Patent ID: 8070474

Claim:
A lamination shaping apparatus comprising: a powder layer preparing means configured to prepare a powder layer of inorganic or organic powder material; and an optical unit configured to irradiate a light beam to an intended portion of said powder layer in order to sinter or melt for solidifying the portion into a cured layer such that the preparation of said powder layer and the forming of said cured layer are repeated to fabricate a three-dimensional object in which a plurality of said cured layers are laminated and integrated; wherein said apparatus includes a fixed base carrying thereon said powder layer and said cured layer; an elevator frame configured to surround a periphery of said fixed base and to be vertically movable relative to said fixed base, thereby defining thereabove a space which is surrounded by an interior surface of said elevator frame to prepare said powder layer; and an elevator driving means which drives said elevator frame to move vertically, wherein said powder layer preparing means includes a slide plate which is slidable on a top face of said elevator frame and has a powder supply port for feeding said powder into said space formed on said base and surrounded by said elevator frame.