Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects
First Claim
1. Apparatus (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material (7) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam (4), said apparatus comprising:
- a working table onto which layers of said powdery material (7) are to be placed, the powdery material being distributable from a powder distributing member (12);
at least one laser source emitting said high-energy beam (4) for irradiating said powdery material (7);
a temperature sensing device; and
at least one control unit,wherein said apparatus is configured, via said at least one control unit for;
applying a first layer of said powdery material onto said working area (5);
solidifying a part of said first layer by irradiating it with said high-energy beam;
applying a second layer (8) of said powdery material onto the first, partly solidified layer;
determining a rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer;
determining a layer thickness of the second layer based upon the determined rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer, wherein the determining of the layer thickness of the second layer involves performing a plurality of sequential temperature measurements before the second layer (8) reaches a maximum temperature (T1), and the maximum temperature (T1) represents a point in time at which a rate that heat is conducted from the first layer equals a rate that heat is radiated away from an upper surface of the second layer (8), such that upon reaching the maximum temperature (T1), the temperature of the second layer (8) is no longer increasing;
comparing the determined temperature increase rate with a reference value; and
if the determined temperature increase rate is lower than or higher than the reference value, reapplying said powdery material onto said working area, said reapplying comprising either applying a new layer of said powdery material or removing a portion of said second layer of said powdery material.
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Abstract
The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material (7) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam (4), said method comprising the steps of: applying a first layer of powdery material onto a working area (5); solidifying a part of said first layer by irradiating it with a high-energy beam; and applying a second layer (8) of powdery material onto the first, partly solidified layer. The invention is characterized in that the method comprises the step of: determining a rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer. The invention also concerns an apparatus configured to operate according to the above method.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. Apparatus (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material (7) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam (4), said apparatus comprising:
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a working table onto which layers of said powdery material (7) are to be placed, the powdery material being distributable from a powder distributing member (12); at least one laser source emitting said high-energy beam (4) for irradiating said powdery material (7); a temperature sensing device; and at least one control unit, wherein said apparatus is configured, via said at least one control unit for; applying a first layer of said powdery material onto said working area (5); solidifying a part of said first layer by irradiating it with said high-energy beam; applying a second layer (8) of said powdery material onto the first, partly solidified layer; determining a rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer; determining a layer thickness of the second layer based upon the determined rate at which the temperature of the second layer (8) increases after application onto the first layer, wherein the determining of the layer thickness of the second layer involves performing a plurality of sequential temperature measurements before the second layer (8) reaches a maximum temperature (T1), and the maximum temperature (T1) represents a point in time at which a rate that heat is conducted from the first layer equals a rate that heat is radiated away from an upper surface of the second layer (8), such that upon reaching the maximum temperature (T1), the temperature of the second layer (8) is no longer increasing; comparing the determined temperature increase rate with a reference value; and if the determined temperature increase rate is lower than or higher than the reference value, reapplying said powdery material onto said working area, said reapplying comprising either applying a new layer of said powdery material or removing a portion of said second layer of said powdery material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification