Device and method for constructing a laminar body comprising at least one position-adjustable body defining the working area
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- i. constructing an article from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, on a build platform within a first build space, the layers being solidified and joined together in locally predetermined areas by the action of a binder, so that at least one molding is formed by the solidified and joined areas of the layers, wherein the first build space is at least partially defined by a body; and
ii. adjusting the body to define a second build space different from the first build space, and constructing a second article in the second build space;
wherein the free-flowing material is applied from a discharge device and the binder is applied from a print head;
wherein the discharge device and print head move back and forth over the build space;
wherein the first build space is enclosed by one or more printed walls of the free-flowing material being solidified and joined together by the action of the binder;
wherein the build platform is stationary and the discharge device and the print head are movable with respect to the stationary build platform.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a device (13) for constructing a laminar body (5) from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, in particular particulate material, an a build platform (6) within a working area (11). The layers are solidified in locally predetermined regions by the actions of binders and are joined together so that at least one molded body (4) is formed by the solidified and joined regions of the layers. The device comprises a discharging device (1) movable back and forth over the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction and having at least one discharge opening (14) from which the free-flowing material can be discharged in individual superimposed layers during the movement of the discharging device (1). According to the invention at least one body (8, 8a) defining the working area (11) in at least one discharge direction of the discharging device (1) and the build platform (6) are adjustable vertically relative to each other in accordance with the specific progress with which the laminar body (5) is being constructed, in such a manner that a surface of the at least one body (8, 8a) facing the discharge opening (14) is aligned flush with a laminar body (5) topmost layer that is yet to be produced or has already been produced, in order to dose the discharge opening (14) of the discharging device (1) and prevent the discharging device from discharging free-flowing material or in order to discharge free-flowing material not used for the laminar construction into a collecting container (7) when the discharge opening (14) is located above the body (8, 8a).
308 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
i. constructing an article from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing material, on a build platform within a first build space, the layers being solidified and joined together in locally predetermined areas by the action of a binder, so that at least one molding is formed by the solidified and joined areas of the layers, wherein the first build space is at least partially defined by a body; and ii. adjusting the body to define a second build space different from the first build space, and constructing a second article in the second build space; wherein the free-flowing material is applied from a discharge device and the binder is applied from a print head;
wherein the discharge device and print head move back and forth over the build space;wherein the first build space is enclosed by one or more printed walls of the free-flowing material being solidified and joined together by the action of the binder; wherein the build platform is stationary and the discharge device and the print head are movable with respect to the stationary build platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method comprising:
-
i. constructing at least one first article from a plurality of superimposed layers of free-flowing particulate material, on a build platform within a first build space, the layers being solidified and joined together in locally predetermined areas by the action of a binder, including; applying the free-flowing particulate material from a discharge device in layers, and applying the binder from a print head;
wherein the discharge device and the print head move back and forth over the first build space;
wherein the build platform is stationary and the discharge device and the print head are movable with respect to the stationary build platform;
the discharge device applies the free-flowing particulate material at a time when the print head is not applying binder; and
the print head applies the binder at a time when the discharge device is not applying the free-flowing particulate material;adjusting the height of the discharge device relative to the stationary build platform; juxtapositioning the discharge device with an uppermost layer of the free-flowing particulate material; and forming an outer wall at an edges of the first build space, the outer wall surrounding the build space so that loose free-flowing particulate material within the first build space is prevented from flowing off into areas outside of the first build space;
wherein the outer wall is a printed wall of the free-flowing particulate material being solidified and joined together by the action of the binder;
wherein the at least one first article is formed by the solidified and joined areas of the layers within the first build space; andii. following the constructing of the at least one first article, repeating (i) for constructing at least one second article in a second build space, wherein the first build space and the second build space are different build spaces over the build platform; wherein the discharge device and the print head both move in the same direction during the step of applying the binder. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification