JP2000272017A - Laminating and shaping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a time required to form an object to be manufactured by forming a portion in which a layer to be transferred is removed on a portion from a ribbon coated with the layer to be transferred as a mask, and controlling to convey the mask to an exposure position. SOLUTION: A printer 14 is provided at an intermediate portion on an advancing route from a ribbon supply unit 12 to a ribbon advancing direction converting roller 15 to execute drawing of a ribbon 11 coated with a layer to be transferred. The printer 14 has a thermal transfer print head which prints under the control of a controller 40. A layer 11b to be transferred is partly removed from the ribbon 11 through its printing operation, this partly removing pattern is used as a mask in the case of a surface exposure, and the mask is controlled to be conveyed to an exposure position. Thus, a time required to form an object to be manufactured can be shortened, and the overall apparatus can be simplified and reduced in size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an additive manufacturing apparatus, and is applicable to, for example, an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional structure by a powder sintering method using a powder or an ink jet method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of manufacturing a three-dimensional structure, two-dimensional slice data for each layer obtained by slicing shape data of an object to be manufactured on a plane orthogonal to a certain coordinate axis on a three-dimensional coordinate axis is obtained. There is an additive manufacturing method for manufacturing a desired three-dimensional structure by gradually forming (stacking) the shape of each layer from the shape of the lower layer or the upper layer based on the above. Among the additive manufacturing methods, there are a powder sintering method using a powder and an ink jet method.

[0003] The powder sintering method is a method in which powder is used as a laminating raw material and powder particles are mutually bonded by light beam heating to perform lamination molding. For example, utilizing the fluidity of the powder, a thin layer is formed by a horizontally moving roller or blade blade, and the layer is selectively irradiated with a light beam for heating according to the two-dimensional slice data of the layer. , Forming the shape of the layer.

The ink jet method includes a binder method and a deposition method. In the ink jet binder method, a powder is used as a laminating material. The inkjet binder method is
This is a method in which powder particles are bonded to each other by dropping a liquid material for bonding to perform additive manufacturing. For example, utilizing the fluidity of powder, a thin layer is formed by a horizontally moving roller or blade blade, etc., and a liquid material for bonding is selectively dropped on the layer according to the two-dimensional slice data of the layer. Then, the shape of the layer is formed.

[0005]

However, in the powder sintering method, the selective irradiation of the heating light beam according to the two-dimensional slice data is performed by scanning the light beam.
Therefore, it takes a long time to create the shape of one layer, and naturally, it takes a long time to create the entire shape of the desired three-dimensional structure. In addition, even when any of random scan, raster scan, and vector scan is employed, the light beam may need to be interrupted during scanning, and the intermittent control tends to be complicated. further,
The scanning configuration is a configuration capable of responding to any position on the two-dimensional coordinates, so the configuration is complicated, and the scanning accuracy tends to be expensive due to high demands on its positional accuracy.

In the ink-jet binder method, since the selective dropping of the liquid material in accordance with the two-dimensional slice data is performed by scanning a dropping nozzle, it takes a long time to form a shape of one layer. It takes time, and of course, it takes a long time to create the desired overall shape of the three-dimensional structure. In addition, it is necessary to appropriately interrupt the intermittent drop during the scanning of the nozzle, and the intermittent control is likely to be complicated. Furthermore, since the scanning configuration is a configuration that can respond to any position on the two-dimensional coordinates, the configuration is complicated, the position accuracy is required to be high, and the scanning configuration tends to be expensive.

The above-described powder sintering method is similar to the stereolithography method using a photo-curable resin as a laminated material in that light is selectively irradiated to the laminated material. For this reason, the current powder sintering method is not adopted in terms of light intensity, but the surface exposure method using a mask proposed by stereolithography has
It is conceivable that the present invention is also applied to the powder sintering method. When the surface exposure method is applied, it is expected that the production time will be shortened.

In the case of the conventional stereolithography, a mask having a transmission pattern corresponding to two-dimensional slice data is conventionally provided by:
A transparent pattern is formed on one surface of a rigid translucent plate member such as glass. In order to form a three-dimensional structure by stereolithography, many masks are required.

However, the configuration in which a mask corresponding to the target layer at that time is selected from a plurality of rigid masks and is opposed to the photocurable resin layer is complicated and large, and the optical molding is difficult. The entire device is also complicated and large. In addition, the configuration itself for forming a mask made of a translucent plate member having rigidity is also easily complicated and large. Therefore, it is often the case that the configuration for performing the optical modeling and the configuration for creating the mask are formed as separate units, and from this point, the overall configuration of the optical modeling apparatus is also complicated and easily enlarged, and the mask forming unit is also provided. Therefore, a configuration for transferring a mask to an optical shaping unit is also required.

[0010] Such a problem will occur similarly even if the surface exposure method is temporarily applied to the powder sintering method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and uses a powder as a laminated material that requires a short time to prepare an object to be manufactured, and that can be simple and compact. An object of the present invention is to provide an additive manufacturing apparatus.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is to irradiate a sintering powder material which is sinter-bonded mutually in response to light with exposure light through a mask. And forming a shape of one layer of the object to be manufactured, and repeating the shape forming process of one layer to form a desired object to be manufactured. The transfer layer is partially removed from the transfer layer coating ribbon by a printing process using a transfer layer coating ribbon having a transfer layer, and the transfer layer is partially removed from the transfer layer coating ribbon. And (2) mask transport control means for transporting and controlling the created mask to the exposure position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the bonding liquid material is supplied via a mask to the powder materials to be bonded which are mutually bonded by supplying the bonding liquid material. And a repetition of the shape forming process for one layer to form a desired object to be manufactured, comprising: (1) a base sheet capable of passing through the liquid material for bonding; The coating layer is partially removed from the ribbon by a printing process using a ribbon having a coating layer that cannot pass through the binding liquid material, and the portion where the coating layer is partially removed from the ribbon is removed. It is characterized by having a mask preparation means for preparing a mask and (2) a mask transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the prepared mask to the supply position of the binding liquid material.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (A) First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment belongs to the category of the sintering method.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, this powder sintering molding apparatus 1
In general terms, a mask making and transporting unit 10 for creating a mask and transporting the mask to a predetermined position, a parallel light irradiating unit 20 for forming parallel light (parallel light beam) required for surface exposure, and forming an exposure material layer for each layer Object forming unit 3 for controlling the position and position
0 and a control unit 40 that performs overall control of the additive manufacturing apparatus 1 and the like.

The mask making / conveying section 10 includes a transfer layer coating ribbon 11, a transfer layer coating ribbon supply section (hereinafter simply referred to as a ribbon supply section) 12, and a transfer layer coating ribbon winding section (hereinafter simply referred to as a ribbon winding section). 1), a printing unit 14, and rollers 15 and 16 for changing the transfer direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon (hereinafter simply referred to as ribbon transfer direction changing rollers).

The transfer layer coating ribbon 11 is a transparent sheet 1
The transfer-receiving layer 11b is applied on the substrate 1a, for example, so as to be thermally transferable (peelable by heating). In the case of this embodiment, the transparent sheet 11a, which is one component of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11, can transmit a sintering light beam (exposure light). The transferred layer 11b, which is the other component of the ribbon 11, blocks the transmission of exposure light.

In the case of the first embodiment, a powder to be sintered and bonded is applied as a laminated material. The transfer-receiving layer 11b may be a layer that absorbs light rays and blocks transmission of exposure light, or may be a layer that reflects light rays and blocks transmission of exposure light. In the former case, for example, an ink layer can be applied as the transferred layer 11b, and in the latter case, for example, a metal thin film layer can be applied as the transferred layer 11b. In the powder sintering method, the exposure light needs a power enough to sinter the powder. Therefore, it is preferable that the transferred layer 11b reflects the light beam and blocks the transmission of the exposure light.

The ribbon supply section 12 winds the above-described transfer layer coating ribbon 11 so that it can be pulled out. The ribbon winding unit 13 includes a motor (for example, a pulse motor) that can rotate in only one direction under the control of the control unit 40 and that can finely control the amount of rotation, and winds the transfer layer coating ribbon 11. Through the execution, the transfer target layer application ribbon 11 is pulled out from the ribbon supply unit 12.

The winding of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 by the ribbon winding section 13 means the transport of the mask as described later.

A pair of ribbon advancing rollers 15 (upstream in the advancing direction) and 16 (downstream in the advancing direction) form a traveling path of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 from the ribbon supply unit 12 to the ribbon winding unit 13. It is provided above and spaced apart. For example, the ribbon advancing direction changing rollers 15 and 16 change the advancing direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 by 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction. The portion of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 between the pair of ribbon advancing direction changing rollers 15 and 16 faces a sintering powder layer to be exposed, which will be described later.

The printing unit 14 is provided at an intermediate portion on a traveling path from the ribbon supply unit 12 to the ribbon traveling direction changing roller 15. The printing unit 14 includes, for example, a thermal transfer print head, and performs a printing operation under the control of the control unit 40. Through this printing operation, the transfer layer is partially removed from the transfer layer coating ribbon 11, and the partially removed pattern is used as a mask (mask pattern) in surface exposure, as described later. Although not described in detail, the printing unit 14 also includes a print medium such as a sheet or a paper ribbon to which the transfer layer removed from the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 adheres, and a transport mechanism of the print medium. .

The parallel light irradiator 20 includes a light source 21, a condenser lens 22, an optical shutter 23, a pinhole 24, a collimator lens 25, and a prism 26. The light source 21, the condenser lens 22, the optical shutter 23, the pinhole 2
4. The optical axes of the entrance surfaces of the collimator lens 25 and the prism 26 are coincident. Further, the condenser lens 22, the collimator lens 25, and the prism 26 transmit a wavelength component necessary for sintering and bonding of the sintering powder described later without substantially attenuating.

The light source 21 emits surface light having a uniform power as exposure light. As the light source 21, for example, a plurality of CO2 laser light sources having relatively large optical powers are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix,
A device that smoothes outgoing light from a plurality of CO2 laser light sources in a dimensional matrix to produce surface light having uniform power can be applied. The light source 21 is preferably a light source that can emit parallel light, and is hereinafter referred to as parallel light.

The condenser lens 22 is for condensing (converging) the parallel light from the light source 21. For example, it is preferable to use a glass lens in which a back focus variation due to temperature is smaller than that of a plastic lens.

The optical shutter 23 opens and closes under the control of the control unit 40, and controls the passage or non-passage of a light beam (converged light) through the condenser lens 22. For example, an electromagnetic shutter can be applied. . One opening time of the optical shutter 23 is selected to be the same as the exposure time required for forming the shape of one layer.

The pinhole 24 is provided on the focal plane on the exit side of the condenser lens 22 and on the focal plane on the entrance side of the collimator lens 25. The pinhole 24 has an aperture function.

The collimator lens 25 has a pinhole 24
This converts the luminous flux (divergent light) from the light into parallel light.
Even when the effective luminous flux area of the parallel light from the light source 21 is different from the effective luminous flux area of the parallel light required for exposure, the function of the condenser lens 22, the pinhole 24, and the collimator lens 25 An effective luminous flux area of parallel light required for exposure can be obtained. In addition, as the collimator lens 25, it is preferable to use, for example, a glass lens in which a back focus variation due to temperature is smaller than that of a plastic lens. Even if the light beam emitted from the light source 21 is not parallel light,
With the functions of the pinhole 24 and the collimator lens 25, parallel light required for exposure can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the prism 26 is provided as a deflecting means for deflecting the traveling direction of the parallel light. In this embodiment, the deflection angle is 90 degrees clockwise.
Degrees. The prism 26 may have a function of causing the parallel light to make the effective width in one direction on the orthogonal plane thereof different from the effective width in the other direction. The light emitted from the prism 26 (parallel light) is emitted as a light flux required for surface exposure to the powder layer for sintering via a mask (the portion of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11).

The object-to-be-exposed forming section 30 includes the structure mounting substrate 3
1, a frame 32, a sintering powder 33, a substrate vertical moving part 34, a powder supply part 35, and the like.

The structure mounting substrate 31 has a three-dimensional structure (the hatched portion in FIG. 1) formed on the substrate 31 by the powder sintering method.

The frame 32 is provided so as to surround the structure mounting board 31 without any gap. The sintering powder 3 is formed by the frame 32 and the structure mounting substrate 31.
A space for accommodating 3 is formed.

The sintering powder 33 is such that the powder particles are mutually bonded by receiving the exposure light. As the sintering powder 33, any of a wax powder, a resin powder, a metal powder, and a ceramic powder may be used.
Because of the surface exposure method, wax powder or resin powder having a low sintering temperature or the like is preferable.

The board up / down moving section 34 moves the structure mounting board 31 up and down under the control of the control section 40. The minimum unit of the vertical movement of the structure mounting substrate 31 by the substrate vertical movement part 34 is such that the movement by the thickness of one sintering powder layer can be realized.

The powder supply section 35 includes a horizontally moving roller and a blade blade. The powder supply unit 35 additionally supplies the sintering powder 33 to a space formed by the structure mounting substrate 31 and the frame 32 under the control of the control unit 40,
This is flattened by a roller or a blade to form a single powder layer for sintering to be exposed at that time.

As described above, the control section 40 controls the whole of the powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1.
A computer equivalent to a so-called personal computer can be applied. The control unit 40 functionally includes a layer data forming function unit (for example, a program) 41 that converts three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into two-dimensional slice data, and a three-dimensional structure based on the two-dimensional slice data. It has a molding control function unit (for example, composed of a program) 42 for powder sintering molding of a product. Note that the control unit 40 may have a CAD function itself for forming three-dimensional shape data, and may transfer three-dimensional shape data formed by another device (for example, a CAD device) via a recording medium or transferred. Or it may be something that can be captured. Further, the control unit 40 may be provided with data at the stage of the two-dimensional slice data from another device (for example, a CAD device).

Although not shown in FIG. 1, in this powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1, the optical system elements are appropriately surrounded by a cylindrical or box-shaped frame so as to prevent the adverse effects of disturbance light. ing. When a layer that reflects light rays and blocks transmission of exposure light is applied as the transferred layer 11b of the transferred layer coating ribbon 11, a configuration that absorbs reflected return light is also required. For example, if the exposure light is polarized light, a polarizing beam splitter is applied instead of the prism 26, and a 波長 wavelength plate is provided on the output side thereof.
The optical path of the exposure light and the return light may be separated by a polarization beam splitter, and an absorber for the separated return light may be provided on the exit side of the return light of the polarization beam splitter.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, when the powder 33 for sintering was additionally supplied to the space formed by the structure mounting substrate 31 and the frame 32, the powder fell from the space. An accommodating section for accommodating the sintering powder 33 may be provided.

The operation of the powder sintering molding apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described below. Here, the operation performed by the control unit 40 to convert the three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into the two-dimensional slice data is the same as that of the related art, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the apparatus for actually performing the powder sintering molding will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the control unit 40 starts controlling the operation of the apparatus when actually performing the powder sintering modeling (the modeling control function unit 42)
First, the layer parameter N is set to the initial value 1 (step S1). In the initial state, the optical shutter 23 is closed.

Thereafter, the control unit 40 controls the substrate vertical movement unit 34
And the powder supply unit 35 to form an Nth sintering powder layer, and to set the distance between the Nth sintering powder layer and the transferred layer coating ribbon 11 facing this layer. A predetermined distance is set (step S2).

Next, the control unit 40 checks whether or not the N-layer mask pattern and the (N-1) -layer mask pattern are the same (step S3). Otherwise, N
The two-dimensional slice data relating to the layer is taken out, the ribbon winding unit 13 and the printing unit 14 are controlled, and through the printing process,
An N-layer mask is formed on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11, and the N-layer mask is located at a position facing the Nth sintering powder layer (step S4).

When the preparation and transport of the N-layer mask are completed, or when the N-layer mask pattern and the (N-1) -layer mask pattern are the same and a positive result is obtained in step S3, the control unit 40 The optical shutter 23 is opened only for the time required for the exposure of one layer, and the Nth sintering powder layer is exposed through the N layer mask (step S).
5). By this exposure, in the Nth sintering powder layer,
The portions of the powder that are received through the N-layer mask are bonded together.

Thereafter, the control unit 40 controls the final layer (Nmax)
(Step S)
6) If the exposure of the final layer has not been completed, the layer parameter N is incremented by 1 (step S7), and the process returns to the above-described step S2. When the exposure of the final layer is also completed, a series of control operations ends. . The control unit 4
When a series of control operations are completed, the user is notified of the end of the process by a sound or by displaying a message on a display device.

Thus, the user can use the structure mounting board 3
The three-dimensional structure formed in the space formed by the frame 1 and the frame 32 is taken out. The removal may be automated.

According to the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) 1 of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) 1 of the first embodiment, the surface exposure method is employed in spite of the powder sintering method. The formation can be performed, and as a result, the desired three-dimensional structure can be rapidly formed.

In the conventional powder sintering and shaping apparatus, a scanning configuration of the light beam and an intermittent configuration of the light beam are required. However, such a configuration is required in the powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. Not required. The intermittent control of the light beam is complicated, but the opening control only for the exposure time as in the powder sintering modeling apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is simple.

Further, according to the powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, since the transfer layer coating ribbon after the printing process is applied as the mask, the mask making configuration and the mask conveying configuration are simple and small. As a result, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified and small.

Further, according to the powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, when a movable type of a print head is used as the printing unit, the exposure is performed simultaneously with the exposure of the N-layer sintering powder layer. Thus, it is also possible to create a mask of the (N + 1) layer.

Further, according to the powder sintering and shaping apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, since a mask is formed through a printing process, a print medium on which a mask pattern is printed can be obtained.
Not only can the control unit manage the mask pattern as data, but also the user can manage the mask pattern by the print medium.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment also belongs to the category of the sintering method. Lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the second embodiment
Also, the shape of one layer is formed by surface exposure through a mask.

FIG. 1 according to the above-described first embodiment can be regarded as a schematic configuration diagram showing the entire configuration of the powder sintering molding apparatus according to the second embodiment. However, the powder sintering molding apparatus of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the following points.

In the case of the first embodiment, the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 can run in only one direction.
In the embodiment, the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 can run in both directions. That is, in the case of the second embodiment, the ribbon winding section 13 applies a driving force to the traveling of the transfer target layer coating ribbon in the winding direction (referred to as forward traveling), and in the reverse direction. In the traveling, the shaft portion idles and the traveling in the reverse direction is allowed. On the other hand, in the forward traveling direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon, the shaft portion idles and the traveling in the forward direction is performed. And a driving force for traveling is given to traveling in the opposite direction.

In the powder sintering molding apparatus of the second embodiment,
Since the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 can travel in both directions, the processing of the control unit 40 is also different.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing a process performed by the layer data forming function section (for example, a program) 41 in the control section 40 of the second embodiment.

The control unit 40 converts the three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into two-dimensional slice data (step S1).
1). This method is the same as the conventional one. After that, the two-dimensional slice data of each layer is compared, and the layers of the two-dimensional slice data having the same shape are grouped to form group data (step S12), and the layer data forming process ends.

Here, the group data is, as shown in FIG. 3B, a group identification number, a layer number belonging to the group, and two-dimensional slice data, and mask position data to be described later is also added to the group data. Is done. As the group identification number, for example, the smaller the minimum value of the layer numbers belonging to the group, the smaller the number is assigned.

FIG. 4 shows a control unit 40 according to the second embodiment.
Modeling control function unit (for example, consisting of a program) 4
6 is a flowchart showing a process by No. 2.

When the control section 40 starts controlling the operation of the apparatus when powder sintering is actually performed, first, it sets a group parameter (group identification number) M to an initial value 1 (step S21).

Thereafter, the two-dimensional slice data of the M-th group is taken out, and the ribbon winding unit 13 and the printing unit 14 are controlled to perform the printing process on the ribbon 11 to be transferred.
Create a mask for each layer of the Mth group above,
The position data of the mask on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 is added to the group data (step S22). Thereafter, it is checked whether a mask for the last group (identification number Mmax) has been created (step S23). If not, the group parameter M is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step S22 (step S24).

When creating the mask, the ribbon winding section 1
Since only 3 causes the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 to run, the masks for each group are created without overlapping.

When the creation of masks for all groups is completed (Yes at step S23), the control unit 40
The layer parameter N is set to the initial value 1 (step S2
5).

After that, the control unit 40 controls the substrate
And the powder supply unit 35 to form an N-th sintering powder layer, and to set the distance between the N-th sintering powder layer and the transferred layer coating ribbon 11 facing this layer. A predetermined distance is set (step S26).

Next, the control section 40 recognizes the group to which the N layer belongs, further recognizes the position of the mask of the group on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11, and thereafter, the ribbon supply section 12 or the ribbon winding section The unit 13 is driven to position the mask of the group at a position facing the Nth sintering powder layer (steps S27 and S28).

Then, the control unit 40 opens the optical shutter 23 for a time required for exposure of one layer, and executes exposure of the Nth sintering powder layer through the mask (step S29).

Thereafter, the control unit 40 sets the final layer (Nmax)
It is confirmed whether or not the exposure of the layer has been completed (step S3).
0), if the exposure of the final layer is not completed, the layer parameter N is incremented by 1 (step S31), and the process returns to the above-described step S26. When the exposure of the final layer is also completed, a series of control operations is ended. .

Also in the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the second embodiment, since the surface exposure method is adopted and the transfer target layer coated ribbon after the printing process is applied as a mask, An effect similar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In addition, since only one mask of the layer related to the same two-dimensional slice data is prepared, the mask preparation efficiency is high, and the processing time of the entire modeling is reduced by the first time.
Can be expected to be shorter than the embodiment described above, and efficient use of the transfer layer coated ribbon can be achieved.

(C) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus of the third embodiment also belongs to the category of the sintering method. Lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the third embodiment
Also, the shape of one layer is formed by surface exposure through a mask.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the entire structure of a powder sintering molding apparatus according to the third embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. I have.

As is clear from the comparison between FIG. 5 and FIG. 1, in the powder sintering molding apparatus of the third embodiment, the zoom lens 27 for converting the size of the mask image under the control of the control unit 40. Is provided between the sintering powder layer to be exposed and the portion (mask) of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 facing the sintering powder layer.

In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the ribbon supply section 12 or the ribbon winding section 1
By the driving force of No. 3, the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 can run in both directions.

The processing of the control unit 40 of the third embodiment is performed by the control unit 40 of the first and second embodiments due to the bidirectional running property of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 and the addition of the zoom lens 27. The processing is different.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing the processing by the layer data forming function unit (for example, a program) 41 in the control unit 40 of the third embodiment.

The control unit 40 converts the three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into two-dimensional slice data (step S4).
1). This method is the same as the conventional one. Thereafter, the two-dimensional slice data of each layer is compared, and the layers of the two-dimensional slice data having the same or similar shape are grouped to form group data (step S42), and the layer data forming process ends.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6B, the group data includes a group identification number, two-dimensional slice data having the largest shape among the two-dimensional slice data of all layers belonging to the group, and a group. The layer number to which the layer belongs and the reduction ratio associated with the layer number, and mask position data to be described later are also added to the group data. As the group identification number, for example, the smaller the minimum value of the layer numbers belonging to the group, the smaller the number is assigned. The reduction ratio is a ratio of the two-dimensional slice data of the layer to the two-dimensional slice data of the maximum shape.

It is to be noted that the two-dimensional slice data having the minimum shape and the enlargement ratio based on the two-dimensional slice data may be stored. Alternatively, the two-dimensional slice data having an intermediate size and the reduction ratio based on the two-dimensional slice data may be stored. Alternatively, the enlargement ratio may be stored. The following description is based on the case where two-dimensional slice data having the maximum shape is used as a reference.

FIG. 7 shows a control unit 40 according to the third embodiment.
Modeling control function unit (for example, consisting of a program) 4
6 is a flowchart showing a process by No. 2.

When the control unit 40 starts controlling the operation of the apparatus when actually performing the powder sintering molding, first, it sets a group parameter (group identification number) M to an initial value 1 (step S51).

Then, the maximum shape two-dimensional slice data of the M-th group is taken out, and the ribbon take-up unit 13 and the printing unit 14 are controlled to print the M-th group on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 through the printing process. A mask is created, and position data of the mask on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 is added to the group data (step S52).
Thereafter, it is checked whether a mask for the last group (identification number Mmax) has been created (step S53), and if not, the group parameter M is incremented by 1 and the process returns to step S52 (step S54).

When the creation of the masks for all the groups is completed (Yes in step S53), the control unit 40
The layer parameter N is set to the initial value 1 (step S5)
5).

Thereafter, the control unit 40 controls the substrate vertical movement unit 34
And the powder supply unit 35 to form an N-th sintering powder layer, and to set the distance between the N-th sintering powder layer and the transferred layer coating ribbon 11 facing this layer. A predetermined distance is set (step S56).

Next, the control unit 40 recognizes the group to which the N layer belongs, and further recognizes the position of the mask of the group on the transfer layer coating ribbon 11, and thereafter, the ribbon supply unit 12 or the ribbon winding-up unit. By driving the unit 13, the mask of the group is positioned at a position opposed to the N-th sintering powder layer, and the magnification of the zoom lens 27 is reduced by recognizing the reduction ratio of the N-layer. Adjust to the rate (steps S57 to S59).

Then, the control section 40 opens the optical shutter 23 for the time required for the exposure of one layer, and executes the exposure of the Nth sintering powder layer through the mask and the zoom lens 27 (see FIG. 4). Step S60).

Thereafter, the control unit 40 sets the final layer (Nmax)
It is confirmed whether the exposure of the layer has been completed (step S6).
1) If the exposure of the final layer has not been completed, the layer parameter N is incremented by 1 (step S62), and the process returns to the above-described step S56. When the exposure of the final layer is also completed, a series of control operations ends. .

Also in the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the third embodiment, since the surface exposure method is adopted and the transfer target layer coated ribbon after the printing process is applied as a mask, An effect similar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In addition to this, since only one mask of the layer relating to the same or similar two-dimensional slice data is prepared, the mask preparation efficiency is high, and the processing time of the entire powder sintering molding is reduced by the first time. This can be expected to be shorter than that of the second embodiment, and efficient use of the transfer layer coating ribbon can be achieved.

As a modification of the third embodiment,
By slightly changing the magnification of the zoom lens 27 during one exposure time, it can be expected that the curved surface of the edge of each layer can be formed into a desired shape. In this case, it is necessary to include edge shape data in the two-dimensional slice data.

(D) Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment also belongs to the category of the sintering method. Lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the fourth embodiment
Also, the shape of one layer is formed by surface exposure through a mask.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the structure of a powder sintering molding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts. ing.

As is clear from the comparison between FIG. 8 and FIG. 1, in the powder sintering molding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the condenser lens 28 for fixedly reducing the size of the mask image is converted.
Is provided between the sintering powder layer to be exposed and the portion (mask) of the transfer layer coating ribbon 11 facing the sintering powder layer. That is, the condenser lens 28 functions to reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the exposure light through the mask and irradiate the powder to the sintering powder layer.

In other words, the condenser lens 28
From the light intensity per unit area of the exposure light reaching the mask,
It functions to increase the light intensity per unit area of the exposure light when irradiated to the sintering powder layer.

The control operation of the control unit 40 in the fourth embodiment may be the same as in the first or second embodiment.

Since the surface exposure method is employed and the print-receiving layer coated ribbon after the printing process is applied as a mask also in the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the fourth embodiment, An effect similar to that of the first or second embodiment can be obtained.

In addition to this, a condensing lens 28 is provided to increase the amount of received light per unit area in the sintering powder layer, so that the amount of exposure light from the light source 21 per unit area is reduced. The light source 21 can be made small and simple and inexpensive, and the amount of exposure light irradiated on the mask per unit area can be made small, so that the mask can be prevented from being deteriorated or damaged by the exposure light irradiation. The effect described above can also be obtained. Further, it is expected that the exposure time can be shortened by increasing the light amount.

(E) Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus of the fifth embodiment also belongs to the category of the sintering method. Lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the fifth embodiment
Also, the shape of one layer is formed by surface exposure through a mask.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the structure of a powder sintering molding apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. ing.

In the above-described first embodiment, the light source 21 irradiates the entire surface of the powder layer for sintering with exposure light (surface light). Axis on one side of the surface of the powder layer (this direction is defined as X direction:
A light source 21 for irradiating linear exposure light along the direction normal to the paper surface of FIG. 9) is applied. Therefore, the condenser lens 2
2. The optical shutter 23, the pinhole 24, the collimator lens 25, and the prism 26 also perform no optical operation in the X direction. In the case of the fifth embodiment,
The prism 26 can be moved in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction by a prism moving mechanism 29, so that linear exposure light along the X direction can be scanned in the Y direction of the sintering powder layer. Has been made.

The control operation of the control unit 40 in the fifth embodiment is almost the same as that in the first (or second) embodiment. The difference is that step S in FIG.
The fifth point is that the exposure involves scanning of the linear exposure light in the Y direction.

Also in the lamination molding apparatus (powder sintering molding apparatus) of the fifth embodiment, since the transfer layer coating ribbon after the printing process is applied as a mask, the effects associated therewith are the first and second. This is the same as the second embodiment.

In addition to this, a linear light is applied as the exposure light, and the linear exposure light is scanned in the direction orthogonal thereto to expose the sintering powder layer. Can be made smaller than the first embodiment.

(F) Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment belongs to the category of the inkjet binder method.

Here, FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a lamination molding apparatus (inkjet binder molding apparatus) of the sixth embodiment.

In FIG. 10, the ink-jet binder modeling apparatus 2 mainly includes a mask making / transporting section 50 for producing a mask and transporting the mask to a predetermined position, a liquid material supply section 60 for supplying a liquid material for binding, and each layer. Material layer forming section 7 for forming and controlling the position of the material layer to be bonded
0 and a control unit 80 that performs overall control of the additive manufacturing apparatus 2 and the like.

The mask producing / conveying section 50 includes a transfer layer coating ribbon 51, a transfer layer coating ribbon supply section (hereinafter simply referred to as a ribbon supply section) 52, and a transfer layer coating ribbon winding section (hereinafter simply referred to as a ribbon winding section). A transfer unit 53, a printing unit 54, and transfer roller for changing the transfer direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon (hereinafter, simply referred to as a ribbon transfer direction conversion roller) 55 and 56.

The transfer layer coating ribbon 51 is such that a transfer layer 51b is coated on a liquid material passing sheet 51a, for example, so as to be thermally transferable (peelable by heating). In the case of this embodiment, the liquid material passing sheet 51a, which is one of the components of the transferred layer coating ribbon 51, can pass the liquid material for binding. The transferred layer 51b which is the other component of
It cannot pass through the liquid material for binding. In the case of the sixth embodiment, a powder that is bound by a liquid material for binding is applied as a laminated material. As the liquid material passing sheet 51a, for example, a porous sheet can be applied. Further, it is preferable that the liquid material passing sheet 51a does not allow the binding liquid material to pass when the binding liquid material is placed on the upper surface of the sheet, and requires a certain force for passage.

The ribbon supply section 52 winds the above-mentioned transfer layer coating ribbon 51 so as to be drawn out. The ribbon winding unit 53 includes a motor (for example, a pulse motor) that can rotate in only one direction under the control of the control unit 80 and that can finely control the amount of rotation, and winds the transfer layer coating ribbon 51. Through the execution, the transfer target layer application ribbon 51 is pulled out from the ribbon supply unit 52.

The winding of the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 by the ribbon winding section 53 means the transport of the mask as described later.

A pair of ribbon advancing rollers 55 (upstream in the advancing direction) and 56 (downstream in the advancing direction) form a traveling path of the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 from the ribbon supply unit 52 to the ribbon winding unit 53. It is provided above and spaced apart. For example, the ribbon traveling direction changing roller 55
The moving direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 is changed by 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, and the ribbon moving direction changing roller 56 changes the moving direction of the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction. It is. Transfer layer coating ribbon 51 between a pair of ribbon advancing direction changing rollers 55 and 56
Is opposed to a powder layer to be bound, which will be described later, to be bound.

The printing section 54 is provided at an intermediate portion on a traveling path from the ribbon supply section 52 to the ribbon traveling direction changing roller 55. The printing unit 54 includes, for example, a thermal transfer print head, and performs a printing operation under the control of the control unit 80. Through this printing operation, the transferred layer is partially removed from the transferred layer coating ribbon 51, and the partially removed pattern is used as a mask (mask pattern) at the time of the binding process as described later. Since the portion of the mask from which the transfer-receiving layer is partially removed is formed only of the porous sheet 51a, it can pass through the binding liquid material.

The liquid material supply section 60 has a liquid material holding output section 61 and a liquid material supply drive section 62. The liquid material holding output unit 61 and the liquid material supply driving unit 62 supply the binding liquid material to the entire mask portion under the control of the control unit 80.

For example, the liquid material holding and outputting section 61 is a sponge member which holds the binding liquid material at a surface tension or the like, and the liquid material supply drive section 62 presses the sponge member against the mask to thereby bind the binding liquid material. A pressing member that allows the material to pass through the mask may be used. In addition, the liquid material holding output unit 61 is a rolling roller having a binding liquid material adhered to its surface,
The liquid material supply drive unit 62 may be a roller rolling member that causes the liquid material for binding to pass through the mask by rolling the rolling roller on the mask. Further, for example, the liquid material holding and outputting unit 61 is a two-dimensional array of a plurality of nozzles, and the liquid material supply drive unit 62 ejects the binding liquid material from these nozzles to mask the binding liquid material. It may be an ejection drive member that passes through.

The bonded material layer forming portion 70 includes a structure mounting substrate 71, a frame body 72, a bonded powder 73, and a substrate vertical moving portion 7.
4, a powder supply unit 75, a mask contact / non-contact drive unit 76, and the like.

The structure mounting substrate 71 is a substrate on which a three-dimensional structure is formed by an ink-jet binder method.

The frame 72 is provided so as to surround the structure mounting board 71 without any gap. The frame 72 and the structure mounting board 71 form a space for accommodating the powder 73 to be joined.

The powder 73 to be bound is one in which the powder particles are mutually bound by the liquid material for binding. As the powder 73 to be bonded, for example, a ceramic powder can be used.

The board vertical moving section 74 moves the structure mounting board 71 up and down under the control of the control section 80. The minimum unit of vertical movement of the structure mounting substrate 71 by the substrate vertical moving unit 74 is a unit that can realize movement of one layer by the thickness of the powder layer to be bonded.

[0121] The powder supply section 75 is provided with rollers and blade blades that move horizontally. Under the control of the control unit 80, the powder supply unit 75 additionally supplies the powder 73 to be bonded to the space formed by the structure mounting substrate 71 and the frame body 72, and smoothes the powder with a roller or a blade. Thus, one powder layer to be bonded at that time is formed.

The mask contact / non-contact driving section 76 moves the whole of the structure mounting board 71, the frame body 72, the powder to be joined 73, the board vertical moving section 74 and the like up and down, and the one to be joined at that point in time. The powder layer to be bonded is brought into contact with or separated from the mask.

As described above, the control section 80 controls the whole of the ink-jet binder molding apparatus 2, and for example, a computer such as a so-called personal computer can be applied. The control unit 80 functionally includes a layer data forming function unit (for example, a program) 81 that converts three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into two-dimensional slice data,
A shaping control function unit (for example, a program) 82 for shaping an ink-jet binder on a three-dimensional structure based on the two-dimensional slice data is provided.

Hereinafter, the operation of the inkjet binder molding apparatus 2 of the first embodiment will be described.

Here, the operation performed by the control unit 80 to convert the three-dimensional shape data of the object to be manufactured into two-dimensional slice data is the same as in the conventional case, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the apparatus when actually performing the ink-jet binder molding will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the control of the device operation is started (when the processing in the molding control function unit 82 is started), the control unit 80 first sets the layer parameter N to the initial value 1 (step S).
71). In the initial state, the mask contact / non-contact drive section 76 makes one powder layer to be bonded at that time non-contact with the mask.

After that, the control unit 80 controls the substrate
And the powder supply unit 75 are controlled to form the Nth powder layer to be bonded, and the distance between the Nth powder layer to be bonded and the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 facing this layer. Is set to a predetermined distance (step S72).

Next, the control unit 80 checks whether or not the N-layer mask pattern is the same as the (N-1) -layer mask pattern (step S73). If not,
The two-dimensional slice data relating to the N layer is taken out, the ribbon winding unit 53 and the printing unit 54 are controlled to form an N layer mask on the transfer layer coating ribbon 51 through the printing process, and the N layer mask is It is located at a position facing the Nth powder layer to be bonded (step S74).

When the preparation and transportation of the N-layer mask are completed, or when the N-layer mask pattern and the (N-1) -layer mask pattern are the same and a positive result is obtained in step S73, the control unit 80 After the mask contact / non-contact drive unit 76 is controlled to bring one powder layer to be combined at that time into contact with the mask, the liquid material supply drive unit 62 is controlled to The liquid material for binding is output from the holding output unit 61 toward the mask, and N
The binding liquid material is supplied via the layer mask (step S75). By the supply of the liquid material, in the N-th layer to be joined, the powder in the portion to which the liquid material is supplied is bonded to each other via the N-layer mask. After the supply of the liquid material is completed, the mask contact / non-contact drive unit 76
The powder layer for bonding and the mask are separated.

Thereafter, the control unit 80 controls the final layer (Nmax)
It is confirmed whether or not the supply of the liquid material to the layer has been completed (step S76). If the supply of the liquid material to the final layer has not been completed, the layer parameter N is incremented by 1 (step S77). Returning to the processing of S72, when the supply of the liquid material to the final layer is also completed, a series of control operations is completed.

When the supply of the liquid material to the final layer is finished, the user takes out the three-dimensional structure formed in the space formed by the structure mounting board 71 and the frame 72. The removal may be automated.

According to the lamination molding apparatus (inkjet binder molding apparatus) 2 of the sixth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the lamination molding apparatus (inkjet binder molding apparatus) 2 of the sixth embodiment, the shape of one layer is formed by one liquid material supply operation using a mask while using the inkjet binder method. As a result, a desired three-dimensional structure can be rapidly formed.

Further, according to the ink jet binder molding apparatus 2 of the sixth embodiment, since the transfer target layer coating ribbon after the printing process is applied as the mask, the mask making configuration and the mask transporting configuration are simple and small. As a result, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be made simple and small.

Further, according to the ink jet binder molding apparatus 2 of the sixth embodiment, when a movable type of print head is used as the printing section, the liquid material supply light to the N-layer powder layer to be bonded is applied. In parallel with this, it is also possible to create a mask of the (N + 1) layer.

Further, according to the ink-jet binder modeling apparatus 2 of the sixth embodiment, since the mask is created through the printing process, a print medium on which the mask pattern is printed is obtained, and the mask pattern is used as data in the control unit. In addition to the management, the user can also manage the mask pattern by the print medium.

(G) Other Embodiments In the description of each of the above-described embodiments, room for various modifications has been shown. However, the following modifications can be further mentioned. That is, the most significant feature is that a mask relating to each layer is formed on the transfer layer coating ribbon through a printing process using the transfer layer coating ribbon. Except for this point, various deformations are possible. .

In each of the above embodiments, it is assumed that a thermal transfer type print head is used.
Other types may be used as long as the transfer layer can be partially transferred from the transfer layer coating ribbon to the print medium. For example, a pressure type print head may be used.

In the first to fifth embodiments,
Although the sintering powder is irradiated with the exposure light from above, the sintering powder may be irradiated with the exposure light from below or from the side.

Furthermore, in the first to fifth embodiments, the same mask is used for exposure to a plurality of sintering powder layers, but even if the mask pattern is the same, A separate mask may be created for each layer. In the case of the powder sintering method, the power of the exposure light is generally larger than that of the stereolithography method.

Furthermore, the same or similar two-dimensional slice data in the second and third embodiments is assumed to be the same or similar in a shape centered on the optical axis of the exposure light. The same or similar information that does not satisfy the positional relationship may be included. In this case, the position of the sintering powder layer to be exposed on the XY plane may be appropriately controlled.

In the third embodiment, the zoom lens 2
7 shows an example in which the effective cross-sectional area of the exposure light can be arbitrarily changed, and the fourth embodiment shows a case in which the effective cross-sectional area of the exposure light is fixedly changed by including the condenser lens 28. You may make it have both a zoom lens and a condenser lens.

Further, in the sixth embodiment, the processing of the control unit 80 is similar to that of the first embodiment, but control similar to that of the second embodiment may be executed. .

Further, in the sixth embodiment,
Although the mask is created by the transfer type printing method,
The mask may be created by another printing method.

[0146]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A surface exposure method using a mask is applied to the additive manufacturing apparatus according to the powder sintering method, and a printing process using a transfer layer coating ribbon having a transparent sheet and a transfer layer is partially performed from the transfer layer coating ribbon by a printing process. Mask creating means for removing the transferred layer and using the portion of the transferred layer coated ribbon from which the transferred layer has been partially removed as a mask, and mask transport control for transporting the created mask to an exposure position Therefore, it is possible to realize an additive manufacturing apparatus that requires a short time to create an object to be manufactured, and has a simple and compact configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a method for supplying a bonding liquid material through a mask is applied to an additive manufacturing apparatus conforming to an ink jet binder system.
The coating layer is partially removed from the ribbon by a printing process using a ribbon having a base sheet that can pass through the bonding liquid material and a coating layer that cannot pass through the bonding liquid material, and partially coated from the ribbon. Since it has a mask creating means for creating a portion where the layer is removed as a mask and a mask transport controlling means for transporting and controlling the created mask to a supply position of the bonding liquid material, the time required for creating a production target is It is possible to realize an additive manufacturing apparatus that is short and can be simplified and reduced in size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a schematic overall configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a molding control function unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a layer data forming function unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a molding control function unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a schematic overall configuration of a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a layer data forming function unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a molding control function unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a schematic overall configuration of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a molding control function unit according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Lamination molding device (powder sintering molding device), 2 ... Lamination molding device (ink-jet binder molding device), 10, 50
... Mask making / conveying unit, 11, 51 ... Transfer layer coating ribbon, 12, 52 ... Transfer layer coating ribbon supply unit, 13, 5
3: Transfer layer coating ribbon winding section, 14, 54: Printing section,
15, 16, 55, 56: roller for changing the direction of transfer of the transfer layer coating ribbon, 20: parallel light irradiation unit, 21: light source, 22,
28: condenser lens, 23: optical shutter, 24: pinhole, 25: collimator lens, 26: prism, 27 ...
Zoom lens, 29: prism moving mechanism, 30: exposure object forming position control unit, 31, 71: structure mounting substrate, 3
2, 72: frame, 33: powder for sintering, 34, 74: vertical moving part of substrate, 35, 75: powder supply part, 40, 80 ... control part, 41, 81 ... layer data forming function part, 42, 82: modeling control function unit, 60: liquid material supply unit, 61: liquid material holding output unit, 62: liquid material supply drive unit, 70: bonded material layer forming unit, 73: powder to be bonded, 76: mask contact Non-contact drive unit.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Tadokoro 2-1-1-1, Shimizugaoka, Tarumizu-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo F-term (reference) 4F213 WA25 WA58 WA86 WA97 WB01 WL02 WL10 WL22 WL43 4K018 CA45 CA50 KA70

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sintering powder material which is sinter-bonded to each other in response to light is irradiated with exposure light through a mask to form a shape of one layer of an object to be manufactured. A layer forming apparatus for forming a desired object by repeatedly performing a shape forming process for a plurality of minutes, wherein the transfer layer coating is performed by a printing process using a transfer layer coating ribbon having a transparent sheet and a transfer layer. A mask creating means for partially removing the transferred layer from the ribbon and forming a portion of the transferred layer coated ribbon from which the transferred layer has been partially removed as the mask; and placing the created mask in an exposure position. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a mask transport control unit that controls transport. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mask creating means creates one mask as one or a plurality of masks related to the same mask pattern. The transfer of the transfer layer coating ribbon is controlled according to the binding powder material layer so that a mask according to a mask pattern of the layer is opposed to the sintering powder material layer to be exposed. Item 2. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to Item 1. 3. The mask production means according to claim 1, wherein said mask production means produces one mask as one or more layers of masks having the same and similar mask patterns. The transfer of the transfer layer coating ribbon is controlled in accordance with the sintering powder material layer of the above, so that the mask according to the mask pattern of the layer is opposed to the sintering powder material layer to be exposed, and the mask The exposure light cross-sectional area variable means for changing the effective cross-sectional area of the exposure light according to the ratio between the size of the mask pattern in the above and the size of the mask pattern relating to the sintering powder material layer to be exposed is provided to the exposure object. 2. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additive is provided between the powder material layer for sintering and the mask opposed thereto. 4. An exposure light cross-sectional area reducing means for fixedly reducing an effective cross-sectional area of the exposure light on an optical path of the exposure light from the mask to the sintering powder material layer to be exposed. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A bonding liquid material is supplied via a mask to a powder material to be bonded, which is mutually bonded by supplying the bonding liquid material, to form a shape of one layer of an object to be manufactured. This is a lamination molding apparatus for forming a desired object by repeatedly performing the shape forming process for one layer, wherein the base sheet that can pass through the binding liquid material and the base sheet that cannot pass through the binding liquid material cannot be passed. Mask forming means for partially removing the covering layer from the ribbon by a printing process using a ribbon having a covering layer and producing a portion of the ribbon from which the covering layer has been partially removed as the mask; And a mask conveyance control means for conveying and controlling the set mask to the supply position of the bonding liquid material. 6. The mask creating means creates one mask as one or a plurality of layers of masks related to the same mask pattern, and the mask transport control means controls a liquid material supply target at that time. The transfer of the ribbon is controlled in accordance with the powder material layer to be bonded, and a mask according to a mask pattern of the layer is opposed to the powder material layer to be supplied with the liquid material. Item 6. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to Item 5.