Patent ID: 7540738

Claim:
An arrangement for the production of a three-dimensional product, which includes a work bench on which the said three-dimensional product is to be constructed, a powder dispenser which is arranged to apply a thin layer of powder onto the work bench to create a powder bed, an irradiation gun for transmitting energy to the powder so that melting of the powder takes place, the arrangement comprising: a casing within which the pressure is reduced in relation to the atmospheric pressure and within which the work bench and the irradiation gun are located, wherein the powder dispenser is a continuous unit having a dispensing end and a powder refill end, where the dispensing end is disposed inside said casing and the powder refill end is disposed outside said casing such that a powder refill opening on the refill end is exposed to an ambient atmosphere outside said casing and such that the powder dispenser is thereby directly accessible from outside the casing for refill of powder material at any time during a production process without affecting pressure conditions inside the casing.