APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT LAYER BY LAYER

摘要

A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object layer by layer by applying and selectively solidifying a constituent material in powder form layer by layer by supply of energy has the steps: applying a layer (32+33) of the powdery constituent material (11) having a pre-determined height (h) onto a support (6) or a previously at least selectively solidified layer of the constituent material, and supplying energy (14) from an energy source (13) into the applied layer at positions corresponding to the cross sectional area of the object to be manufactured for selectively solidifying the constituent material. The step of applying the layer having the pre-determined height (h) is subdivided into a step of applying a first partial powder layer (32) having a first height (h1) which is smaller than the pre-determined height (h), and a step of at least applying a second partial powder layer (33) having a second height (h1) which is smaller than the pre-determined height (h), wherein the total height (h1+h2+ etc.) of the applied partial powder layers (32, 33, etc.) corresponds to the pre-determined height (h), and between the step of applying the first partial powder layer and the step of applying the second and possibly further partial powder layers, the powder layer applied last is heated.