EP4048467A1

EP4048467A1 - Arrangement and method for generating a layer of a particulate building material in a 3d printer

Info

Publication number: EP4048467A1
Application number: EP20808005.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivan Gaer; Janosch MÜNZER; Frank Wedemeyer; Rudolf Wintgens
Original assignee: Laempe Mossner Sinto GmbH
Current assignee: Laempe Mossner Sinto GmbH
Priority date: 2019-10-26
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2022-08-31
Also published as: WO2021078316A1; KR20220088870A; JP2022554199A; DE102019007480A1; CN114641359A; US20220388237A1

Abstract

The invention, which concerns an arrangement and a method for generating a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer, is based on the problem of providing a solution whereby an increase in the quantity of the material deposited, with the same quality being maintained, and a reduction in the forces acting on the building zone are achieved while the particulate building material is being applied, smoothed and compacted. This problem is solved with respect to the arrangement by having in the arrangement (1) that can be moved over a building zone (5) a first assembly (4a), which has a means (2) for applying the particulate building material (10) onto a building zone (5), and a second assembly (4b), which is arranged spatially at a distance from the first assembly (4a) in the arrangement (1) and has a means (3) for smoothing the particulate building material (10) applied. This problem is solved with respect to the method by providing that, in a first method step, by means of a coater arrangement (1), which is provided over a building zone (5) and can be moved over this building zone (5), the particulate building material (10) is applied on the building zone (5) and that, in a second method step, which follows at a time after the first method step and is independent thereof, a smoothing of the particulate building material (10) applied is performed, wherein the first and second method steps are carried out during a process of moving the coater arrangement (1) over the building zone (5).

Description

Arrangement and method for producing a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer

The invention relates to an arrangement for producing a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer, in which at least one means for applying particulate building material and a means for smoothing particulate building material are arranged.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer, in which a particulate building material is applied, smoothed and compacted to produce a layer.

It is known to use a so-called 3D printing or a so-called 3D printing process for the production of individual or series components, work pieces or forms. In such printing processes, three-dimensional components or workpieces are built up in layers.

The construction is computer-controlled from one or more liquid or solid materials according to specified dimensions and shapes. Specifications for the components or workpieces to be printed can be provided, for example, by so-called computer-aided design systems (CAD).

When printing the 3D structures or 3D components, physical or chemical hardening processes or a melting process take place in a particulate building material, which is also referred to as molding material. Construction materials or molded materials such as plastics, synthetic resins, ceramics and metals are used as materials for such 3D printing processes.

Various manufacturing process sequences are known when implementing 3D printing processes. However, several of these process sequences include the process steps shown below as an example:

• Partial or full-surface application of particulate building material, also referred to as particulate material or powdery building material, on a so-called building field in order to form a layer of non-solidified particulate material;

• Selective solidification of the applied layer of non-solidified particulate building material in predetermined partial areas, for example by selective compaction, printing or application of treatment agents such as a binding agent or the use of a laser;

• Repetition of the previous process steps in a further layer level to build up the component or workpiece in layers. For this purpose, it is provided that the component or workpiece, which is built up or printed in layers on the construction field, is lowered with the construction field by one layer level or layer thickness or the 3D printing device is raised by one layer level or layer thickness in relation to the construction field before a new one Layer is applied over part or all of the surface;

• Subsequent removal of loose, unsolidified particulate building material that surrounds the finished component or workpiece.

Various methods for producing a 3-D structure or for applying particulate building material to a construction field for producing a 3-D structure are known from the prior art.

A method and a device for applying fluids and their use are known from DE 10117875 C1.

The method for applying fluids relates in particular to particulate material which is applied to an area to be coated, where in front of a blade, viewed in the forward direction of movement of the blade, the fluid is applied to the area to be coated and then the blade is applied over the applied fluid is proceeded. The object is to provide a device, a method and a use of the device with which the most even possible distribution of fluid material on an area to be coated can be achieved.

To solve this, it is provided that the blade oscillates in the manner of a rotary movement. The oscillating rotary movement of the blade fluidizes the fluid applied to the area to be coated. As a result, not only can particulate material with a strong tendency to agglomerate be applied as evenly and smoothly as possible, but it is also possible to influence the compression of the fluid by the vibration.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the application of the fluid to the area to be coated takes place in excess, so the constant movement of the blade, which oscillates in the manner of a rotary movement, the excess fluid, seen in the forward direction of movement of the blade, in front of the Blade is homogenized in a roller formed from fluid or particulate material by the forward movement of the blade. This allows any cavities between individual particle clumps to be filled and larger clumps of particulate material are broken up by the roller movement.

From DE 10 2016 211 952 A1 a coating unit, a coating method, as well as a device and a method for the generative production of a three-dimensional object are known.

The object to be achieved is to provide an alternative or improved coating unit or production device or an alternative or improved coating or production method for a three-dimensional object by applying and selectively solidifying a build-up material in layers, in which in particular the coating direction is simply changed can.

To achieve this object, it is provided that the coating unit contains at least two coating rollers spaced from one another in a first direction and extending in a second direction transversely, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, and one in the first direction between the both coating rollers arranged and extending in the second direction compaction and / or smoothing element.

The coating unit is set up, depending on the movement of the coating unit in the first direction or in its opposite direction, to pull out build-up material with the coating roller leading in the respective direction of movement to form a uniform layer and the layer pulled out by the leading coating roller with the compression and / or smoothing element to compress and / or smoothen ment. With such a coating unit, for example, application and compression and / or smoothing of a material layer can be effected separately from one another by separate elements, but the coating unit can nevertheless be used in opposing coating directions.

The compression and / or smoothing element is preferably arranged essentially centrally between the two coating rollers in the first direction.

DE 102006023484 A1 discloses a device and a method for the layer-by-layer production of a three-dimensional object from a pulverför-shaped building material. In particular, the invention relates to a method of selective laser sintering and a laser sintering device.

The object is to provide a method and a device for producing a three-dimensional object, in particular a laser sintering method and a laser sintering device, with which the refresh rate can be reduced and with which the costs of the method can be reduced .

For this purpose, it is provided that the coater has a blade with an application surface that rises in the coating direction, the application surface being provided on the underside of the blade facing the carrier and at an angle of greater than 0.2 ° and less than about 5 °, preferably between approximately 0.5 ° and approximately 3 °, more preferably between approximately 0.7 ° and approximately 2.8 ° in the direction of movement of the coater. By means of this blade, after a material application, smoothing and compression are achieved at the same time. The known prior art provides that the application of the particulate building material, the stripping or smoothing and the compacting of the building material are carried out by means of a device or arrangement. This is at least a means for applying the particulate building material and a means for stripping or smoothing and compacting the building material, which is usually designed as an element such as a blade, which spatially or structurally combined form a device or arrangement . According to the prior art, it is also provided that the installation space for such devices or arrangements is kept small.

A disadvantage of an arrangement according to the prior art with a so-called oscillating blade, which jointly solves the process steps of applying, smoothing and compacting the particulate building material, is that an increase in the quantity of material applied requires a higher oscillating frequency of the oscillating blade. At this higher oscillation frequency, more particulate building material can be applied and a compression of the more particulate building material brought out can be achieved.

However, there are physical limits to increasing the oscillation frequency of the oscillating blade. This limitation applies equally to the process steps applying, smoothing and compressing.

Due to the higher oscillation frequency of the oscillating blade and a high feed rate, more particulate building material slides or slides under the oscillating blade and damages the already generated print image underneath or the already partially generated 3D structure.

In addition, the excess material, which forms a so-called mountain in front of the oscillating blade and is created by an excess of applied particulate building material, cannot be kept to a minimum due to the direct relationship between application, smoothing and compaction, without influencing one of the secondary functions of the oscillating blade.

It is also not possible to use the swing blade only for one of its tasks. Based on this prior art, there is a need for an improved arrangement and method for creating a layer of particulate build material in a 3D printer.

Thus, the object of the invention is to provide an arrangement and a method for generating a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer, with which an increase in the quantity of material application with a constant quality and a reduction in the forces acting on the construction field when applying , Smoothing and compacting of the particulate building material is achieved.

The object is achieved by an arrangement having the features according to claim 1 of the independent claims. Further developments are given in the dependent claims.

The object is also achieved by a method having the features according to claim 8 of the independent claims. Further developments are given in the dependent claims.

The invention provides that in the arrangement for generating a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer, which is also referred to in the following simply as a coater or coating arrangement, a spatial separation of the means for applying the particulate building material from the means for stripping or The building material is smoothed and compacted. In addition, a technical or functional separation between the means for applying the particulate building material from the means for stripping or from a means for smoothing and densifying the building material is made.

Thus, it is provided that both at least one means for applying the particulate building material and at least one means for stripping or smoothing the applied particulate building material are arranged in the application arrangement that can be moved over the construction field. If the application arrangement is moved over the construction field, the means arranged in the application arrangement also move with the application arrangement. If the means are arranged at a certain distance from one another in the application arrangement, can it can be provided that this specific spacing of the means from one another is maintained during the movement of the application arrangement over the construction field. In one embodiment, in a manufacturing step of the application arrangement, the means can be firmly connected to the application arrangement at a certain distance from one another.

Due to the spatial separation of the funds, mutual influencing of the funds is excluded. The technical separation enables each means to be controlled or regulated separately and independently of another means.

Particulate building material is generally understood to be a collection of individual particles of a substance or a mixture of substances, each particle having a three-dimensional extension. Since these particles can predominantly be understood as round, oval or elongated particles, it is possible to specify an average diameter for such a particle, which is mostly in the range between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm. Such a particulate building material has fluid properties.

Provision is made for the particulate building material to be applied to a building field, for example via a roller, or alternatively via a rounded edge. The particulate building material lies on this construction field and is subsequently smoothed by a means which is spatially separated from the roller or edge and which has at least one blade.

In one embodiment it is provided that the blade smooths and compacts the particulate building material.

In an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the compacting of the particle-shaped building material is carried out by means of a separate further compacting means that is independent of the blade and independent of the roll or rounded edge.

When smoothing the particulate building material, the excess of applied particulate building material, which is intended to ensure an evenly filled building area, creates a so-called “mountain” or excess material. The height of this mountain depends on the amount of material applied, for example, via the roller and can thus be set, for example, via a speed of the roller.

It is advantageous here that the excess material or mountain is kept as small as possible, since in this way the forces acting on the already generated print image underneath or the already partially generated 3D structure become smaller when smoothing the building material.

The more evenly the application of the building material over the entire outlet width of the roller, the smaller the mountain can be driven in front of the blade.

Furthermore, it is provided that a first assembly with a means for applying the particulate building material to a construction field and in a second assembly, which is spatially and technically spaced from the first assembly, a means for smoothing the applied particulate building material is arranged in the application arrangement becomes. Thus, both the first subassembly and the second subassembly are arranged in an application arrangement, the assemblies moving along with the application arrangement over the construction field due to their coupling to the application arrangement. This creates both a spatially separate arrangement of the various means and the possibility of changing the distances between the various means within the application arrangement.

It can be provided here that the distances between the various means in the application arrangement are structurally predetermined. Alternatively, a means can be provided for changing the distances during operation of the 3D printer, with which, for example, the distances can be adapted to different particulate building materials or the printing qualities to be achieved.

A particular advantage of the technical and thus spatial separation of the means within the application arrangement is that the work steps of applying the particulate building material, smoothing the particulate building material and compressing the particulate building material are not mutually exclusive influence, although these work steps are carried out in a movement process of the application arrangement over the construction field. Such an influence takes place in the prior art as in a method with a swing blade, since this applies, smooths and compacts at the same time. According to the invention, the process parameters of the respective work steps: orders, compaction and smoothing can be coordinated with one another and regulated independently of one another. Furthermore, they can also be merged in a control loop.

It is provided that a means for applying the particulate building material and a plurality of means for smoothing the applied particulate building material are arranged in the application arrangement. By dividing the smoothing process over several subassemblies, such as several blades, the forces acting on a 3D structure that is already under the layer currently to be produced can be reduced. This has a beneficial effect on the quality of the 3D structure generated.

It is envisaged that a first means for applying particulate building material and a first means for smoothing the applied particulate building material and a second means for applying particulate building material and a second means for smoothing the applied particulate building material are arranged in a coater arrangement.

A multiple arrangement of such agents in the order listed makes it possible to apply different particulate building materials to the construction field in one movement of the application arrangement over the construction field. In addition, it becomes possible for a layer consisting of two different partial layers to be applied, it being possible for the partial layers to consist of the same particulate building material or different particulate building materials.

It is also provided that the means for applying the particulate building material to the building site is a roll with a corresponding associated storage container and means for metering the building material. It is also provided that the means for smoothing the particulate building material is a blade or a doctor blade.

Due to the spatially separated arrangement of the means for applying the particulate building material from the means for smoothing the applied particulate building material within a coater arrangement, the associated process steps of application and smoothing take place one after the other when the coater arrangement moves over the construction field. Thus, after the application of the particulate building material, a certain time elapses in which the particulate building material rests before it is smoothed. This rest time has a beneficial effect on the quality of the creation of a layer and also has an advantageous effect on the quality of the 3D print created.

It is also provided that when the layer is produced, at least a first partial layer and a second partial layer are applied over the construction field in a movement process of the application arrangement, which have the thickness of the layer in a summation of their partial layer thicknesses. There is no provision for a limitation to only two partial layers in the layer.

In addition to the features already described, the applied and smoothed particulate material is compacted. This process step can also be implemented by the means for smoothing the particulate building material or implemented by a separate means for compacting.

After application of the particulate building material according to the invention, a process step follows in which a selective solidification of the applied layer of non-solidified particulate building material takes place in predetermined subregions. This process step is not important for the present invention and is therefore not explained in detail here.

Methods known from the prior art, such as solidification by printing on or application of a treatment agent, such as a binding agent, or the use of a laser, are possible.

The features and advantages of this invention explained above are, after careful study of the following detailed description of the preferred th, non-limiting example embodiments of the invention with the accompanying drawings to better understand and evaluate, which show:

1: a perspective and exemplary representation of the arrangement according to the invention in a first embodiment,

2: a perspective and exemplary representation of the arrangement according to the invention with two means for applying and two spatially separated means for smoothing particulate building material,

3: a perspective and exemplary representation of the arrangement according to the invention with a means for applying and several spatially separated means for smoothing particulate building material,

FIG. 4: a further illustration of the arrangement from FIG. 3,

FIG. 5: a basic illustration of the mode of operation of several means for smoothing particulate building material and

Fig. 6: two spatially separate arrangements according to the invention, each with a means for applying and a means for smoothing particulate building material over a construction field.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective and exemplary representation of the arrangement 1 according to the invention with a means 2 for application and a spatially separate means 3 for smoothing a particulate building material 10, not shown in FIG. 1, in a first embodiment in a direction of view obliquely from below onto the arrangement 1 The means 2 can be designed, for example, as a roller and the means 3, for example, as a blade or a doctor blade. The arrangement 1 also has a means 15 for compacting the applied and smoothed building material 10. The means 15 can, for example, also be designed as a blade. The following figures do not show the means 15 for compacting the applied and smoothed building material 10.

The arrangement 1 or the application arrangement 1 has a means 2 for applying a particulate building material 10 and a means 3 for smoothing the par ticulate building material 10, the means 2 in an assembly 4a and the means 3 in a spatially spaced from the Assembly 4a arranged assembly 4b is arranged. The means 15 for compacting the applied and smoothed building material 10 is arranged in an assembly 4c which is spatially spaced from the assemblies 4a and 4b.

The assemblies 4a, 4b and 4c have components such as holding elements, drives, sensors, actuators and others, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the corresponding assembly 4a, 4b and 4c. Thus, for example, a storage container for the particulate building material 10 is also provided in the assembly 4a, as well as a roller or roller via which the particulate building material 10 is transferred to a building field 5, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 1 and in the following figures by means of one of a dash-dashed line bordered area is shown, is applied. Further components of the assemblies are not to be explained further here, since these can be exchanged as desired and are not essential for the present invention.

The distance 6a between the means 2 and the means 3 and the distance 6b between the means 3 and the means 15 in FIG. 1 can each be set independently of one another.

The arrow 16 illustrates the direction in which the arrangement 1 is moved when the particulate construction material 10 is applied over the construction field 5.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective and exemplary representation of the spatially separated arrangement 1 according to the invention for producing a layer 11 of a particulate building material 10 in a 3D printer in a further embodiment in a viewing direction obliquely from below onto the arrangement 1.

The arrangement 1 or the application arrangement 1 has a first means 2a for applying the particulate building material 10, not shown in FIG. 2, and a first means 3a for smoothing the particulate building material 10. The first means 2a is arranged in an assembly 4a. The first means 3a is arranged in an assembly 4b that is spatially spaced from the assembly 4a. It is provided that the means 2a and 3a are arranged at the same distance from the surface of the construction area 5 and can be moved with the application arrangement 1 in an imaginary plane above the construction area 5. The assembly 4a has at least one means 2a for applying the particulate building material 10.

The assembly 4b has at least one means 3a for smoothing the previously applied particulate building material 10.

The application arrangement 1 is arranged above a construction field 5, over which the application arrangement 1 can be moved in the directions shown by means of the two arrows 16. The means necessary for moving and guiding the application arrangement 1 are not shown in FIG. According to the example in FIG. 2, the application arrangement 1 can be moved to the right and to the left, but in the embodiment shown, the creation of a layer 11 of the particulate building material 10 is only provided in one direction of movement to the left, since the means 2a is provided in the direction of movement the means 3a must be arranged. A restriction to the example in FIG. 2 is not intended.

In an embodiment in which the assemblies 4c and 4d are exchanged in their arrangement within the application subassembly 1b, it is possible to use the application assembly 1 in both directions to produce a layer 11 of the particulate building material 10.

Thus, in a direction of movement to the left, the coater subassembly 1a and in a direction of movement to the right the coater subassembly 1b is used to produce a layer 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, too, the means 2a and 3a can be arranged in the application arrangement 1 at an adjustable distance 6a from one another. This distance 6a, viewed from the central axis of one means to the central axis of the adjacent means, lies in a range between 10 mm and 150 mm, in particular in a range between 40 mm and 100 mm. This distance 6a is due to the technical design (type of application, type of smoothing, type of compaction) and is made as small as possible in order to keep the additional travel path as short as possible. For the distance 6b between the means 3 and the means 15 shown only in FIG. 1, the same dimensional ranges can apply as for the distance 6a. In a special embodiment it is provided that the distance 6a between the means 2a and the means 3a can be adjusted while the 3D printer is in operation. In this way, for example, an adaptation to different printing speeds and printing qualities can be achieved and special physical process parameters such as the fluid behavior of the particulate building material 10 or the idle time of the space printed with particulate building material 10 can be addressed.

Furthermore, it is provided as an example in FIG. 2 that an assembly 4c with a means 2b, which is also designed as a roller, and an assembly 4d with a means 3b, which is also designed as a blade, is arranged.

In this embodiment, the distance 6a between the means 2b and the means 3b is also adjustable. In addition, the distance, not shown in FIG. 2, between the first coater sub-arrangement 1a and the second coater sub-arrangement 1b can be freely selected. The distance between the coater sub-assemblies 1a and 1b thus determines the distance between the means 3a and 2b.

Such a coater arrangement 1, consisting of a first coater subassembly 1a and a second coater subassembly 1b, enables a layer 11 of the particulate building material 10, which is not shown in FIG. 2, to be produced, which consists of two sublayers. There is no restriction of the invention to only a first application subassembly 1a in connection with a second application subassembly 1b. If, for example, three coater subassemblies 1a, 1b and 1c are arranged in a coater arrangement 1, a layer 11 of the particulate building material 10 consisting of three sublayers can be produced.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective and exemplary representation of the arrangement 1 according to the invention or the application arrangement 1 from below with a means 2a for applying particulate building material 10 and several means 3a, 3b and 3c, spatially separated from the means 2a, for smoothing the particulate building material 10 shown. In FIG. 4, a further illustration of the arrangement from FIG. 3 is shown for better understanding. The following description can therefore relate to both FIGS. 3 and 4.

In this case, the means 2a is arranged in the first assembly 4a. The means 3a is arranged in the assembly 4b, the means 3b is arranged in the assembly 4d and the means 3c in the assembly 4e. As already stated for FIG. 2, each assembly 4a, 4b, 4d and 4e has further components such as holding elements, drives, sensors, actuators and others, which are not explained in more detail here.

The means 2a in the first assembly 4a is designed, for example, as a roller, via which the particulate building material 10 is evenly applied to the construction field 5, while the application arrangement 1 moves evenly over the construction field 5 in the direction shown by the left arrow 16 to the left emotional. Such means 2a with a roller for applying the building material 10 are known from the prior art.

During this movement over the construction field 5, it is provided that the assemblies 4a, 4b, 4d and 4e with the application arrangement 1 are moved uniformly and together in the same direction and in an imaginary plane over the construction field 5, the distances between the means 2a, 3a, 3b and 3c and their distances from the surface of the construction field 5 do not change during the movement of the application arrangement 1 over the construction field 5.

When the application arrangement 1 moves to the left, a first smoothing step 7 of the particulate construction material 10 applied to the construction field 5 is carried out by means of the means 3a arranged in the assembly 4b, which is designed as a blade in the example in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the same movement process of the application arrangement 1, but following in time, a second smoothing step 8 is carried out by means of the blade 3b arranged in the assembly 4d and a third smoothing step 9 is carried out by means of the blade 3c arranged in the assembly 4e.

A representation of the smoothing of the particulate building material 10 divided into three smoothing steps 7, 8 and 9 in a movement process of the coating The arrangement 1 above the construction field 5 is shown in FIG. 5 in a schematic diagram.

The particulate building material 10, which has been applied by a means 2 (not shown) for applying the particulate building material 10, is shown above a construction field 5. The three means 3a, 3b and 3c for smoothing the particulate building material 10 are moved simultaneously and uniformly in the direction of movement shown by the arrow 16 over the building field 5.

Here, a first smoothing step 7 is carried out with the means 3a, a second smoothing step 8 with the means 3b and a third smoothing step 7 with the means 3c, which in their sum includes the applied and smoothed particulate building material 10, i.e. one applied according to the invention in FIG layer 11, not shown any further.

It is provided here that the means 3a, 3b and 3c are arranged aligned at an angle 12 to the vertical above the construction field 5. Such an angle 12 has the effect that the means 3a, 3b and 3c not only smooth the building material 10, but also that the building material 10 is compacted. This angle 12 can be in a range between -80 ° and + 80 °, in particular in a range between -20 ° and + 20 °.

It is also provided that the angle 12 is set to be the same size for all three means 3a, 3b and 3c. Alternatively, it is possible that a different angle can be set for each means 3a, 3b and 3c.

It is provided here that the shape of the edge of the blade or the squeegee can influence the compaction, the flow behavior and the positioning of the particulate building material.

FIG. 6 shows two spatially separate coater subassemblies 1a and 1b, each with a means 2 for applying and a means 3 for smoothing particulate building material 10, viewed obliquely from below, above a construction field 5.

The application subassembly 1a has a first assembly 4a in which at least one means 2a for applying particulate building material 10 is attached. is ordered. The application subassembly 1a also has a second assembly 4b in which at least one means 3a for smoothing the applied particulate building material 10 is arranged. In the example in FIG. 6, the means 2a is a roller and the means 3a is a blade.

Immediately next to the first application subassembly 1a, the application assembly 1 has a further application subassembly 1b. The application subassembly 1b has an assembly 4c in which at least one means 2b for applying particulate building material 10 is arranged. The application subassembly 1b also has a further assembly 4d in which at least one means 3b for smoothing the applied particulate building material 10 is arranged. In the example in FIG. 6, the means 2b is a roller and the means 3b is a blade.

The application arrangement 1 can be moved over the construction field 5 in the directions shown by the arrows 16. In addition, as is known from the prior art, the application arrangement 1 can also be moved at a distance from the construction field 5. In this way, the distance from the construction field 5 can be increased or decreased.

As usual, with a continuous build-up of layers 11, the application arrangement 1 moves continuously upwards away from the construction field 5, it being possible for this movement to be controlled accordingly. It is thus possible to move the coating arrangement 1 away from the construction field 5 by the entire amount of the height of a layer 11 produced. It is also possible to move the application arrangement 1 away from the construction field 5 by only a portion of the total height of a layer 11 produced.

In the construction field 5 shown in Figure 6, three layers 11a,

11 b and 11 c generated. The application arrangement 1 is shown in a movement directed to the left in FIG. During this movement, a first partial layer 13 is produced by means of the first coater partial arrangement 1a. This production of the first partial layer 13 takes place in such a way that particulate building material 10 is applied to the previously produced layer 11c by means 2a of a roller and smoothed by means of means 3a of a blade. In the same movement process of the application arrangement 1, a second partial layer 14 is produced by means of the second application sub-arrangement 1b. The second partial layer 14 is produced in such a way that particulate building material 10 is applied to the previously produced first partial layer 13 by the means 2b and smoothed with the means 3b.

By means of the application arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 6, it is possible, in one movement of the application arrangement 1 over the construction field 5, in FIG. 6 from right to left by way of example, by means of the application subassembly 1a or the application subassembly 1b, a complete layer 11 of the particulate construction material 10 to create.

In a first alternative, a complete layer 11 of the particulate building material 10 can be produced in such a way that, in a movement process of the application arrangement 1 above the construction field 5, a first sub-layer 13 is generated through the first application sub-arrangement 1a and a second sub-layer 14 is generated through the second application sub-arrangement 1b . Here, the complete layer 11 is composed of the first partial layer 13 and the second partial layer 14 in equal or different proportions.

In another alternative, a complete layer 11 of the particulate building material 10 can be generated in such a way that, in one movement process of the application arrangement 1 over the construction field 5, the entire thickness of the layer 11 is first generated by means of the first application subassembly 1a, with a first particulate building material 10a is used and that subsequently a complete thickness of the layer 11 is produced by means of the second coater subassembly 1b, a second particulate building material 10b being used. This process is shown in FIG. 6 in the layer 11a that has already been produced. This process can be repeated any number of times with alternating particulate building material 10a and 10b. In the event that the application arrangement 1 has, for example, three application subassemblies 1a, 1b and 1c, it is possible to create the layer 11 using three different particulate building materials 10a, 10b and 10c. Thus, the application arrangement 1 according to the invention enables the layer 11 to be generated both by means of various particulate building materials 10 and the layer 11 to be generated by means of several sub-layers 13, 14 in one movement of the application arrangement 1 over the construction field 5, although there is no restriction to only two sub-layers is.

Some of the possibilities resulting from the application arrangement 1 in the production of the layer 11 are shown in the layers 11a, 1b and 11c in FIG.

In each of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, it can be provided that in addition to the means 2 for applying the particulate building material 10 to a construction field 5 and the means 3 for smoothing the applied particulate building material 10, a further means for compacting 15 the particulate building material 10 is arranged.

List of the reference symbols used

1, 1a, 1b. 1n arrangement for producing a layer of a particulate building material in a 3D printer / coater assembly / coater subassembly

2, 2a, 2b, ..., 2n means for applying particulate building material / roller

3, 3a, 3b, ..., 3n means for smoothing particulate building material /

blade

4, 4a, 4b. 4n assembly

5 construction site

6a, 6b spacing

7 first smoothing step

8 second smoothing step 9 third smoothing step

10, 10a, 10b .10n particulate building material

11, 11a, 11b, ..., 11 n layer of particulate building material 12 angles

13 first sub-layer

14 second partial layer

15 means for compacting particulate building material

16 arrow

Claims

1. Arrangement (1) for producing a layer (11) of a particulate building material (10) in a 3D printer, in which at least one means (2) for applying a particulate building material (10) and a means (3) for smoothing of the particulate building material (10) is arranged, characterized in that a first assembly (4a) with a means (2) for applying the particulate building material (10) to a Construction field (5) and a second assembly (4b), which is technically separated and spatially spaced from the first assembly (4a) in the arrangement (1), with a means (3) for smoothing the applied particulate building material (10) is.

2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the arrangement (1) at least one further assembly (4d) is arranged with a with tel (3b) for smoothing the applied particulate building material (10).

3. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the arrangement (1) at least one further assembly (4c) with a means (2b) for applying the particulate building material (10) to the construction field (5) and another Assembly (4d) with a means (3b) for smoothing the applied particulate building material (10) are arranged.

4. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (2) for applying the particulate building material (10) to a construction field (5) is a roller.

5. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means (3) for smoothing the particulate building material (10) is a blade.

6. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means (2) is arranged at a distance (6a) from the means (3) in the arrangement (1).

7. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the arrangement (1) a further assembly (4) with a means for compressing (15) of the applied particulate building material (10) is arranged.

8. A method for producing a layer (11) of a particulate building material (10) in a 3D printer, in which a particulate building material (10) is applied, smoothed and compacted to produce the layer (11), characterized in that in one First process step by means of a coater arrangement (1) provided over a construction field (5) and movable over this construction field (5), the particulate construction material (10) is applied to the construction field (5) and that in a time following and from the first process step independent second method step, the applied particulate building material (10) is smoothed, the first and the second method step being carried out in one movement process of the application arrangement (1) over the construction field (5).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in the first method step for producing the layer (11) in a movement process of the application arrangement (1) over the construction field (5) a first particulate building material (10a) and / or a second particulate form sat Building material (10b) is applied to the construction field (5).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the first method step for producing the layer (11) in a movement process of the application arrangement (1) over the construction field (5) at least one first partial layer (13) and a second partial layer ( 14) is applied.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that in the second process step the smoothing of the applied particulate building material (10) by at least a first smoothing step (7) and a second smoothing step (8) in one movement of the application device (1) takes place above the construction field (5).

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that in a time subsequent to the first or second method step and independent of this third method step, the applied or applied and smoothed particulate building material (10) is compacted.