Abstract: We describe a method for controlling an irradiation beam for irradiating a layer of raw material powder in an additive layer manufacturing process for producing a three-dimensional work piece, wherein the method comprises: depositing, with a layer depositing mechanism, a said layer of raw material powder on top of a carrier and/or on top of a preceding material layer on top of the carrier; and controlling the irradiation beam to irradiate at least a portion of the layer of raw material powder in an irradiation area when a distance between the irradiation area and the layer depositing mechanism is above a threshold distance, and wherein the threshold distance is dependent on (i) a speed of movement of the layer depositing mechanism, and (ii) a speed, vg, of a gas flow over the layer of raw material powder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) being used in a device (10) for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces and comprising at least three irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the method comprising the following steps: a) defining an irradiation region (30a-d) for each of the irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the irradiation regions (30a-d) each comprising a portion of an irradiation plane (28) which extends parallel to a carrier (16) of the device (10), and the irradiation regions (30a-d) being defined such that they overlap in a common overlap region (34); b) irradiating a raw material powder layer on the carrier (16) to produce a workpiece layer; c) arranging a further raw material powder layer on the already jetted raw material powder layer to produce a further workpiece layer. d) The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) being used in a device (10) for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces and comprising at least three irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the method comprising the following steps: a) defining an irradiation region (30a-d) for each of the irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the irradiation regions (30a-d) each comprising a portion of an irradiation plane (28) which extends parallel to a carrier (16) of the device (10), and the irradiation regions (30a-d) being defined such that they overlap in a common overlap region (34); b) irradiating a raw material powder layer on the carrier (16) to produce a workpiece layer; c) arranging a further raw material powder layer on the already jetted raw material powder layer to produce a further workpiece layer. d) The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, comprising: a carrier (12) adapted to receive material (14) for producing the workpiece; at least one mobile production unit (24), a moving unit (18) that is adapted to move the mobile production unit (24) relative to the carrier (12) so as to position the mobile production unit (24) oppositely to different sections of the carrier (12); a sensing unit that is adapted to generate sensor signals relating to a relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (12); and a control unit that is configured to, in addition to the positioning of the mobile production unit (24) via the moving unit (18), provide at least one fine positioning function to compensate for an offset from a desired relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (18) based on the sensor signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for controlling a multi-beam apparatus having one or more beam sources for producing a plurality of beams of a system for manufacturing a three-dimensional workpiece by means of an additive layer construction method, in which method a material that can be solidified in order to manufacture the three-dimensional workpiece is applied in layers to a surface of a carrier and the material that can be solidified is solidified by the plurality of beams in a respective layer at points of incidence of the plurality of beams on the material that can be solidified, wherein the points of incidence of the beams for solidifying selective regions of the layers of the material that can be solidified in order to manufacture the three-dimensional workpiece are each controlled substantially against a gas flow direction of a gas flow over the surface of the carrier; wherein the control method comprises (a) dividing the material to be solidified in the respective layer into at least two s

Abstract: An apparatus including a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder. An irradiation device of the apparatus is configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder on the carrier in order to produce a work piece by an additive layer construction method, wherein a transmission element allows the transmission of the electromagnetic or particle radiation into the process chamber. The apparatus further includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet for supplying and discharging gas to and from the process chamber which are configured to generate a protective gas stream for protecting the transmission element from being contaminated by impurities present in the process chamber. The gas inlet includes a gas permeable, porous component forming a gas inlet area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional workpiece. The method comprises irradiating a raw material layer with a laser beam, wherein a melt bath is produced at a point at which the laser beam impinges on the raw material layer, changing a position of the laser beam on the raw material layer with the aid of a first diverting unit and changing the position of the laser beam on the raw material layer with the aid of a second diverting unit. The second diverting unit is designed to divert the position of the laser beam with a greater acceleration than a maximum possible acceleration of a diversion by the first diverting unit. The invention also relates to a device for producing a three-dimensional workpiece.

Abstract: We describe a process chamber, an apparatus, a modular system, a method, a safety device, a positioning system and a system for producing a three-dimensional workpiece and/or for use thereof when producing a three-dimensional workpiece. The process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece via an additive layer construction method comprises: a material supply unit comprising a substantially ring-like shaped end portion at a first side of the process chamber, wherein the material supply unit is adapted to supply, via the end portion, material to a carrier on which the material is to be processed by the process chamber for producing the three-dimensional workpiece, and an opening at the first side of the process chamber for processing, by the process chamber, the material supplied on the carrier in order to produce the three-dimensional workpiece, wherein the substantially ring-like shaped end portion surrounds the opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional workpiece. The method comprises irradiating a raw material layer with a laser beam, wherein a melt bath is produced at a point at which the laser beam impinges on the raw material layer, changing a position of the laser beam on the raw material layer with the aid of a first diverting unit and changing the position of the laser beam on the raw material layer with the aid of a second diverting unit. The second diverting unit is designed to divert the position of the laser beam with a greater acceleration than a maximum possible acceleration of a diversion by the first diverting unit. The invention also relates to a device for producing a three-dimensional workpiece.

Abstract: A device for calibrating an irradiation system of an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece includes a control unit to control the irradiation system so as to irradiate a radiation beam onto an irradiation plane according to a calibration pattern. The device also includes a sensor arrangement arranged in the irradiation plane to output signals to the control unit in response to being irradiated with the radiation beam according to the calibration pattern. The control unit generates a digital image of an actual irradiation pattern produced by the radiation beam incident on the sensor arrangement based on the signals output by the sensor arrangement, compares the digital image of the actual irradiation pattern with a digital image of a reference pattern so as to determine a deviation between the actual irradiation pattern and the reference pattern, and calibrates the irradiation system based on the determined deviation between the actual irradiation pattern and the reference pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional workpieces, The device comprises a carrier for receiving raw material powder and a radiation unit for selectively radiating the raw material powder applied to the carrier with electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation in order to produce on the carrier a workpiece made of the raw material powder by a generative layering construction process. The device also comprises a vertical movement means, which is designed to move the radiation unit vertically relative to the carrier, and a cylinder construction wall, which extends substantially vertically and which constitutes a lateral delimitation for the raw material powder applied to the carrier, wherein the cylinder construction wall is designed to increase its vertical height during the construction process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, comprising: a carrier (12) adapted to receive material (14) for producing the workpiece; at least one mobile production unit (24), a moving unit (18) that is adapted to move the mobile production unit (24) relative to the carrier (12) so as to position the mobile production unit (24) oppositely to different sections of the carrier (12); a sensing unit that is adapted to generate sensor signals relating to a relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (12); and a control unit that is configured to, in addition to the positioning of the mobile production unit (24) via the moving unit (18), provide at least one fine positioning function to compensate for an offset from a desired relative arrangement of the mobile production unit (24) and the carrier (18) based on the sensor signals generated by the sensing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece, the apparatus comprises a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder, an irradiation device for selectively irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder on the carrier in order to produce a work piece made of said raw material powder by an additive layer construction method, a first gas inlet for supplying gas to the process chamber and a gas outlet for discharging gas from the process chamber, wherein the first gas inlet and the gas outlet are configured and arranged in such a manner that a first gas flow across the carrier is generated, a transmission element which allows the transmission of the electromagnetic or particle radiation emitted by the irradiation device into the process chamber, and a second gas inlet for supplying gas to the process chamber, wherein the second gas inlet is configured and arranged in such a manner that a second gas flow in a direction facing away from th

Abstract: An unpacking device for use in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the unpacking device comprises a holding device which is configured to hold a building chamber arrangement. The building chamber arrangement comprises a building chamber accommodating a carrier, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a three-dimensional work piece produced from a raw material powder by an additive layering process. An engagement unit of the unpacking device is configured to engage with the carrier of the building chamber arrangement. A moving mechanism is configured to cause a relative movement between the building chamber and the engagement unit with the carrier engaged therewith so as to allow a separation of the carrier with a three-dimensional work piece received thereon from the building chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for the layered production of a three-dimensional workpiece, comprising: a build space (30) in which the workpiece is manufacturable by selectively solidification of raw material powder layers; an irradiating system (20) which is adapted to selectively solidify the raw material powder layers in the build space (30) by emitting a processing beam; at least one calibrating structure (36); a sensor arrangement (25) which is adapted to detect an irradiation of the calibrating structure (36) by the irradiating system (20); and a control unit (26) which is adapted to calibrate the irradiating system (20) on the basis of detection information of the sensor arrangement, wherein the calibrating structure (36) is arranged outside the build space (30). The invention also relates to a method for calibrating an irradiating system of a device for the layer-by-layer manufacture of a three-dimensional workpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) being used in a device (10) for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces and comprising at least three irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the method comprising the following steps: a) defining an irradiation region (30a-d) for each of the irradiation units (22a-d, 50), the irradiation regions (30a-d) each comprising a portion of an irradiation plane (28) which extends parallel to a carrier (16) of the device (10), and the irradiation regions (30a-d) being defined such that they overlap in a common overlap region (34); b) irradiating a raw material powder layer on the carrier (16) to produce a workpiece layer; c) arranging a further raw material powder layer on the already jetted raw material powder layer to produce a further workpiece layer. d) The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Abstract: An apparatus including a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder. An irradiation device of the apparatus is configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder on the carrier in order to produce a work piece by an additive layer construction method, wherein a transmission element allows the transmission of the electromagnetic or particle radiation into the process chamber. The apparatus further includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet for supplying and discharging gas to and from the process chamber which are configured to generate a protective gas stream for protecting the transmission element from being contaminated by impurities present in the process chamber. The gas inlet includes a gas permeable, porous component forming a gas inlet area.

Abstract: The application relates to a device for producing three-dimensional workpieces, the device including: a structural surface designed to receive a molding compound; and an irradiation arrangement designed to selectively irradiate the molding compound on the structural surface with electromagnetic radiation, in order to produce a workpiece by means of generative layer construction, where the irradiation device comprises a plurality of irradiation units, the irradiation units being designed to irradiate an individual region of the structural surface respectively associated with the irradiation units, and where the beams emitted by the irradiation units respectively have a cross-sectional surface corresponding to between approx. 2% and approx. 170% of the surface of the respectively associated individual region. The application also relates to the use of such a device and to a method for producing three-dimensional workpieces by means of such a device.

Abstract: A device for calibrating an irradiation system of an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece includes a control unit to control the irradiation system so as to irradiate a radiation beam onto an irradiation plane according to a calibration pattern. The device also includes a sensor arrangement arranged in the irradiation plane to output signals to the control unit in response to being irradiated with the radiation beam according to the calibration pattern. The control unit generates a digital image of an actual irradiation pattern produced by the radiation beam incident on the sensor arrangement based on the signals output by the sensor arrangement, compares the digital image of the actual irradiation pattern with a digital image of a reference pattern so as to determine a deviation between the actual irradiation pattern and the reference pattern, and calibrates the irradiation system based on the determined deviation between the actual irradiation pattern and the reference pattern.

Abstract: A jet burner has a hot-gas side, which faces toward a combustion chamber during operation, and a cold-gas side, which faces away from a combustion chamber, including a base plate on which there are arranged multiple jet nozzles, wherein the base plate has at least one cooling duct, wherein the at least one cooling duct issues into a burner stage which comprises a pilot burner arranged on the base plate.