Abstract: In a laser sintering method for producing a three-dimensional object wherein subsequent layers of the object to be formed are subsequently solidified on positions corresponding to the object, as a build-up material, a powder is used wherein the upper grain limit of the powder particles is below 100 ?m, the D0.5-value is below 55 ?m, the BET-surface is smaller than 5 m2/g and the grains of the powder basically have a spherical shape.

Abstract: Provision is made of an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects (3) by local solidification of layers of a building material at positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (3), by exposure to electromagnetic or particle radiation. The apparatus comprises a temperature measuring assembly (13) for non-contact measurement of the temperature of the building material in a measurement region (14) which is a partial region of the layer of the building material, and comprises further a position adjustment device (15) for altering the position of the measurement region (14) of the temperature measuring assembly (13) independently of the alteration of the position of the region exposed to the radiation energy. This apparatus can be used to actively access a not exposed region of the surface for measuring the temperature of each layer and to detect a temperature distribution by altering the position of a measurement region (14) in a layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object (3), comprising: a frame (1) defining a building field (6) at an upper portion (2) thereof; a plate (12) which connects the frame (1) with a housing (100) of the device; a support (5) which is arranged in the frame (1) and vertically movable by a lift mechanics (4) at least below the building field (6); a radiation device (7) which generates an energetic beam (8, 8?) which is focused by a deflection means (9) to arbitrary points in the building field (6), so as to selectively sinter or melt a powdery material (11) which is present in the building field (6); a coater (10) for applying a layer of powdery material (11) onto the support (5) or a previously applied layer of the powdery material (11). A thermal insulation (13) is arranged between the frame (1) and the plate.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that correspond to the object to be manufactured is provided. A work plane (4) is provided, in which successively layers of the building material in powder form, which are to be solidified, are applied and are partially solidified. An application device (5) for applying a layer of the building material in the work plane or onto a previously solidified layer of the building material has an application surface (53) facing the work plane (4). An adjustment device (59, 60, 54) is provided that is constructed such that an angle (?) between the application surface (53) and the work plane (4) is adjustable.

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, characterized by the step of controlled removal of non-solidified pulverulent material (11) after completing the object (3).

Abstract: In a method of providing a material amount for a generative manufacturing method, a three-dimensional object (2) is formed by selectively solidifying layers of a material at locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object (2) in the respective layers. It is the object of the present invention to provide a method, by which the quality of the manufactured objects is reproducibly recorded and, thus, further improved. Therefore, the method is characterized by the steps of: providing at least one first material amount, which is characterized by at least one feature; detecting data, which relate to the at least one feature of the first material amount; and storing data, which relate to the at least one feature of the first material amount.

Abstract: A method is presented that makes possible the labelling of powders that can be applied as building material in a layer-additive manufacturing method such as a selective laser sintering method. To this effect the powder is mixed with at least one salt of a metal of the rare earths, wherein the salt has the property that it shows a luminescence when being irradiated with photons having a wavelength outside of the visible spectrum or with particle radiation. Thereby, parts that have been manufactured by means of the layer-additive manufacturing method can be identified with regard to the manufacturer, the place of manufacture or the manufacture date.

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 comprises a building field, in which the solidification of the material in powder form takes place; 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 the building field in order to apply the layer of the building material. The drive mechanism (59) is configured such that for the application of layers it moves the application element (61) between a first end position on a first side of the building field and a second end position on an opposite second side of the building field on a circular path back and forth.

Abstract: In a laser sintering method for producing a three-dimensional object wherein subsequent layers of the object to be formed are subsequently solidified on positions corresponding to the object, as a build-up material, a powder is used wherein the upper grain limit of the powder particles is below 100 ?m, the D0.5-value is below 55 ?m, the BET-surface is smaller than 5 m2/g and the grains of the powder basically have a spherical shape.

Abstract: In a laser sintering method for producing a three-dimensional object wherein subsequent layers of the object to be formed are subsequently solidified on positions corresponding to the object, as a build-up material, a powder is used wherein the upper grain limit of the powder particles is below 100 ?m, the D0.5-value is below 55 ?m, the BET-surface is smaller than 5 m2/g and the grains of the powder basically have a spherical shape.

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 for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material in powder form at the positions in the respective layer that correspond to the object to be manufactured is provided. A work plane (4) is provided, in which successively layers of the building material in powder form, which are to be solidified, are applied and are partially solidified. An application device (5) for applying a layer of the building material in the work plane or onto a previously solidified layer of the building material has an application surface (53) facing the work plane (4). An adjustment device (59, 60, 54) is provided that is constructed such that an angle (?) between the application surface (53) and the work plane (4) is adjustable.

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 comprises a building field, in which the solidification of the material in powder form takes place; 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 the building field in order to apply the layer of the building material. The drive mechanism (59) is configured such that for the application of layers it moves the application element (61) between a first end position on a first side of the building field and a second end position on an opposite second side of the building field on a circular path back and forth.

Abstract: Provision is made of an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects (3) by local solidification of layers of a building material at positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (3), by exposure to electromagnetic or particle radiation. The apparatus comprises a temperature measuring assembly (13) for non-contact measurement of the temperature of the building material in a measurement region (14) which is a partial region of the layer of the building material, and comprises further a position adjustment device (15) for altering the position of the measurement region (14) of the temperature measuring assembly (13) independently of the alteration of the position of the region exposed to the radiation energy. This apparatus can be used to actively access a not exposed region of the surface for measuring the temperature of each layer and to detect a temperature distribution by altering the position of a measurement region (14) in a layer.

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: In a laser sintering method for producing a three-dimensional object wherein subsequent layers of the object to be formed are subsequently solidified on positions corresponding to the object, as a build-up material, a powder is used wherein the upper grain limit of the powder particles is below 100 ?m, the D0.5-value is below 55 ?m, the BET-surface is smaller than 5 m2/g and the grains of the powder basically have a spherical shape.

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: 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: 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.