Abstract: A method for calibrating a system that includes a build chamber to accommodate powder to be melted and an object to be produced and a height-adjustable build plate support in the build chamber to support a build plate. The system also includes a controllable optical unit comprising (1) a laser source, (2) a plurality of lenses, and (3) a mirror arrangement having a plurality of adjustably arranged mirrors. The controllable optical unit is configured to selectively direct a laser beam to a point in the build chamber at which to melt the powder. The method includes placing a scanning field plate on the build plate support, creating a plurality of optical reference points on the scanning field plate, generating a measuring grid on the scanning field plate by adjusting the mirrors using a calibration data set, and determining a relative positioning between the optical reference points and the measuring grid.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out a method for producing an object using selective powder melting and by building up layers of powder material. The apparatus includes a build chamber configured to accommodate the object being produced and a powder delivery device equipped with a powder storage container and configured to supply material powder into the build chamber, a powder layer preparation unit to prepare successive layers of the supplied material powder on a substrate arranged in the build chamber, an irradiation device configured to irradiate a prepared powder layer to thereby melt the prepared powder layer locally, and a protective gas circulation device configured to circulate a protective gas present in the build chamber. At least one air conditioning device is also included and is configured to condition one or more of a temperature or a humidity of the protective gas circulated by the protective gas circulation device.

Abstract: A carrier arrangement for use in a plant for producing items according to a method for selective powder melting by building layers made of powdery material. The carrier arrangement includes a building panel on which the item to be produced is built. The carrier arrangement includes a base panel permanently assigned to an external component of the plant. The carrier arrangement includes a clamping system to detachably connect the building panel to the base panel and to position the building panel at a clamping position such that, in a clamped state, the building panel is arranged above the base panel. The carrier arrangement includes a heating system comprising at least one heating element for emitting heat for heating the building panel, wherein the at least one heating element is arranged above the clamping position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facility (1) for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects from material powder, through layerwise consolidation of said material powder present on a process surface (42) in such places of the particular layer (40) that correspond, in accordance with geometrical data, to the object about to be manufactured, wherein the facility (1) comprises a process floor (46) surrounding the process surface and a powder feed device (10) to feed, provide and distribute the powder on the process surface (42), wherein the powder feed device (10) comprises: a conveying element (12) for feeding powder into the powder feed device (10), a reservoir (14), into which the at least one conveying element (12) feeds the powder, a process conveying element (16), which can act on powder in the reservoir (14), in order to provide this in dosed quantity on the process floor (46) adjacent to the process surface (42), a process pusher (18) for distributing the powder provided adjacent to the process surface (42)

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for remelting material powder in layers to form a shaped body in a process chamber. The apparatus has a carrier for the layer build-up and an irradiation device for irradiating the powder in accordance with cross-sectional regions of the shaped body associated with the shaped body layers to be produced. A powder layer levelling and smoothing device having a smoothing slide for homogenising an amount of material powder on the carrier is provided, as well as an extraction device having a suction nozzle for extracting process smoke. The suction nozzle is movable in motor-driven fashion in the process chamber. Said suction nozzle is coupled to the smoothing slide for joint movement and is operable in suction mode during the joint movement, the irradiation device being active for irradiating the powder.

Abstract: A forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, including a process chamber having a powder inlet and a powder outlet. A powder supply apparatus is connected to the powder inlet for providing powder material to the process chamber. A powder recovery apparatus is connected to the powder outlet for receiving and recycling excess powder material from the process chamber. The powder supply and powder recovery apparatuses form a subassembly designed as an interchangeable module. The interchangeable module includes input and output connection interfaces connection-compatible with connection interfaces of the powder inlet and powder outlet. Excess powder is fed from the process chamber through the powder outlet to the powder recovery apparatus via an input interface of the interchangeable module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facility (1) for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects from material powder, through layerwise consolidation of said material powder present on a process surface (42) in such places of the particular layer (40) that correspond, in accordance with geometrical data, to the object about to be manufactured, wherein the facility (1) comprises a process floor (46) surrounding the process surface and a powder feed device (10) to feed, provide and distribute the powder on the process surface (42), wherein the powder feed device (10) comprises: a conveying element (12) for feeding powder into the powder feed device (10), a reservoir (14), into which the at least one conveying element (12) feeds the powder, a process conveying element (16), which can act on powder in the reservoir (14), in order to provide this in dosed quantity on the process floor (46) adjacent to the process surface (42), a process pusher (18) for distributing the powder provided adjacent to the process surface (42)

Abstract: The invention relates to a forming device for producing moulded bodies by selectively hardening powder material to form connected regions, comprising a process chamber (28) having a powder inlet (32) for powder material to be processed, and a powder outlet (36) for excess powder material, a powder supply apparatus (80, 82) that is or can be connected to the powder inlet (32) and is intended for providing powder material in the process chamber (28), and a powder recovery apparatus (74) that is or can be connected to the powder outlet (36) and is intended for recycling powder material to be processed out of the excess powder material, wherein the powder supply apparatus (80, 82) and the powder recovery apparatus (74) are combined to form a subassembly that is designed as an interchangeable module (16) and comprises connection interfaces, specifically at least one input interface (46) an at least one output interface (48), that are connection-compatible with relevant connection interfaces (40, 44) of the pow

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a molded body by building up layers of powdered material, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a layer of powdered material, b) heating the layer using controlled radiation by irradiating selected points of the layer according to a cross-sectional pattern of the molded body assigned to said layer according to the geometry description data of the molded body, so that the powdered material is solidified by melting to form connecting regions according to the cross-sectional pattern of the molded body, c) preparing a next layer of powdered material on the layer irradiated most recently and d) heating the most recently prepared layer using controlled radiation by radiating selective points of the layer according to a cross-sectional pattern of the molded body assigned to said layer, so that the powdered material is solidified by melting to form connecting regions according to said cross-sectional pattern of the molded body, and e) repeating steps c) and d) multiple