JP2020128072A - Molding apparatus and molding method - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce an amount of mother particles to be used in a molding apparatus that performs molding using powder.SOLUTION: A molding apparatus of this invention, which performs lamination molding using powder of a molded material, comprises: a molding chamber; forming means that forms a powder layer by feeding the powder into the molding chamber; and fixation means that performs fixation operation to fix the powder fed into the molding chamber based on molding data. The molding chamber is provided with a structure at least in a part inside an available fixation area of the fixation means, the structure restricting the feeding of the powder.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a modeling apparatus and a modeling method for performing layered modeling using powder.

In the three-dimensional modeling apparatus using the modeling tank, the size of the modeling tank determines the maximum size of the modeled object. However, in many cases, a modeling object smaller than the maximum size is modeled, and therefore an unnecessary modeling material is supplied to a region other than the modeling object. Therefore, a technique for saving the molding material is drawing attention.

For example, there is a method of suppressing the material supply to unnecessary portions by plugging a part of the supply port of the hopper (Patent Document 1). Also, in the general field of molding, it is known to supply a relatively small amount of material to parts other than the necessary parts.

JP, 2018-24183, A

In a modeling apparatus that performs stacking using powders, there is a demand for reducing the amount of mother particles supplied to the modeling tank because the mother particles supplied to the modeling tank also deteriorate in areas other than the modeled object. Therefore, when a region which is not a modeled object is commonly set for 3D data modeled by a user, various measures have been demanded for a method of reducing the amount of mother particles used during modeling.

An object of the present invention is to provide a modeling apparatus capable of reducing the amount of modeling material used during modeling.

One embodiment of the present invention is a modeling apparatus for performing layered modeling using a powder of a modeling material,
Modeling tank,
Forming means for forming the powder layer by supplying the powder to the modeling tank,
A fixing means for performing a fixing operation for fixing the powder supplied into the modeling tank based on modeling data;
Have
The molding tank is provided with a structure that suppresses the supply of the powder in at least a part of a fixing area of the fixing unit.
It is characterized by

Another aspect of the present invention is a modeling method in a modeling apparatus having a modeling tank in which a structure that suppresses the supply of powder of a modeling material is provided in at least a part of the fixable region,
A forming step of supplying the powder to the modeling tank to form a powder layer;
A fixing step of performing a fixing operation for fixing the powder supplied in the modeling tank based on modeling data;
A determination step of determining whether or not the fixed area of the modeling data and the area where the structure is provided overlap.
It is characterized by

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of the molding material that is supplied to the area that is not the molding object.

It is a sectional view showing the whole 3D modeling device composition concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modeling tank and modeling tank bottom plate which concern on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing control at the time of setting a mask area according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control during modeling job processing according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the relative disposition of each component of the device used in each embodiment, the device shape, and the like are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for producing a three-dimensional object using a particle-shaped modeling material. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The method of the present invention can be preferably used for a modeling process in a modeling system called an additive manufacturing (AM) system, a three-dimensional printer, a rapid prototyping system, or the like.

The modeling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an apparatus that forms a three-dimensional object by repeatedly performing a series of operations including a powder layer forming step (forming operation) and a fixing step (fixing operation). Here, the powder layer forming step is a step of leveling the powder on the modeling table (stage) lowered by the stacking pitch to form the powder layer. Further, the fixing step is a step of performing processing for fixing (bonding) the powder to a partial region of the formed powder layer according to the slice data of the object to be shaped.

In the present specification, as the fixing step, a binder jet method (liquid applying method) in which ink is ejected to the powder layer as a liquid for fixing a part of the powder layer is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the present invention can be preferably applied to a heat source type device in which a powder layer is irradiated with a laser or an electron beam to melt and combine the powder.

In this specification, a three-dimensional model to be produced by using the modeling system (that is, a three-dimensional object represented by the three-dimensional shape data given to the modeling system) is referred to as a “modeling object”. An aggregate of a plurality of particles used as a molding material is referred to as a "powder", and a powder obtained by averaging the powder to a predetermined thickness is referred to as a "powder layer". Further, a plurality of powder layers laminated on the modeling table by alternately repeating the powder layer forming step and the fixing step are referred to as a “laminate”. In the fixing step, a region to which the liquid is applied (partial region of the powder layer) is referred to as a "modeling region", and a region of the powder layer other than the modeling region (outside the partial region) is referred to as a "non-modeling region". The modeling region refers to a region corresponding to the cross section of the modeling target, that is, a portion of the powder layer where the powder is solidified and should be taken out as a modeling product. By removing the non-printing region from the layered product, a “printing object” corresponding to the printing object is obtained. At this time, a solidification step of solidifying a region to which the liquid is applied (modeling region) in the laminate by drying or heating may be performed, and an unsolidified region (non-modeling region) in the laminate. ) Is removed to obtain a shaped article. The modeled product obtained after the solidification step is further subjected to heat treatment and sintered to increase the strength, which is also included in the modeled product. Here, it is assumed that the modeling object also includes a modeling region obtained by performing the powder layer forming step and the fixing step for one layer.

Resin particles, metal particles, ceramic particles, and the like can be preferably used as the particles constituting the powder that is the molding material, but metal alloys, carbon steel, and the like, in which a non-metal element such as carbon is added to a metal, can be used. It may be. Further, it may be composite particles of plural kinds of metals, composite particles of plural kinds of ceramics, and the like. Further, since the fluidity of the powder fluctuates depending on humidity, it is desirable to store the powder before modeling in a dry environment, and it is desirable to keep the dry state as much as possible during modeling.

Further, as the liquid used in the fixing step, a binding liquid for binding powder, a particle dispersion liquid in which nanoparticles are dispersed, or the like can be preferably used. Here, the nanoparticles mean particles having an average particle size smaller than the average particle size of the powder which is the modeling material. As the nanoparticles, resin particles, metal particles, ceramic particles and the like can be used.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the overall configuration of a modeling apparatus (three-dimensional modeling apparatus) that performs stacking using powder (powder). The modeling apparatus includes a mother particle tank 101, a mother particle supply tank 102, a molding tank 103, a roller 104, an ink ejection unit 105, a heater unit 108, an ink tank 110, a mother particle supply stage 111, a molding tank bottom plate 112, a molding stage 113, and Equipped with. The ink ejection unit 105 includes an ink ejection head 106 and an ink sub tank 107. The modeling apparatus also includes a control unit 109 and an operation unit 114.

The control unit 109 has a control unit including a controller, a user interface, and various I/O interfaces, and controls various controls of the entire apparatus.

The mother particle tank 101 includes a mother particle cartridge (not shown). The user inserts the mother particle cartridge into the modeling apparatus main body by inserting it from the front. The mother particles in the mounted mother particle cartridge are sent from the mother particle tank 101 to the mother particle supply tank 102 and stored as the mother particles for supply 115. The supply mother particles 115 move up by moving the mother particle supply stage 111 in the a direction, and then move the roller 104 in the f direction to supply the mother particles to the surface of the molded article 116. The roller 104 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that can move in the e direction and the f direction, and a rotating mechanism (not shown) that can rotate in either one of the g direction and the h direction or both directions. Further, in supplying the mother particles, the roller 104 may be moved in the f direction to pass the molded article 116, and then may be moved in the e direction to smooth the mother particles supplied onto the molded article 116. At the time of supplying the mother particles, the roller 104 may be moved while being rotated in the g direction or the h direction. The mother particle supply stage 111 and the roller 104 are an example of forming means for supplying mother particles to the modeling tank 103 to form a powder layer.

An ink ejection unit 105 is arranged above the modeling tank 103. The ink ejecting unit 105 includes a moving mechanism (not shown) that can move in the i direction and the j direction, and independent ink ejecting heads 106 for a plurality of inks (four types in the embodiment) move in the moving direction of the ink ejecting unit 105. Is held along. The ink ejection unit 105 ejects ink on the mother particles supplied onto the modeling object 116 in the modeling tank based on the modeling data (three-dimensional data) included in the modeling job to perform drawing. Specifically, the ink is ejected from the ink ejection head 106 in synchronization with the movement of the ink ejection unit 105, so that an image is formed on the mother particles supplied to the surface of the modeled article 116. Further, at the time of image formation, the image may be formed while moving the ink ejection head 106 in both the i direction and the j direction, or the image may be formed only when moving in any one direction. The ejection (image formation) of ink in the form of mother particles is a process for fixing (bonding) the mother particles, and the ink discharging unit 105 is an example of a fixing unit.

The ink tank 110 stores each type of ink independently. The ink types may overlap. The ink in the ink tank 110 is supplied to the ink sub-tanks 107 corresponding to the respective inks by tubes, and the ink in the ink sub-tank 107 is supplied to the ink ejection heads 106 corresponding to the respective inks by the tubes. To be done. On the ink ejection head 106, line heads for the respective inks are arranged along the movement direction of the ink ejection unit 105 during drawing. The line head for each ink may be formed of a single nozzle chip without a joint, or may be one in which divided nozzle chips are regularly arranged in a line or in a staggered arrangement. .. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a so-called full multi head in which nozzles are arranged in a range that covers the drawing width of the maximum cross-sectional area used is adopted.

As an inkjet method for ejecting ink from a nozzle, a method using a heating element, a method using a piezo element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, or the like can be adopted. Ink is ejected from the nozzle of each head based on the drawing data, and the ejection timing is determined by the output signal of the moving encoder (not shown) of the ink ejection unit 105.

Note that the present embodiment is not limited to an inkjet printer, and various printing systems such as a thermal printer (sublimation type, thermal transfer type, etc.), a dot impact printer, an LED printer, a laser printer, etc. can be applied.

The modeled object 116 on which the image is formed is heated by the heater unit 108. After heating, the modeling stage 113 descends in the d direction according to the stack thickness. The heating and lowering may be reversed.

The molded article 116 is modeled by repeating the series of processes described above. When the modeling is completed and the modeling of a different model 116 is started, the modeling stage 113 moves in the c direction, and the modeling tank 103 can be replaced. Further, the mother particle supply stage 111 is lowered in the b direction to replenish the supplying mother particles 115.

The operation unit 114 is a unit for an operator to perform an operation and confirm the situation. Examples of the status confirmation include confirmation of a modeling status for each order such as whether a specified order molded article is being molded or completed, and confirmation of a device state such as a mother particle remaining amount and an ink remaining amount. Examples of operations by the operator include device maintenance such as roller cleaning and ink ejection head cleaning.

The control unit 109 includes a processor, a ROM, and a RAM, executes a program stored in advance in the ROM, and controls each device related to data processing and modeling. FIG. 3 shows a part of the software configuration of the control unit 109. 4 and 5 show flowcharts of the processing executed by the control unit 109.

2A to 2D are views showing the modeling tank 103 and the modeling tank bottom plate 112. For example, a user who forms an annular shaped object such as a decorative item such as a ring or a bracelet may use the modeling tank 103 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. The modeling tank 103 has a columnar structure 103a (hereinafter also simply referred to as a column 103a) in the center, and a plurality of fan-shaped holes 103b are formed in the bottom of the modeling tank 103 so as to surround the column 103a. The structure 103a is located within the modeling tank and within the drawing possible area (within the fixing possible area) by the ink ejection unit 105. The drawable area or the fixable area is an area in the modeling tank 103, and is an area in which ink can be ejected by the ink ejection unit 105. Although the structure 103a has a columnar shape here, it may have a polygonal columnar shape, or may have a shape such as a cone or a pyramid or a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid whose cross-sectional area changes with height. In addition, a plurality of structures 103a may be provided in one modeling tank 103.

FIG. 2B shows a top view of the modeling tank 103. Further, FIG. 2C shows a side view of the modeling tank 103 during modeling. A modeling tank bottom plate 112 having a hole at the center thereof is put into the modeling tank 103 as shown in FIG. 2D for modeling. As shown in FIG. 2C, the molding stage 113 is vertically driven from the fan-shaped hole 103b during the molding, whereby the vertical position of the molding tank bottom plate 112 can be changed. In this case, the height from the upper end of the modeling stage 113 to the inside of the modeling tank 103 (height of the modeling area) needs to be a shape that can pass through the fan-shaped hole 103b. Even if the molding stage 113 itself does not have the above-described special shape, an attachment having a special shape corresponding to the hole shape of the molding tank 103 may be attached to the tip of the molding stage 113. In that case, the attachment moves up and down as the modeling stage 113 is driven, and the modeling tank bottom plate 112 also moves up and down accordingly.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the control unit 109 of the modeling apparatus according to this embodiment. The modeling apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that performs powder bed type additive manufacturing using powder, and the control unit 109 includes a control unit 203 and a print engine unit 204. The control unit 203 includes an input buffer 205, a job control unit 206, an image processing unit 207, a UI (user interface) unit 208, and an intermediate buffer 209. The image processing unit 207 includes a slice processing unit 210 and a mask area management unit 211.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for setting the mask area of the modeling tank 103. The mask area setting process is realized by the control unit 109 executing a program. Before executing the modeling job, in step 401 it is set in advance which mask region of the modeling tank 103 is inside the modeling tank 103. Hereinafter, information indicating the location of the mask area in the modeling tank 103 will be referred to as mask area information. The mask area information may be manually set through a UI unit such as the operation unit 114, or may be set by reading the information recorded in the modeling tank 103.

When manually setting the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 through the UI unit such as the operation unit 114, the UI area 208 transmits the mask area information of the modeling tank to the image processing unit 207 through the job control unit 206. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received mask area information of the modeling tank to the mask area management unit 211, and the mask area management unit 211 stores the mask area information of the modeling tank (S401 to S402). The operation unit 114 or the UI unit 208 is an example of a receiving unit that receives designation of mask area information from a user. The mask area management unit 211 is an example of a storage unit that stores mask area information.

The mask area information of the modeling tank 103 may be set by reading the information recorded in the modeling tank 103. In this case, the mask area information is recorded in advance in the modeling tank 103 with a marking or an IC chip, and the mask area information is read when the modeling tank 103 is installed in the modeling apparatus (S401). The marking or the IC chip may be provided on the main body of the modeling tank 103 or on another object attached to the modeling tank 103. The reading of the mask area information is performed by a reading means (neither is shown) such as a bar code reader or an IC chip reader. The reading of the mask area information may be performed using the reading unit before the modeling tank 103 is installed in the modeling apparatus. Alternatively, the reading unit may be arranged at the installation location of the modeling tank 103, and the mask area information may be read after the modeling tank 103 is installed. After that, the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 is transmitted from the reading unit to the image processing unit 207 through the job control unit 206. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received mask area information of the modeling tank 103 to the mask area management unit 211, and the mask area management unit 211 stores the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 (S402).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing a modeling job. The modeling process is performed by the control unit 10
9 is realized by executing the program. First, in step 501, the control unit 203 receives the modeling job data from the client terminal 201, and stores the received modeling job in the input buffer 205. The modeling job data is data for instructing modeling of a modeled object and includes modeling model data. The control unit 203 reads the stored modeling job from the input buffer 205 and sends it to the job control unit 206. The job control unit 206 transmits the received modeling job to the image processing unit 207. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received modeling job to the slice processing unit 210 and obtains a slice image group from the modeling model data. Next, the image processing unit 207 acquires drawing area information from the slice image group (S502), and acquires mask area information of the modeling tank from the mask area management unit 211 (S503).

In step 504, the image processing unit 207 compares the drawing area information of the slice image group acquired in step 502 with the mask area information acquired in step 503, and determines whether or not an overlapping area exists. The drawing area information is information indicating the position of the drawing area, which is an area in the powder layer where ink is ejected to fix the powder for modeling. The drawing area can be called a modeling area or a fixed area. The image processing unit 207 is an example of a determination unit.

When there is no overlapping area (S504-NO), the image processing unit 207 transmits the slice image group to the intermediate buffer 209 and stores it. After that, the control unit 203 reads the slice image group from the intermediate buffer 209 and sends it to the print engine unit 204. The print engine unit 204 transmits the received slice image group to the image forming unit 213, and executes image formation while controlling the modeling stage driving unit 212 (modeling sequence).

On the other hand, when there is an overlapping area of the mask area and the drawing area (S504-YES), the image processing unit 207 confirms whether the setting for automatic correction is set in advance (S505).

When the automatic correction is set (S505-YES), the image processing unit 207 corrects the slice image so that the overlapping area is not drawn (S507), and the slice image group including the corrected slice image is corrected. It is sent to the intermediate buffer 209 and stored. The slice image may be modified by changing the area overlapping the mask area to the non-drawing area. Alternatively, the slice image may be corrected by translating the entire drawing area so that the drawing area and the mask area do not overlap, if possible. Subsequent processing is the same as that in the modeling sequence.

If the automatic correction is not set (S505-NO), the image processing unit 207 informs the UI unit via the job control unit 206 that the mask area and the slice image group are overlapped. In step 208, the process ends without image formation. The UI unit 208 notifies the user through one or both of the client terminal 201 and the operation unit 114 (S506). The UI unit 208 and the operation unit 114 are an example of notification means.

According to the present embodiment, since the structure 103a is provided in the modeling tank 103, it is possible to reduce the supply amount of the mother particles to the area that is not the modeling object. In addition, since a structure that is more stable than the mother particles is provided in the space other than the shaped object, it is possible to obtain the effect of preventing collapse of the shaped object during modeling.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the control unit 109 of the modeling apparatus according to this embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that the image processing unit 207 includes a slice processing unit 210, a mask area storage unit 311, and an overlap determination unit 312. It can be understood that the mask area management unit 211 in the first embodiment is divided into a mask area storage unit 311 and an overlap determination unit 312.

In the present embodiment, in the mask area setting process (FIG. 4) of the modeling tank 103, when manually setting the mask area information of the modeling tank 103, the UI unit 208 sends the image processing unit 207 to the image processing unit 207 through the job control unit 206. It transmits mask area information of the modeling tank. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received mask area information of the modeling tank 103 to the mask area storage unit 311, and stores the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 (S401 to S402). The mask area storage unit 311 is an example of a storage unit.

Further, when mask area information is recorded on the modeling tank 103 by markings or IC chips as in the first embodiment, the mask area information is read by a reading means such as a bar code reader or an IC chip reader. The reading unit transmits the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 to the image processing unit 207 through the job control unit 206. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received mask area information of the modeling tank 103 to the mask area storage unit 311, and the mask area storage unit 311 stores the mask area information of the modeling tank 103 (S402).

In the flowchart for processing the modeling job of FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, mask area information of the modeling tank 103 is acquired from the mask area storage unit 311 in step 503. Further, in step 504, the image processing unit 210 transmits the drawing region information of the slice image group acquired in step 502 and the mask region information acquired in step 503 to the overlap determination unit 312. The overlap determination unit 312 compares the received information, determines whether there is an overlap region, and transmits the determination result to the image processing unit 207. The determination unit 312 is an example of determination means. The control flow thereafter is the same as in the first embodiment.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
In this embodiment, the mask area is set through the network. Specifically, the mask area information is transmitted from the client terminal 201 to the control unit 109 of the modeling apparatus.

The control unit 203 receives the mask area information from the client terminal 201 via the network and stores the received mask area information in the input buffer 205. The control unit 203 reads the stored mask area information from the input buffer 205 and sends it to the job control unit 206. The job control unit 206 transmits the received mask area information to the image processing unit 207. The image processing unit 207 transmits the received masked area information to the masked area management unit 211 or the masked area storage unit 311 to store the masked area information (S401 to S402). The flowchart for processing the modeling job is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

The mask area information may be set via the network independently of the modeling job, or may be set in a format in which the masking area information is included in the modeling job. In the latter case, the flowchart for setting the mask area of the modeling tank 103 in FIG. 4 is not executed before the modeling job is received, but is executed while processing the modeling job. That is, in step 503 of FIG. 5, the mask area management unit 211 of the first embodiment or the image processing unit 202 of the second embodiment acquires the mask area information included in the modeling job (S401). The acquired mask area information is stored in the mask area management unit 211 of the first embodiment or the mask area storage unit 311 of the second embodiment (S402). However, since the mask area information is used immediately in step 504, step 402 may be omitted, and in that case, the mask area storage unit 311 of the second embodiment is also unnecessary.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The modeling apparatus is configured such that the modeling tank 103 can be replaced. The respective molding tanks 103 have different shapes of the structure (cylinder 103a in the example shown in FIG. 2A) for suppressing the supply of the mother particles. For example, the cross-sectional shape and size of the structure, the number of structures, and the like are different. In the present embodiment, the control unit 109 holds mask area information of a plurality of modeling tanks 103 in advance, and determines the modeling tank 103 to be used in modeling based on the three-dimensional shape data of the three-dimensional model to be manufactured. May be recommended. Specifically, the control unit 109 determines the modeling tank 103 that is capable of modeling the three-dimensional model represented by the three-dimensional shape data and that the area in the modeling tank 103 that is not the modeling object is the smallest.

<Other Examples>
The present invention supplies a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

103: modeling tank 103a: structure 105: ink ejection unit

Claims (14)

A modeling apparatus for performing layered modeling using a powder of a modeling material,
Modeling tank,
Forming means for forming the powder layer by supplying the powder to the modeling tank,
A fixing means for performing a fixing operation for fixing the powder supplied into the modeling tank based on modeling data;
Have
The molding tank is provided with a structure that suppresses the supply of the powder in at least a part of a fixing area of the fixing unit.
A modeling apparatus characterized in that Storage means for storing mask area information, which is information about the area in which the structure is provided,
Determination means for determining whether or not the fixed area of the modeling data and the area where the structure is provided overlap,
The modeling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: When it is determined by the determination means that the fixed area and the area where the structure is provided overlap, there is a notification means for notifying the user of the overlap.
The modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein When the determination unit determines that the fixed region and the region where the structure is provided are overlapped, the overlapping region is not fixed.
The modeling apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. When the fixed area and the area where the structure is provided overlap, it is possible to set whether or not to automatically correct the fixed area,
When it is determined by the determination means that the fixed region and the region where the structure is provided overlap,
If the automatic correction is set, the fixing operation is performed so that the overlapping areas are not fixed,
If automatic correction is not set, notify the user that there is a duplicate without sticking.
The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which is characterized in that. The mask area information is recorded on the main body of the molding tank or another object attached to the molding tank,
Further comprising a reading means for reading the stored mask area information,
Storing the mask area information read by the reading means in the storage means,
The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: Further comprising receiving means for receiving the mask area information via a network,
The received mask area information is stored in the storage unit. The modeling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores the received mask area information. The mask area information is included in the job data for instructing the modeling of the modeled object,
Acquiring the masked area information from the job data and storing it in the storage means,
The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: Further comprising a receiving unit for receiving the designation of the mask area information from the user,
Storing the masked area information acquired by the reception means in the storage means,
The modeling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: A modeling method in a modeling apparatus having a modeling tank in which a structure for suppressing supply of a powder of a modeling material is provided in at least a part of a fixable region,
A forming step of supplying the powder to the modeling tank to form a powder layer;
A fixing step of performing a fixing operation for fixing the powder supplied into the modeling tank based on modeling data;
A determination step of determining whether or not the fixed area of the modeling data and the area where the structure is provided overlap.
A modeling method characterized by the above. When it is determined that the fixed region and the region where the structure is provided overlap in the determination step, the determination step further includes a notification step of notifying the user of the overlap.
The modeling method according to claim 10, wherein: When it is determined in the determination step that the fixed area and the area where the structure is provided overlap, the fixing operation in the overlapping area is not performed in the fixed step,
The modeling method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that. The method further comprises a step of acquiring mask area information, which is information regarding an area in which the structure is provided, from the main body of the modeling tank or another object attached to the modeling tank.
The modeling method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein: A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 10 to 13.

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