Apparatus for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing, comprising: - a process chamber for receiving on a build surface of a build plate a bath of powdered material which can be solidified; - a support for positioning said build plate in relation to a surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material in said process chamber ; - a solidifying device for solidifying a selective part of said material ; and - a homing device for moving said build surface , by said support , to a home position such that said object can be built on said build surface of said build plate , wherein said homing device comprises a detection device comprising a camera configured for detecting said build surface of said build plate and for detecting said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface , wherein said homing device is configured for moving said build surface to said home position while changing a height (h) of said bath of powdered material above said build surface until said surface of said build surface and/or a pre-determined image of said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface is detected by said detection device , wherein said changing of said height (h) of said bath is such that said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material in said process chamber is substantially maintained until said surface of said build surface and/or a pre-determined image of said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface is detected by said detection device , wherein said homing device comprises a powder removing device configured for removing at least a layer of powdered material from said bath of powdered material on said build surface of said build plate to substantially maintain said surface level (L). - a process chamber for receiving on a build surface of a build plate a bath of powdered material which can be solidified; - a support for positioning said build plate in relation to a surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material in said process chamber ; - a solidifying device for solidifying a selective part of said material ; and - a homing device for moving said build surface , by said support , to a home position such that said object can be built on said build surface of said build plate , wherein said homing device comprises a detection device comprising a camera configured for detecting said build surface of said build plate and for detecting said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface , wherein said homing device is configured for moving said build surface to said home position while changing a height (h) of said bath of powdered material above said build surface until said surface of said build surface and/or a pre-determined image of said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface is detected by said detection device , wherein said changing of said height (h) of said bath is such that said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material in said process chamber is substantially maintained until said surface of said build surface and/or a pre-determined image of said surface level (L) of said bath of powdered material on said build surface is detected by said detection device , wherein said homing device comprises a powder removing device configured for removing at least a layer of powdered material from said bath of powdered material on said build surface of said build plate to substantially maintain said surface level (L). <EOS>