Abstract: A method and apparatus used to produce control data for building up a product layer by layer using freeform sintering and/or melting with a high energy beam. The correspondingly controlled apparatus for production of the products is further disclosed. The high energy beam is applied under the guidance of the control data set. Before beginning the freeform sintering and/or freeform melting, a compensation data set and/or a compensation function to compensate for manufacturing related effects caused by the sintering and/or melting is determined. The control data set is based upon a product target geometry data set and the compensation data set and/or the compensation function.

Abstract: A method for making metallic or non-metallic products by freeform laser sintering, in which the products are fabricated from powdery material on a substrate plate in vertically additive, layer-by-layer fashion by means of a computer-controlled laser beam, characterized in that at least one support is fabricated between the substrate plate and the outer surface of the product, said support being connected via a predetermined breaking area with the outer surface of the product, wherein the predetermined breaking area is formed by reducing the strength of the support along the outer contour of the product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, which is used to produce sets of control data for the production of metallic and/or non-metallic products 2, 21 by free-form sintering and/or melting by means of a high-energy beam (8), in particular a laser beam or electron beam, whereby a product 2, 21 is built up, layer by layer 12 to 15, 20, 22, out of a material 6 that is to be spread out in layers, by means of said beam 8, which is guided with the help of a control data set, whereby the method comprises the steps of loading 23 a product target geometry data set that represents the target geometry of the product to be produced and of generating 25 the control data set on the basis of the product target geometry data set.

Abstract: A method for making metallic or non-metallic products by freeform laser sintering, in which the products are fabricated from powdery material on a substrate plate in vertically additive, layer-by-layer fashion by means of a computer-controlled laser beam, characterized in that at least one support is fabricated between the substrate plate and the outer surface of the product, said support being connected via a predetermined breaking area with the outer surface of the product, wherein the predetermined breaking area is formed by reducing the strength of the support along the outer contour of the product.

Abstract: A method for making metallic or non-metallic products by freeform laser sintering, in which the products are fabricated from powdery material on a substrate plate in vertically additive, layer-by-layer fashion by means of a computer-controlled laser beam, characterized in that at least one support is fabricated between the substrate plate and the outer surface of the product, said support being connected via a predetermined breaking area with the outer surface of the product, wherein the predetermined breaking area is formed by reducing the strength of the support along the outer contour of the product.

Abstract: A method for making metallic or non-metallic products by freeform laser sintering, in which the products are fabricated from powdery material on a substrate plate in vertically additive, layer-by-layer fashion by means of a computer-controlled laser beam, characterized in that at least one support is fabricated between the substrate plate and the outer surface of the product, said support being connected via a predetermined breaking area with the outer surface of the product, wherein the predetermined breaking area is formed by reducing the strength of the support along the outer contour of the product.

Abstract: A device for producing freely formed products through a buildup of layers of powder-form material that is solidified according to specification, comprises a (relatively) lowerable table on the one hand, and a powder feed above the table, a distribution device that spreads the powder in a predetermined thickness over the table, and an energy source that solidifies the powder of each layer on the other hand, that are horizontally movable with respect to each other. In particular, the horizontal movement of the table consists in a rotational movement around an vertical axis, which movement is combined with the descending movement into a spiral movement having a pitch corresponding to the layer thickness, the powder feed, the distribution device, and the energy source being arranged radially around the axis and being continuously active.