Patent DE-102009029765-A1 (DE)
Title: Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by sequential selective solidification of layers of a building material, comprises a construction chamber arranged in a construction space, a coating device, and an irradiation device
Inventor: HERZOG FRANK
IPC: B22F3/105
Filed: 2009-06-18
Abstract: The apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object (1) by sequential selective solidification of layers of a building material (3), which is solidified by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object, comprises a construction chamber (5) arranged in a construction space (4) and having a supporting device for supporting the object on a support (6), a coating device for applying layers of the building material on the supporting device or a layer formed before it, and an irradiation device of irradiating the layers. The apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object (1) by sequential selective solidification of layers of a building material (3), which is solidified by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object, comprises a construction chamber (5) arranged in a construction space (4) and having a supporting device for supporting the object on a support (6), a coating device for applying layers of the building material on the supporting device or a layer formed before it, an irradiation device of irradiating the layers of the building material at the positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object, and an overflow container for receiving the building material. The overflow container is operatively connected to a powder container, so that the building material present in the overflow container is transferable into the powder container by the effect of gravitational force, where the powder container is detachably fixed to the apparatus. The overflow container is laterally arranged next to the construction chamber. The powder container is placeable on the apparatus in a lower powder receiving position A and in an upper powder delivering position B. The powder container is connected with the overflow container over a pipeline connection and the pipeline connection comprises a gas-tightly sealable coupling member. The powder container originating from a mounting surface of the apparatus is arranged as overflow container in a deep level. The powder container is insertable or placeable in a supporting frame and the supporting frame is horizontally displaceable within the apparatus. The supporting frame supports the building material, releases the construction chamber in a first position C in a handling area of the apparatus, and moves the construction chamber in a second position D horizontally displaced to the first position in a construction area of the apparatus, in which the construction chamber is reachable for the laser beam of the irradiation device. The supporting frame supports the coating device. The powder container has an inlet area and an outlet area, which are formed as two closable openings. The openings of the inlet and outlet areas are gas-tightly closable. The powder container has engaging elements, which correspondingly engage into the counter elements of the supporting frame and/or simultaneously into the counter elements of a shifting device and/or a sieve station. The apparatus comprises a dosing chamber, which is arranged in the area next to the construction chamber. The dosing chamber is fixed to the supporting frame and is horizontally displaceable with the supporting frame. The powder container is placeable on a connection area of the apparatus, where the connection area is operatively connected with the dosing chamber and/or a powder chamber of the coating device, so that the powder contained in the powder container is transferable into the dosing chamber and/or into the powder chamber over the pipeline connections. The displacement of the powdered construction material takes place from the powder container into the dosing chamber and/or the powder chamber predominantly by gravitational force. The powder container has a supporting grip. The powder container has connection elements, by which the powder container is correspondingly placeable on the sieve station, the connection area and/or a holder of the supporting frame. The connection elements of the powder container are formed, so that the powder container during placing a counter area of the sieve station, the connection area and/or the holder of the supporting frame centrically operates during the placing process. The powder container has a taper passing into its inner area in a conical or pyramid-like manner, where the outlet area is arranged at the tapering area. The powder container has a transparent and/or translucent area, which is formed as sight glass, and a bursting cover. A bypass connection is arranged between the powder container and the overflow container. The support is height-displaceable over an actuator, which is fixed to the supporting frame. The connection area is arranged to the handling area, where two powder containers are simultaneously usably connected to the apparatus. A first powder container is arranged in the lower powder receiving position A and a second powder container is arranged in the upper powder delivering position B. The powder containers are arranged with the overflow container in an outward gas-tight space. A powder conveying device is completely or partially arranged in the handling area and conveys the powder. An independent claim is included for a system for producing a three-dimensional object.