DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS
First Claim
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1. A method for 3D printing comprising the steps of:
- i) depositing a build layer including one or more build materials on a build platform, wherein the build materials includes a particulate material and the build layer has a height;
ii) lowering the build platform by a vertical increment generally equal to the height of the build layer; and
iii) repeating steps i) and ii) to print a 3D object;
wherein the step of lowering the build platform includes a step of vertically driving one or more Z-axis drive units connected to a horizontal drive component for moving the horizontal drive component in a vertical direction;
wherein a horizontal guide component is supported by the drive component, positioned above the drive component, and is vertically displaced by the moving of the drive component;
wherein the guide component is free to move horizontally relative to drive component; and
wherein the build platform is the horizontal guide component or the build platform is supported by the horizontal guide component and connected to the horizontal guide component.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a device for manufacture of three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process, whereby the build material is deposited on a build platform in layers and the build platform is moveable in the Z-direction and one or several drive units and one or several guide elements is/are provided to move the build platform. In so doing, drive units and guiding elements are arranged in such a way that a movement of the drive units is decoupled from the movement of the guiding elements.
48 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for 3D printing comprising the steps of:
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i) depositing a build layer including one or more build materials on a build platform, wherein the build materials includes a particulate material and the build layer has a height; ii) lowering the build platform by a vertical increment generally equal to the height of the build layer; and iii) repeating steps i) and ii) to print a 3D object; wherein the step of lowering the build platform includes a step of vertically driving one or more Z-axis drive units connected to a horizontal drive component for moving the horizontal drive component in a vertical direction;
wherein a horizontal guide component is supported by the drive component, positioned above the drive component, and is vertically displaced by the moving of the drive component;wherein the guide component is free to move horizontally relative to drive component; and wherein the build platform is the horizontal guide component or the build platform is supported by the horizontal guide component and connected to the horizontal guide component. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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2-6. -6. (canceled)
- 7. The method of wherein the vertical increment is generally equal to the height of the build layer.
Specification