), container  20 , with separating element  26  moved back in, is then moved back into the initial position on the left. Afterwards, the outward movement of container  20  together with bottom panel  26  (which functions here as a separating element) then causes formation of the new layer  50 , with the desired layer thickness D 2 , on the most recently solidified layer  18 . The desired selective solidification or hardening of the loose coating material  30  of layer  50  can now be carried out by means of the aforementioned radiation source  100 . Further layers of object  10  to be formed can then be generated with a new sequence of the method steps in accordance with  FIGS. 1   a ) to  1   g ). 
     A possible alternative embodiment can also provide a further step in which, between the step in accordance with  FIG. 1   f ) and the step in accordance with  FIG. 1   g ), carrier plate  28  is displaced slightly upward, with the result that layer  50  that has been produced is compressed, since bottom  26  is of course still located above layer  50 . Alternatively, container  20  can be displaced a defined travel distance downward in order thereby to compress layer  50  to the predefined final layer thickness D 2 . 
     It is only after the optional compression step that container  20  is then moved back again as depicted in  FIG. 1   g ). This possible special case of an exemplifying embodiment according to the present invention of a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object  10  can be advantageous for certain materials, in particular in order to achieve a greater density in layer  50  that is to be produced. 
     The methods explained above for manufacturing a three-dimensional object  10  from multiple layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  have in common the fact that for the first time, in the context of production of the final layer thickness D 2  of layer  50  that is to be manufactured, the forces acting in this context on layer  50  to be produced—and on layer  18  located therebeneath, as well as possibly on further layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 —are smaller than previously, and the problems that occur in some circumstances can thus in some circumstances be avoided. 
       FIG. 2  shows a detail of possible separating devices, here a plate  130 . Separating element  130  here has front edge  132  that tapers specifically into an extremely thin cutting edge  134  so that separation of material  30  can occur without difficulty, and the new layer  50  to be produced can be created at a defined layer thickness D 2 . In this example of an embodiment of plate  130 , cutting edge  134  has an undercut so that directly behind cutting edge  134 , the material of the new layer  50  no longer slides along plate  130  or front edge  132 , thus avoiding detachment problems that occur in some circumstances. 
     It is to be noted that in an example of an embodiment, cooling elements such as, for example, cooling conduits  200  are present in separating element  130  and/or cutting edge  134  in order to allow implementation of suitable cooling of a layer  50  to be solidified. In this case, for example, cooling conduits  200  are embodied in serpentine fashion in separating element  130 , through which conduits a cooling medium such as, for example, water or other fluids flow. Cooling conduits  200  are incorporated into a cooling circuit (not shown) having corresponding elements. 
     Alternatively, a corresponding configuration can also be provided for uniform heating of separating element  130  and/or of cutting edge  134 . A combination of cooling and heating elements  200  in separating element  130  is also conceivable. For example, either a cooling or a heating fluid could be pumped for this purpose through conduits  200 . 
     The method depicted in  FIG. 1  for manufacturing a three-dimensional object  10  from individual solidified layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  which are generated from a coating material  30  such as powder, or from fluid materials, is notable for the following method steps:
         applying a coating material  30  to be solidified, at a first layer thickness D 1 , onto a substrate or an already solidified layer  18  of object  10  to be manufactured,   removing a portion of the applied, not yet solidified coating material  30  so that a new layer  50  of unsolidified coating material  30  remains, which layer has, at least in predetermined regions, a second layer thickness D 2  that is less than first layer thickness D 1 , and   solidifying the remaining coating material  20  of the new layer  50  at predetermined locations in order to generate a desired layer contour of the three-dimensional object  10 .       

     The method according to the present invention is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that in the context of the step of taking away a portion of the applied, not yet solidified coating material  30  that is located above second layer thickness D 2 , it is separated, in particular isolated, from coating material  30  located below second layer thickness D 2 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the taking away of coating material  30  includes a displacement of a separating element  26  extending substantially parallel to the new layer  50  that is to be generated. 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that, simultaneously with the step of taking away coating material  30 , the coating material  30  taken away is conveyed into a reservoir container  20  for coating material  30 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application of coating material  30  at first layer thickness D 1 , and the taking away of coating material  30  to generate a new layer  50  of coating material  30  having second layer thickness D 2 , is carried out in separate passes, or else, alternatively thereto, in one pass. 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application of coating material  30  occurs at a first layer thickness D 1  which is approximately 1.2 to 5000, in particular approximately 10 to 1000 times as thick as the final defined layer thickness D 2  of the new layer  50  of coating material  30  to be solidified. 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application of coating material  30  at first layer thickness D 1  occurs with the aid of a shiftably mounted bottom element  26  of a reservoir container  20  having coating material  30  located therein. 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application of coating material  30  at first layer thickness D 1  occurs as a result of displacement of a movably mounted bottom element  26  of a reservoir container  20  having coating material  30  located therein, so that coating material  30  follows an already solidified layer  18 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that different layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  50  of object  10  are created from differing coating materials  30 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that coating material  30  is compressed before solidification of the remaining coating material  30 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the step of compressing the remaining coating material  30  occurs by contact pressure of a shaping element  26 ,  130 , or by raising the already manufactured part of object  10 , along with the defined layer  50  located thereon made of unsolidified coating material  30 , against a shaping element  26 ,  130 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that prior to solidification of the remaining coating material  30 , the coating material is compressed by the front edge of shaping element  26 ,  130 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that coating material  30  applied at the desired layer thickness is heated or cooled, in particular is heated up by a shaping element  26 ,  130 . 
     The method is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the operation of taking away is carried out by means of a vibrating shaping element  26 ,  130 . 
     The apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1  for manufacturing a three-dimensional object  10  from individual solidified layers  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  50  of a coating material  30 , such as powder or fluid material, includes
         an application device  20  which is embodied to apply a coating material  30  at a first layer thickness D 1  onto a substrate  28  or an already solidified layer  18  of object  10  to be manufactured,   a reducing device  26 ,  130  which is embodied to remove a portion of the applied, not yet solidified coating material  30  in such a way that a defined layer  50  of unsolidified coating material  30  remains, which layer has, at least in predetermined regions, a defined second layer thickness D 2  which is less than first layer thickness D 1 , and   a solidification device  100  which is embodied to solidify the remaining coating material  30  at predetermined locations in order to generate a desired layer contour of the three-dimensional object  10 .       

     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application device and the reducing device are integrated into a movable, in particular shiftably mounted, application and reduction unit. 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that multiple application devices  20  and/or reducing devices  26 ,  130  are present. 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the application apparatus includes a movable, in particular shiftably mounted, reservoir container  20  for the reception of coating material  30 , such that the reservoir contained can in particular also be closed. 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that reservoir container  20  for the reception of coating material  30  includes a separating element  26  mounted movably, in particular substantially horizontally shiftably, with respect to container walls  22 ,  24 , separating element  26  being embodied for example, on the outer surface facing toward layer  50  to be produced, as shaping element  26 . 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that the reducing device is a movable planar separating element  26  that comprises a narrow separating edge  134 . 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that reducing device  26 ,  130  is movable horizontally and/or perpendicularly to the upper side of layer  50  that is to be manufactured. 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that a carrier device  28  is present on which object  10  to be manufactured is produced, carrier device  28  preferably being movable substantially vertically. 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that multiple application devices  20  and/or reducing devices  26 ,  130  are arranged around carrier device  28 . 
     The apparatus is preferably furthermore notable for the fact that reducing device  26 ,  130  is heatable and/or coolable and/or can be caused to vibrate. 
     The above-described apparatus and above-described method in accordance with DE 10 2008 022 946 serves as the basis for the invention explained below. In other words, the apparatus according to the present invention includes some or all of the described components of the above-described apparatus, and the method according to the present invention includes some or all of the above-described method steps. 
     In an embodiment of the invention a substantially closed reservoir container  20  is used, which in a first sub-step is tilted in the application position, with the aid of a, for example, hydraulically actuable tilting device (not further depicted), in such a way that the spacing between underside  300  of reservoir container  20  on the one hand, and layer  50  to be solidified on the other hand, changes inhomogeneously. In other words, reservoir container  20  is raised obliquely.  FIG. 3  shows reservoir container  20  at the end of the first sub-step which is adjacent, considered in terms of time, to the closing (depicted in  FIG. 1   f )) of reservoir container  20 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated, reservoir container  20  is tilted in such a way that a large opening  306  occurs comparatively quickly between underside  300  of reservoir container  20  on the one hand and layer  50  on the other hand, such that side wall  22  of reservoir container  20  which is at the front (viewed in movement direction  304 ) upon movement of reservoir container  20  from the application position into the waiting position is raised less than the oppositely located side wall  24 . In other words, upon tilting a first spacing D 3  is created between underside  300  of reservoir container  20  and layer  50  in the region of side wall  22 , and a second, larger spacing D 4  is created in the region of the oppositely located side wall  24 , so that reservoir container  20  as a whole is lifted away from layer  50  to be solidified, and underside  300  of reservoir  20  is arranged in non-parallel fashion with respect to layer  50 . 
     In a second sub-step, reservoir container  20  is then displaced horizontally in movement direction  304  into the starting position (waiting position), where it remains preferably in a tilted posture until it is again moved into the application position above object  10  to be produced, and is once again tilted into the horizontal position.  FIG. 4  shows the arrangement of reservoir container  20  in the waiting position, and thus corresponds to  FIG. 1   g ). 
     The reservoir container comprises an equalization opening  302 , depicted only schematically in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , that connects reservoir container  20  to the process environment. Equalization opening  302  is embodied in such a way that the emergence of build material  30  from equalization opening  302  is prevented. 
       FIGS. 5   a ) to  5   e ) depict different method steps. In  FIG. 5   a ), reservoir container  20  is in its waiting position, from which it is brought into its application position above an already existing layer  18 . Separating element  26  is then removed, with the result that the bottom of reservoir container  20  opens and build material is applied from the reservoir container onto the already existing layer  18 , as depicted in  FIG. 5   b ). After separating element  26  has been completely pulled out (see  FIG. 5   c )), it is moved back into its initial position, with the result that reservoir container  20  becomes closed again. The result is that the “thickly” applied new layer is cut through, while layer  50 , which is then to be solidified, remains below the separating element. This procedure is illustrated in  FIG. 5   d ). The inhomogeneous lifting of reservoir container  20  away from layer  50  then occurs as depicted in  FIG. 5   e ), followed by the movement of reservoir container  20  back into the waiting position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , equalization opening  302  is embodied as a funnel, extending over the entire width of reservoir container  20 , that is provided in container cover  303  above side wall  22  of reservoir container  20 . Funnel  302  possesses a sufficient height and comprises a constriction  307  through which only a small quantity of build material  30  can slosh back when reservoir container  20  decelerates upon reaching the waiting position. Advantageously, funnel  302  is embodied in such a way that it can serve for simple and rapid refilling of build material  30 . Filling preferably occurs when reservoir container  20  is located in the waiting position. Simple and rapid filling of reservoir container  20  is advantageous because reservoir container  20  can be made comparatively small when it needs contain only build material  30  for a small number of layers  30 . A reservoir container  20  of such small configuration is notable for a particularly low mass, and for that reason can be moved back and forth particularly simply and rapidly. 
     Rotation point  308  for the tilting movement of reservoir container  20  is advantageously located in the region of the waiting position of reservoir container  20 . Preferably, both the displacement of reservoir container  20  between the application and waiting positions, and the displacement of separating element  26  in order to open and close reservoir container  20 , as well as the tilting and the raising and lowering of reservoir container  20 , are brought about using only a single drive system, which is not illustrated in the Figures. At the same time, pressing of layer  50  to be solidified, by means of underside  300  of reservoir container  20 , can thus be accomplished in particularly simple fashion before reservoir container  20  executes a horizontal movement into its waiting position. 
     In an embodiment of the invention as depicted in  FIG. 5   e ), equalization opening  302  in the funnel can be closed off after pressure equalization is complete. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the method proceeds in a vacuum. In other words, the entire process space is under vacuum. Depiction of the process space has been dispensed with for reasons of clarity, as has the depiction of corresponding pumps, etc. and the depiction of sealing elements for sealing the gap, necessary for the displacement of separating element  26 , between separating element  26  and reservoir container  20 . 
     All features presented in the description and the claims below, and depicted in the drawings, may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination.