Method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object

US5730925A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Mattes · Germering, DE
• Andreas Lohner · Putzbrunn, DE
• Christian Wilkening · Beelitz, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 18, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 24, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 18, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object by laser sintering the object is produced by successive solidification of layers of a powder material at points corresponding to a cross-section of said object using radiation for solidifying said powder material. The apparatus includes a support having a substantially plane upper side for supporting the object, a material applying device for applying a layer of the material onto the upper side or onto another layer formed on the upper side, and a solidification device for solidifying a layer of the material by irradiation. The material applying device has a coating device and a drive for displacing the coating device in a direction parallel to the upper side of the support. The coating device has a first side face, a second side face, a base surface parallel to the upper side and facing the same, a first edge portion between the first side face and the base surface, the first edge portion including a first angle of inclination with the base surface, and a second edge portion between the second side face and the base surface, the second edge portion including a second angle of inclination with the base surface, the second ang…