Slicing method

Abstract

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive portions of the three-dimensional article, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of said three-dimensional article, wherein said model of said three-dimensional article is described in a 2-dimensional angular coordinate system; applying a powder layer on a support structure; directing at least one energy beam from at least one energy beam source over said powder layer causing said powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to said model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article, providing a first portion of said powder layer simultaneous as fusing a second portion of said powder layer, wherein said second portion of the powder layer is fused along a line perpendicular to a rotational axis of said support structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 091,990, filed Dec. 15, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 235,934, filed Oct. 1, 2015; the contents of both of which as are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present invention relates to an improved method for manufacturing a 3-dimensional object.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Freeform fabrication or additive manufacturing is a method for forming three-dimensional articles through successive fusion of chosen parts of powder layers applied to a work plate. A method and apparatus according to this technique is disclosed in US 2009 / 0152771.[0006]Such an apparatus may comprise a work plate 5 on which the three-dimensional article is to be formed, a powder dispenser, arranged to lay down a thin layer of powder on the work plate 5 for the formation of a powder bed,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]In various example embodiments of the present invention the support structure is a cylinder with a radius, which radius is increasing in length from a first to a second layer proportional to an applied powder layer thickness. An exemplary advantage of at least these embodiments is that rotational speed of the support structure may be synchronized with the 2-dimensional description of the three-dimensional article so that the slicing thickness in the 2-dimensional description of the 3-dimensional model represents the actual powder layer thickness which is to be fused.

[0024]In various example embodiments of the present invention a rotational axis of the model is coinciding with the rotational axis of the three-dimensional article built on the support structure. An exemplary advantage of at least these embodiments is that the slicing description and the actual build of the three-dimensional article may be easily synchronized with each other.

[0025]In various example embodiments of the present invention the powder layer is provided continuously on the support structure during the formation of the three-dimensional article. An exemplary advantage of at least these embodiments is that there is no interruption of the powder supply during the complete build of the 3-dimensional article, which may simplify the design of the powder application equipment.

[0026]In various example embodiments of the present invention the support structure is rotating clockwise or anticlockwise during the formation of the three-dimensional article. An exemplary advantage of at least these embodiments is

Problems solved by technology

According to this usual slicing algorithm, all layers are considered separately and even if several consecutive layers are similar, their coding size remains approximately the

Images