Abstract: A device and a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (3) by solidifying layers (25) of a material in powder form at those positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (3) are provided. The device comprises an application device (40) for applying layers of the material in powder form (47) in the building area (5), which can be moved over the building area (5). The application device (40) is formed to have a first longitudinal wall (41a) and a second longitudinal wall (41b) that are connected to one another via two side walls. The application device (40) is provided with a fluidization device for homogenizing the material in powder form (47). This fluidization device comprises at least one hollow body having escape openings in its walls, through which escape opening a gas can flow from the hollow body into the material in powder form (47).

Abstract: A method for automatically calibrating a device for generatively producing a three-dimensional object (8) comprises the following steps: irradiating an applied layer of a material (3) or a target by means of a first scanner (14) in order to produce a first test pattern (33) in the material (3) or the target; irradiating the applied layer of the material (3) or the target by means of a second scanner (15) in order to produce a second test pattern (34) in the material (3) or the target; detecting the first and second test patterns (33, 34) by means of a camera (24) and assigning the first and second test patterns (33, 34) to the first and second scanners (14, 15), respectively; comparing the first and/or the second test pattern (33, 34) with a reference pattern and/or comparing the first and second test patterns (33, 34) with one another; determining a first deviation of the first test pattern (33) from the reference pattern and/or a second deviation of the second test pattern (34) from the reference pattern an

Abstract: The invention relates to a spin coater for a device for the generative production of an object, having a support (1) which can be connected to the device in a rotable manner about a rotational axis (z); and a coating element (2) which is coupled to the support (1) and which is suitable for applying or leveling a powder layer on a plane in the device while the support (1) is rotating, said plane running perpendicularly to the rotational axis (z); wherein the coating element (2) substantially maintains its orientation during the rotational movement of the support (1) within a specified rotational range; and the coating element (2) substantially does not move in a longitudinal direction of the coating element (2) during the rotational movement of the support (1) within a specified rotational range.

Abstract: A method for producing a dental model by means of a generative layering technique comprises the following steps: altering a three-dimensional CAD model of the dental model, wherein gap-like recesses are generated, such that the CAD model is cut into segments by the gap-like recesses, and connecting bridges are placed in the CAD model in such a way that the connecting bridges connect adjacent segments to each other, producing the dental model by means of a generative layering technique on the basis of the altered three-dimensional CAD model.

Abstract: After the manufacturing of an object by layer-wise solidification from a powder, this object is displaced into a container together with the powder surrounding the object, and is closed by a plate, which is positioned below the object during the manufacturing of the object.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object layer by layer by applying and selectively solidifying a constituent material in powder form layer by layer by supply of energy has the steps: applying a layer (32+33) of the powdery constituent material (11) having a pre-determined height (h) onto a support (6) or a previously at least selectively solidified layer of the constituent material, and supplying energy (14) from an energy source (13) into the applied layer at positions corresponding to the cross sectional area of the object to be manufactured for selectively solidifying the constituent material. The step of applying the layer having the pre-determined height (h) is subdivided into a step of applying a first partial powder layer (32) having a first height (h1) which is smaller than the pre-determined height (h), and a step of at least applying a second partial powder layer (33) having a second height (h1) which is smaller than the pre-determined height (h), wherein the total height (h1+h2+ etc.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layer corresponding to the cross-section of the object to be manufactured by introducing energy by means of electromagnetic radiation, wherein a calculation, which stresses will occur inside of the object during the layer-wise manufacturing, is carried out and wherein the object to be manufactured obtains additional structures with respect to the required shape of the object to be manufactured when a critical value is exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beam melting installation and method for producing components thereof, in which a component to be produced is produced layer-wise, wherein, a coating slide moves across a build platform, a powder layer is applied onto the build platform and already produced component layers by a blade fastened on the coating slide, and melt traces are subsequently inscribed in the powder layer by means of a directed beam, so that the powder melts in the melt trace and bonds to underlying component layers, wherein, during the travel of the coating slide in order to apply a new powder layer, perturbations of the travel of the coating slide or components connected thereto are metrologically detected, and in particular the beam melting installation is controlled and/or regulated as a function of the detected measured values. The invention furthermore relates to a device for retrofitting beam melting installations.

Abstract: A method for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object has a first step of providing a layer of a material in powder form or a liquid material on a support or a layer that has already been solidified at selected positions previously and a second step of directing a focussed photon or particle beam (8?) selectively at selected positions of the layer. In the second step, the photon or particle beam is selected such that it brings about a change of the absorption of the material when hitting the layer. After the termination of the second step, a third step is carried out, in which the layer is irradiated by means of electromagnetic radiation (18?) such that the material is homogenously solidified at those positions of the layer that correspond to the cross-section of the object to be formed.

Abstract: A method is provided, by which a three-dimensional object is manufactured by a subsequent solidification of layers of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that corresponds to the cross-section of the object by means of the action of a laser or another energy source, wherein as building material in powder form a material is used which contains the old powder that has remained as unsolidified powder in the manufacturing of one or more previously formed objects and a proportion of new powder that has not been used before in any manufacturing process, characterized in that the building material in powder form is mechanically consolidated when a layer is applied.

Abstract: A process chamber for a processing of a material by means of a directed beam of electromagnetic radiation is provided, which comprises an optical element (9) for coupling the beam (7) into the process chamber (10), wherein the optical element has a surface (9a) facing the inside of the process chamber, a wall section (12) surrounding the optical element (9), a first inlet (16) for a gas that is arranged at one side of the optical element (9) and designed such that an escaping first gas flow (18) strokes substantially tangentially over the surface (9a) of the optical element (9), a second inlet (23) for a gas, which is designed and arranged such that an escaping second gas flow (25) flows at a distance to the surface (9a) in substantially the same direction as the first gas flow (18).

Abstract: A powder mixture is described, which is suitable for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by solidifying a building material in powder form. The powder mixture consists of a mixture of a first polyamide 12 powder and a second polyamide 12 powder, wherein the first polyamide 12 powder is characterized by an increase of its viscosity number determined in accordance with ISO 307 that is less than 10%, when the powder is exposed for 20 hours to a temperature that lies 10° C. below its melting temperature under nitrogen atmosphere, and the second polyamide 12 powder is characterized by an increase of its viscosity number, determined in accordance with ISO 307, by 15% or more, when the powder is exposed for 20 hours to a temperature that lies 10° C. below its melting temperature under nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A powder mixture is described, which is suitable for a layer-wise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by solidifying a building material in powder form. The powder mixture consists of a mixture of a first polyamide 12 powder and a second polyamide 12 powder, wherein the first polyamide 12 powder is characterized by an increase of its viscosity number determined in accordance with ISO 307 that is less than 10%, when the powder is exposed for 20 hours to a temperature that lies 10° C. below its melting temperature under nitrogen atmosphere, and the second polyamide 12 powder is characterized by an increase of its viscosity number, determined in accordance with ISO 307, by 15% or more, when the powder is exposed for 20 hours to a temperature that lies 10° C. below its melting temperature under nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A means for modifying a building space for a device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise solidification of a powdery building material at the locations corresponding to the object in the respective layers comprises one or several small supports (32) or one or several building space partitioning elements (20) on a building platform (2), thereby the device has one or several small building areas (22.1, 22.2, 22.3), in which the powdery material may be efficiently used and different powder materials may be processed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for calibrating an irradiation device of an apparatus for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The calibration includes steps of arranging an image converter plate (12) in or in parallel to a working plane of the apparatus, wherein the image converter plate (12) outputs detectable light (13), when the irradiation device irradiates predetermined positions of the image converter plate (12) with energetic radiation; of scanning the image converter plate (12) by the irradiation device; of detecting the detectable light (13) by a light detector (15); of determining coordinates of the irradiation device, when the detected light (13) is detected; of comparing the determined coordinates with predetermined reference coordinates; and of calibrating the irradiation device on the basis of a deviation between the determined coordinates and the reference coordinates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object, wherein the object is generated by successively solidifying single layers of fluid or powdery solidifiable building material by the action of electromagnetic radiation. The method comprises steps for emitting a first pulsed electromagnetic radiation onto a first area of a layer of the building material, and for emitting a second continuous electromagnetic radiation onto a second area of the layer of the building material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing three-dimensional objects by laser sintering is provided, the object is formed by solidifying powder material layer by layer at locations in each layer corresponding to the object by means of laser radiation, wherein an IR-radiation image in an applied powder layer is detected, characterized in that defects and/or geometrical irregularities in the applied powder layer are determined on the basis of the IR-radiation image.

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. A feed (96) that supplies the building material to a building space (10) in the device (1) and at least two filler portions (98a, 98b) that are provided at the feed (96) and are independent from one another are provided, wherein one connector (99a, 99b) is provided for each building material supply container (100a, 100b) in order to supply the building material from outside of the device (1).

Abstract: A method is provided, by which a three-dimensional object is manufactured by a subsequent solidification of layers of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that corresponds to the cross-section of the object by means of the action of a laser or another energy source, wherein as building material in powder form a material is used which contains the old powder that has remained as unsolidified powder in the manufacturing of one or more previously formed objects and a proportion of new powder that has not been used before in any manufacturing process, characterized in that the building material in powder form is mechanically consolidated when a layer is applied.

Abstract: The invention describes powders for use in the production of spatial structures, i.e. molded bodies, using layer build-up methods, as well as methods for their efficient production. The powders have the special feature that they have good flow behavior, for one thing, and at the same time, have such a composition that the molded body that can be produced with the powder, using rapid prototyping, has significantly improved mechanical and/or thermal properties. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the powder has a first component that is present in the form of essentially spherical powder particles, which is formed by a matrix material, and at least one further component in the form of stiffening and/or reinforcing fibers, which are preferably embedded in the matrix material.