Abstract: An additive manufacturing method including repeatedly applying a layer of building material on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and scanning the layer at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, where the laser radiation is generated by a laser light source and is directed onto the building material layer via optical components. An optics compartment is encased by an optics compartment housing and accommodates the optical components. A defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selective solidification of a building material layer by layer, including a process chamber having a chamber wall, wherein the chamber wall of the process chamber has at least one elongate opening. The device includes a cover device having a cover area for covering and/or shielding the at least one opening, the extent of the cover area being variable in the longitudinal direction of the opening, and the cover device includes a plurality of individual elements of similar type that are connected to one another in such a way that they are movable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the opening.

Abstract: An exposure optics serves as an equipping and/or retrofitting optics for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying building material, layer by layer. The exposure optics includes at least a first object-sided lens system having a first focal length f1 and a second image-sided lens system having a second focal length f2, which lens systems can be arranged in the beam path of the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The focal plane of the first lens system and the focal plane of the second lens system coincide in a plane between the two lens systems. The focal length f1 of the first lens system is equal to or greater than the focal length f2 of the second lens system. The exposure optics is designed and can be arranged such that the electromagnetic radiation is incident substantially perpendicular on the working surface.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (2) in an additive manufacturing apparatus (1) by a layer-wise selective solidification of building material (13) by means of an irradiation with laser radiation, wherein: in a process chamber (3) repeatedly a layer of building material is applied on a previously selectively solidified building material layer and is scanned with laser radiation at positions corresponding to the cross-section of the object in this layer, the laser radiation is generated by means of a laser light source (21) and is directed onto the building material layer via a number of optical components, wherein an optics compartment that is encased by an optics compartment housing (20a) accommodates the optical components, is characterized in that a defined gas atmosphere is maintained inside of the optics compartment, wherein the relative humidity of the defined gas atmosphere is kept below 3%.

Abstract: A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction.

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: An exposure optics serves as an equipping and/or retrofitting optics for a device for producing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying building material, layer by layer. The exposure optics includes at least a first object-sided lens system having a first focal length f1 and a second image-sided lens system having a second focal length f2, which lens systems can be arranged in the beam path of the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The focal plane of the first lens system and the focal plane of the second lens system coincide in a plane between the two lens systems. The focal length f1 of the first lens system is equal to or greater than the focal length f2 of the second lens system. The exposure optics is designed and can be arranged such that the electromagnetic radiation is incident substantially perpendicular on the working surface.

Abstract: A recoating unit (40) serves for equipping or retrofitting a device (1) for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (2) by selectively solidifying a building material (15), preferably a powder, layer by layer. The device (1) comprises a recoater (16) movable across a build area (8) for applying a layer (31b, 32b) of the building material (15) within the build area (8) and a solidification device (20) for selectively solidifying the applied layer (31b, 32b) at positions corresponding to a cross-section of the object (2) to be manufactured. The device (1) is formed and/or controlled to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object (2) is completed. The recoating unit (40) comprises at least two recoating rollers (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in a first direction (B1) and extending into a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the first direction.

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: 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 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 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: 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 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: An apparatus for layerwise manufacturing of a three-dimensional object by solidification of a material, which can be solidified via electromagnetic radiation, includes a source for the electromagnetic radiation, a building space for manufacturing the three-dimensional object, a coupling window, for transmitting the electromagnetic radiation into the building space and a heating element for heating the coupling window. By the heating element the temperature of the lens is increased during the building of the three-dimensional object. By the increased temperature the accumulation of contamination on the coupling window is prevented.

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 corresponding to the object is provided. The device has an energy source (6) that emits a beam (9) for solidifying the building material, a scanner (8) that selectively directs the beam (9) to different positions in a building plane (11), and a deflection mirror (7) that deflects the beam (9) coming from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8). The beam (9) from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8) runs in a space (13, 14) secluded from the outside and an adjustment mechanism (16) for the alignment of the deflection mirror (7) is provided, which is adjustable from the outside of the secluded space (13, 14).

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 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: A device and a method for the manufacturing of a three-dimensional object (3) by solidifying of layers (25, 26) of a powder material at locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (3) is provided. The device comprises a recoater (24) for applying the layers of the powder material (27) in the building area (5) which is moveable across the building area (5). The recoater (24) is designed with a rigid blade (21a, 21b) which is rigidly connected to the recoater (24). For preheating the powder material (27), the recoater (24) is provided with a heating device (20, 23) which is at least partially integrated into the recoater. In this way it is possible to preheat the powder already during or prior to applying it as a layer and thereby shortening the whole building time for the three-dimensional object (3).

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 has a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and support legs (51) that are mounted at the machine frame and by which the device (1) is supported on a substrate. The support legs (51) are arranged such that a three-point support of the device (1) at the substrate is given and at least two support legs (51) are mounted at the machine frame such that they are adjustable in height.