Method and device of layerwise manufacturing a three-dimensional object of a powdery material

US9975297B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Pfister · Munich, DE
• Mandy Gersch · Ulm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 4, 2009
• Grant date: May 22, 2018
• Expiry date: Jan 18, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/2982
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A polyamide powder is disclosed for use in a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object by selectively solidifying layers of the polyamide powder at the locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object in the respective layer by application of electromagnetic radiation. The polyamide powder of the invention is reclaimed after manufacturing of an object and, then is treated with water or water vapor and subsequently dried. After treatment, the powder preferably can have a molar weight Mn (numeric average) of more than about 20,000 g/mol and a Mw (weight average) of more than about 40,000 g/mol. Also, the powder preferably has an excess of carboxylic end groups relative to amino end groups of at least 4:1 up to at most 200:1.