Apparatus for Building a Three-Dimensional Article and a Method for Building a Three-Dimensional Article
First Claim
1. An apparatus for building a three-dimensional article in sequential cross-sectional layers, which apparatus comprises:
- a powder delivery system comprising one or more reservoirs for delivering a powder and a powder spreading system;
a printing system for delivering a liquid;
a build chamber comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, an inner wall and a build platform on the bottom structure which platform is movable along the inner wall of the build chamber;
and a powder recovery system;
wherein the build platform of the build chamber has openable, collapsible or removable parts capable of releasing unused powder directly from the build chamber in a downward direction into the powder recovery system and the build chamber comprises an outer wall and, on the upper portion of the build chamber, the space between the inner wall and the outer wall comprises openings in communication with the powder recovery system.
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus for building a three-dimensional article in sequential cross-sectional layers, which apparatus comprises: a powder delivery system comprising one or more reservoirs for delivering a powder and a powder spreading system; a printing system for delivering a liquid; a build chamber comprising a outer wall, an inner wall and a build platform which is movable along the inner wall of the build chamber; and a powder recovery system; wherein the building chamber comprises a space defined by the upper portion between the inner wall and the outer wall of the building chamber and this space is in communication with the powder recovery system and/or the build platform is capable of releasing unused powder (directly) from the build chamber in a downward direction into the powder recovery system. The invention further provides a method building a three-dimensional article wherein use is made of said apparatus.
180 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for building a three-dimensional article in sequential cross-sectional layers, which apparatus comprises:
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a powder delivery system comprising one or more reservoirs for delivering a powder and a powder spreading system; a printing system for delivering a liquid; a build chamber comprising an upper portion, a bottom portion, an inner wall and a build platform on the bottom structure which platform is movable along the inner wall of the build chamber; and a powder recovery system; wherein the build platform of the build chamber has openable, collapsible or removable parts capable of releasing unused powder directly from the build chamber in a downward direction into the powder recovery system and the build chamber comprises an outer wall and, on the upper portion of the build chamber, the space between the inner wall and the outer wall comprises openings in communication with the powder recovery system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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20-28. -28. (canceled)
Specification