Method of calibrating an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object, calibration apparatus and method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object

US6483596B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems · DE

Inventors

• Jochen Philippi · Munich, DE
• Andreas Lohner · Putzbrunn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 21, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 21, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/49007
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention refers to a method for calibrating the control of a radiation device producing electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation in a rapid prototyping system. The method comprises the steps of arranging a calibration plate at a defined position in the rapid prototyping system, the calibration plate having an upper side with a first region and a second region separate from the first region, the first region being provided with optically detectable reference marks and the second region having a medium which is sensitive to the radiation of the radiation device, producing a test pattern by exposing said medium to said radiation at predetermined desired positions defined by position coordinate data, digitizing the first region of the calibration plate with the reference marks thereon and the second region of the calibration plate having the test pattern, comparing the digitized reference marks and the digitized test pattern and calculating and providing correction data for the control of the radiation device on the basis of the comparison.