Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating the powdery material with a beam of charged particles, said apparatus comprising:
- a powder supply portion configured for successive application of one or more layers of a powdery material to a work table to define a powder bed;
a radiation gun configured for delivering said beam of charged particles and successively irradiating at least a part of the working area where the powdery material are applied, so as to fuse together successive layers of said three-dimensional object; and
at least one detection device having a field of view focused above and across the work table on a volume spaced apart from the defined powder bed, such that neither the field of view nor the focused volume intersect any portion of the powder bed,wherein the at least one detection device is configured for;
generating a powder-lifting detection signal upon detection of at least a portion of said powdery material having lifted from the working area and moving around above and spaced apart from the defined powder bed; and
based upon the generated detection signal, automatically interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area where the powdery material lifting has occurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns an apparatus (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, said apparatus (1) comprising means for successive application of powder layers to a work table, and a radiation gun (3) for delivering said beam (4) of charged particles, wherein the inventive apparatus (1) comprises a powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e) capable of generating a signal (S) upon detection of lifting of powdery material from the working area (5).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating the powdery material with a beam of charged particles, said apparatus comprising:
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a powder supply portion configured for successive application of one or more layers of a powdery material to a work table to define a powder bed; a radiation gun configured for delivering said beam of charged particles and successively irradiating at least a part of the working area where the powdery material are applied, so as to fuse together successive layers of said three-dimensional object; and at least one detection device having a field of view focused above and across the work table on a volume spaced apart from the defined powder bed, such that neither the field of view nor the focused volume intersect any portion of the powder bed, wherein the at least one detection device is configured for; generating a powder-lifting detection signal upon detection of at least a portion of said powdery material having lifted from the working area and moving around above and spaced apart from the defined powder bed; and based upon the generated detection signal, automatically interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area where the powdery material lifting has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19)
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12. An apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating the powdery material with a beam of charged particles, said apparatus comprising:
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a powder supply portion configured for successive application of powder layers to a work table to define a powder bed; a radiation gun for delivering said beam of charged particles; and at least one detection device having a field of view focused above and across the work table on a volume spaced apart from the defined powder bed, such that neither the field of view nor the focused volume intersect any portion of the powder bed, wherein the at least one detection device is configured for generating a detection signal upon detection of at least a portion of powdery material having lifted from the working area and moving around above and spaced apart from the defined powder bed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification