Abstract: A device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-wise solidification of a building material in powder form at positions in the respective layers corresponding to the object is disclosed. The device comprises: a container (25) arranged in the device; a support device (26), which can be vertically moved in the container, wherein the upper side of the support device (26) forms a building platform (78), on which the three-dimensional object is generated layer-wise; an application device (27) for applying building material in powder form onto the building platform and a previously solidified layer, respectively; and an energy source (6) that provides a beam (9) for solidifying the building material in powder form. In a region below the container (25) in the device (1) outlets (90) are provided, wherein from each of the outlets (90) a directed flow of a fluid medium escapes in a directed manner to peripheral regions of the container (25).

Abstract: An application device (27) for applying a layer of a building material in powder form in 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. An application element (61) that applies the building material in powder form in the form of a layer and a drive mechanism (59) that moves the application element (61) across a building plane (11) in order to apply the layer of the building material are provided. The drive mechanism (59) comprises an actuation piston cylinder system (69) and a brake piston cylinder system (70).

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. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5); a door (73) that is mounted at the machine frame and is swiveling between an open position and a closed position; a container (25) that can be removed from the device; and a support device (26) that is vertically movable in the container and has an upper side, which forms a building platform (78) on which the three-dimensional object is generated layer wise. A mounting (74) for the container (25) is provided at the door (73) and an attachment (75) is provided at the container (25), which attachment can be brought into an engagement with the mounting (74), so that the container (25) can be moved into the device (1) by closing the door (73) and/or can be moved out of the device by opening the door (73).

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers corresponding to the object is provided. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and a building space (10) located in said machine frame, wherein in the building space (10) there are arranged: an application device (27) that applies layers of the building material onto a support device (26) and a previously solidified layer, respectively, by means of an application element (61); a dosage device (28, 29) that supplies building material from a building material accommodation region (23, 24) to the application device (27) for an application; and a heating device (31) for heating the applied layers of the building material. The building material accommodation region (23, 24) is limited by a wall that has a double-wall structure, so that a hollow space (34, 35) is formed therein.

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and a building space (10) that is positioned in the machine frame; an energy source (6) that emits a beam (9) for selectively solidifying the building material; and a ventilator (54) that generates an airflow (T) for cooling the energy source (6). There are provided connecting channels (55), which lead the airflow (T) onto a partition wall (56) that is limiting the building space (10).

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and a building space (10) that is arranged in the machine frame. In the building space (10) there are arranged: an application device (27) that applies layers of the building material onto a support device (26) and a previously applied layer, respectively, by an application element (61); a dosage device (28, 29) that provides building material for the application device (27) for an application, and a heating device (31) for heating the applied layers of the building material. The application element (61) and/or the dosage device (28, 29) and/or the heating device (31) are removable from the building space (10) without a tool.

Abstract: Described are powders for use in the production of three-dimensional structures or molded bodies by means of layered manufacturing methods, and methods for the economical production thereof. The powders have the particularity that they have a good flow behavior, on the one hand, and that they are simultaneously configured such that the molded body produced with the powder in rapid prototyping has substantially improved mechanical and/or thermal characteristics. In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment, the powder comprises a first fraction that is present in the form of substantially spherical powder particles and that is formed by a matrix material, and at least one further fraction in the form of strengthening and/or reinforcing fibers that are preferably embedded into the matrix material.

Abstract: A device for treating powder for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular by means of laser sintering, is provided, having a supply container (1) for the powder with a base (2) and a side wall (3), characterised in that a chamber, which has a wall (4) which is permeable to a fluid medium towards the container interior, is provided in the container (1), and in that a device (9) for supplying a fluid medium into the chamber is provided.

Abstract: A device for treating powder for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular by means of laser sintering, is provided, having a supply container (1) for the powder with a base (2) and a side wall (3), characterised in that a chamber, which has a wall (4) which is permeable to a fluid medium towards the container interior, is provided in the container (1), and in that a device (9) for supplying a fluid medium into the chamber is provided.

Abstract: A device for treating powder for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by means of a generative manufacturing process, in particular by means of laser sintering, is provided, having a supply container (1) for the powder with a base (2) and a side wall (3), characterised in that a chamber, which has a wall (4) which is permeable to a fluid medium towards the container interior, is provided in the container (1), and in that a device (9) for supplying a fluid medium into the chamber is provided.

Abstract: There are provided a device and a method for layer-wise generative manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by selective solidification of a solidifiable building material in liquid or powder form. By a rotational movement of the building region (2), in which the objects are manufactured, with respect to a material application device (7) for applying layers of the building materials and a solidification arrangement (1) the material application device (7) and the solidification arrangement (1) can be used simultaneously at different places in the building region.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a three-dimensional object having the steps forming the object (3) in a container (1, 200) arranged within a process chamber (100) on a carrier (4) which can be displaced in the container by sequential selective solidification of layers of a pulverulent material (11) which can be solidified by the action of electromagnetic or particle radiation at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in the particular layer, characterised by the step of controlled removal of non-solidified pulverulent material (11) after completing the object (3).

Abstract: A device and a method for generative manufacture of a three-dimensional object are provided in which a) manufacture of an object, in a construction area of the device, b) removal of the manufactured object from the construction area and c) repeating steps a) and b) are carried out, wherein steps a) to c) are carried out automatically.

Abstract: A process and a device for producing a three-dimensional object is provided, with which process or device the object is produced by layer-wise solidification of a pulverulent material by sintering of the material at the points corresponding to the cross-section of the object by means of the action of radiation energy. The process comprises the application of a layer of the pulverulent material onto a substrate or a previously sintered layer, pre-heating of the pulverulent material to a working temperature below the temperature at which the powder is sintered and sintering of the material at the points corresponding to the cross-section of the object in the layer, wherein a step of controlled heating of an applied powder layer and of determining the quantity of heat taken up by the powder per (FIG. 3) temperature interval for at least two temperature intervals is carried out.

Abstract: A device and a method for the layer-by-layer generative manufacturing of three-dimensional objects by selective hardening of a previously applied layer by means of laser radiation, wherein a laser (1) contains a switching device (8) for changing the modal composition of the laser radiation. By changing the modal composition of the radiation during the selective hardening of a layer, the focussing features (“focusability”) of the radiation is increased in areas (25), in which high structural accuracy is required. In the remaining areas to be illuminated, the required illumination time is reduced by increasing the intensity of the radiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering powder onto a plane surface (1) of a device for creating a three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer fashion, in particular of a laser sintering machine, is provided. It comprises a covering means (3) which can be moved back and forth in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction by means of a drive between a lateral first position and a second position located on the opposite side. In at least one of the positions it can be filled with powder. In order to simplify the apparatus and improve its operation, the covering means (3) comprises a slit (6) extending across the entire width and open at its top and its bottom as well as smoothening elements (7, 8) at the ends opposite of the surface. A store container (9) is provided above the covering means (3), the volume of said store container at each location across the entire width being at least equal to the volume of the slit cavity located underneath.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional part by successive layer-by-layer solidification of a solidifiable material, which is solidified at locations corresponding to the cross section of the part is described. The apparatus has a machine housing and a building space provided in the machine housing. An interchangeable container forms a delimiting frame for the material within the building space. The container has a work piece platform. The work piece platform is supported on a supporting device during operation of the apparatus. Preferably, the interchangeable container has a rear side wall with a recess extending vertically, and the supporting device engages the work piece platform through the recess.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for calibrating the control of a radiation device producing electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation in a rapid prototyping system.

Abstract: The geometry of the cast part is provided as a digital pattern and an inverse pattern for the lost casting mold including any core is generated from the digital pattern. A layer of a particulate molding material is provided. The molding material is made of a first material and a second material. The first material is chemically inert when irradiated by electromagnetic radiation. The second material is curable by a chemical curing process that is initiated by electromagnetic radiation. The layer is scanned by irradiating electromagnetic radiation on places of the layer corresponding to the inverse pattern for the lost casting mold including any core. The irradiation is controlled to initiate the chemical curing process in the second material.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for producing a three-dimensional object from a powder material which includes powder particles and which is solidifiable by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus includes a support having a substantially plane support surface for supporting said object, an applying device for applying a layer of the powder material to the support surface, a radiation device for selectively exposing the powder material to electromagnetic radiation at places corresponding to the object and a discharge electrode for generating an electric field for reducing charge differences on the powder particles.