Method for layer-by-layer production of components, production device and computer program product

Abstract

Method for the layer-by-layer production of components (5; 5.1-5.4) on a construction platform (3) by local solidification of powdered material (9) in a respective layer, comprising the following steps: a) an arrangement of components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured on the construction platform (3) is determined, and b) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are manufactured layer-by-layer with the arrangement to be used determined in step a), wherein a protective gas flow flows horizontally over the construction platform (3) in a protective gas flow direction, and wherein in step a) at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, of the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform (3) such that their extent perpendicular to the protective gas flow direction is the smallest.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a method for the layer-by-layer production of components on a construction platform by local solidification of powdered material in a respective layer, a production device for producing at least one component layer-by-layer from a plurality of powder material layers of a powder material arranged in a layer sequence chronologically successively in a work area of ​​the production device by locally selective solidification of the powder material arranged in the work area and a computer program product. Background of the Revelation

[0002] In additive manufacturing, e.g., selective laser sintering or selective laser melting, a powdered material, e.g., a metal or ceramic powder, is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation. Thin powder layers are successively applied in a chamber on a build platform to form three-dimensional components by irradiating the respective powder layers with an irradiation beam, e.g., a laser beam. Corresponding devices are referred to as additive manufacturing devices, 3D printing systems, selective laser sintering machines, or selective laser melting machines, and the like. For the operation of such a device, see, for example, EP 2 732 890 A2.

[0003] In recent years, the additive manufacturing of components has also gained importance in industrial settings. Additive manufacturing in a powder bed (Powder Bed Fusion, PBF), in which thin layers of powder, e.g., made of metal, ceramic, or thermoplastic powder, are gradually applied and locally solidified with one or more beams to successively build up the component, is particularly suitable for the production of complex and delicate components. Machines suitable for performing a PBF process are referred to below as PBF machines. Lasers and electron beam systems are typically used as beam sources. When a laser source is used, the process is also referred to as Powder Bed Fusion - Laser Based (PBF-LB). The beam can sinter or melt the powder to solidify it, thereby bonding it to previously solidified component layers.Depending on the beam source, sintering is referred to as selective laser sintering or electron beam sintering, while melting is referred to as selective laser melting or electron beam melting. Powder-bed-based additive manufacturing of metal powder using a laser beam is also known as laser metal fusion.

[0004] Since the component is produced layer by layer, such an additive manufacturing process is relatively time-consuming. To reduce production time, multiple energy beams—for example, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, or 16—are used instead of a single energy beam. A manufacturing device used in this process typically has at least one scanner device configured to shift the energy beams.

[0005] By using multiple energy beams, it is possible for a first energy beam to produce a first component in a work area of ​​the manufacturing device, while at the same time a second energy beam produces a second component in the work area.

[0006] With the layer-by-layer production of components through the local solidification of powdered material using high-energy beams (usually laser beams or electron beams), three-dimensional components can be manufactured relatively easily and quickly. Geometric limitations of conventional manufacturing processes such as milling or injection molding can be overcome. Layer-by-layer production is often used for prototypes or for components that are only produced in small quantities. However, additive manufacturing is also already being used in series production.

[0007] To accelerate the additive manufacturing of components, it is known to use multiple high-energy beams simultaneously to process individual layers. The high-energy beams are directed onto the build platform using scanners; in the case of laser beams, the scanner can, for example, include a mirror adjustable by piezo actuators. If multiple high-energy beams are used simultaneously, the processing task must be distributed among them.

[0008] US 2020 / 0238623 A1 describes a method for balancing capacity utilization and minimizing production time in additive manufacturing. A build platform on which multiple components are to be manufactured is processed with multiple lasers that have overlapping scan fields that can be reached by each laser. The allocation of regions to be manufactured to the lasers is iteratively optimized to achieve the shortest possible production time.

[0009] From WO 2016 / 075026 A1, it is known to assign a separate scanner to each section of a construction field, or to mount or design the scanners in such a way that they can also at least partially expose construction field sections that are actually assigned to another scanner, in order to assist this other scanner in exposing the construction field assigned to it. It is proposed to separately record and store the irradiation times or irradiation areas of each scanner, compare them with each other, and determine the distribution of the scanners' scan fields for the next layer or a next layer section in such a way that the irradiation times or irradiation areas for the scanners are as similar as possible.

[0010] By dynamically adjusting the scan fields, high scanner utilization can be achieved and rapid processing of the layers and feeding of the build platform or powder material on the build platform as a whole can be achieved. A disadvantage, however, is that the spatial deployment of the different high-energy beams on the build field or on the build platform can vary from layer to layer depending on the geometry and placement of the component(s) on the build field or on the build platform. In particular, high-energy beams can vary from layer to layer in a given component, or even multiple high-energy beams can be used for partial areas of the same component in the same layer, which can influence and, in particular, impair the quality of the manufactured components. With this approach, the quality of the manufactured components is therefore difficult to control.

[0011] If several components are to be manufactured in parallel on a build platform, the components are usually placed so that as many components as possible can be arranged on the build platform.

[0012] DE 10 2015 118 162 A1 discloses a device for the layer-by-layer production of three-dimensional components, wherein an insulating device has at least one functional opening as a material passage and a functional opening as a radiation passage. In one embodiment, two solidification radiation sources are provided, whose radiation passes simultaneously through a common exposure opening. Each solidification radiation source is assigned a target area to be irradiated by it, with adjacent target areas at least partially overlapping. The application of a data model is proposed, with which an arrangement and position of the components on the build platform are selected such that particularly rapid production of the components can be achieved, taking into account the exposure and preheating strategy. Object of the invention

[0013] The object of the invention is to provide a method for the layer-by-layer production of components on a construction platform, a production device for producing at least one component layer-by-layer from a plurality of powder material layers of a powder material arranged in a layer sequence in a work area of ​​the production device by locally selective solidification of the powder material arranged in the work area and / or a computer program product with which a rapid production of the components with good quality of the components can be carried out in a simple manner. Summary of Revelation

[0014] The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims as well as the preferred embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.

[0015] The object is achieved in particular by a method for the layer-by-layer production of components on a construction platform by local solidification of powdered material in a respective layer, comprising the following steps: a) an arrangement of components to be manufactured on the construction platform to be used is determined, and b) the components to be manufactured are manufactured layer-by-layer with the arrangement to be used determined in step a), wherein a protective gas flow flows horizontally over the construction platform in a protective gas flow direction, and wherein in step a) at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, of the components to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform such that their extent perpendicular to the protective gas flow direction is the smallest.

[0016] The special arrangement of the components on the build platform allows the smoke area of ​​the laser or high-energy beam to be kept as small as possible. Furthermore, laser utilization can be kept high. This leads, among other things, to better component quality, as they are less affected by smoke residue.

[0017] In one embodiment, the construction platform is divided into a plurality of sub-areas, wherein in step a) the components to be manufactured are distributed among the sub-areas such that the volume sums of at least approximate volumes of the components arranged in each of the sub-areas are approximately equal over a full loading height range, and wherein in step b) a respective sub-area is processed exclusively by the same high-energy beam over all layers, at least for all components to be manufactured arranged exclusively in this sub-area.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the construction platform is divided into a plurality of sub-areas, wherein in step a) the components to be manufactured are distributed among the sub-areas such that the volume sums of at least approximate volumes of the components arranged in each of the sub-areas are approximately equal over a full loading height range, and wherein in step b) it is determined that a respective sub-area is to be processed exclusively by the same high-energy beam over all layers, at least for all components to be manufactured arranged exclusively in this sub-area.

[0019] The invention proposes, firstly, establishing (defining) sub-areas on the build platform, in each of which the high-energy beam to be applied is essentially fixed to a specific, single high-energy beam. The build platform is divided into sub-areas with respect to its production plane (the XY plane, along which each layer is applied, also simply referred to as the plane of the build platform), and this division applies to all layers of the build platform's loading. The layers are applied to one another in a direction (Z) of the layer sequence. X, Y, and Z form a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0020] By individually allocating the high-energy beams to specific areas throughout the entire loading process (i.e., from the processing of all layers on the build platform to the removal of the build platform from the build chamber), interaction between high-energy beams can be relatively easily excluded or minimized. The quality of the manufactured components is high and also easier to control, especially with fewer control experiments. This is particularly advantageous for manufactured components intended for use in the aerospace sector.

[0021] At least those components that are entirely located within a sub-area are processed (exposed) exclusively with the high-energy beam assigned to that sub-area. If components to be manufactured are each arranged with parts in different sub-areas, it can be planned to process the entire component with a single high-energy beam (for example, with the high-energy beam of the sub-area that accounts for the largest portion of the component's volume); this can ensure high component quality.Alternatively, it can be provided that the respective component is manufactured with the high-energy beam of that sub-area, with the proportion of the volume attributable to a particular sub-area. This makes it easier to even out the utilization of the high-energy beams and keep the production time for loading the build platform low, since the allocation of the high-energy beams to the sub-areas is strictly enforced in this case. In general, however, the placement of components to be manufactured on the boundary line between sub-areas is minimized or avoided entirely; typically, a maximum of 10%, preferably a maximum of 5%, particularly preferably a maximum of 2%, and most particularly preferably 0%, of the components to be manufactured each have portions in multiple sub-areas.

[0022] Secondly, the invention proposes, with regard to the defined sub-areas, dividing the at least approximate volume of the components to be manufactured among the sub-areas in such a way that approximately equal total volumes of the components to be manufactured are allocated to each sub-area. In most applications, this measure alone ensures that the high-energy beams are utilized approximately equally throughout the processing of the build platform across the full loading height, and that the build platform is processed in approximately minimal time.In particular, if the components to be manufactured have an approximately equal construction height in Z, a cross-sectional area that is approximately constant over Z in the respective component, and are placed at approximately the same height in Z on the construction platform (which is usually the case when manufacturing dental crowns), the manufacturing time can be minimized very easily and efficiently within the scope of the invention.

[0023] The volume sums are comparatively simple and quick to determine, or approximately equal volume sums are comparatively easy to ensure for an applicable arrangement, typically with the help of known, stored CAD data of the components to be manufactured. A complex, precise determination of the production time, particularly taking into account the exact exposure vectors in each layer, is not required within the scope of the invention. For the volume sums, it is sufficient within the scope of the invention to know approximate volumes of the components to be manufactured. This generally allows reduced component data compared to the full CAD data to be used when selecting the applicable arrangement, which can simplify and accelerate computing processes.

[0024] Typically, the at least approximate volumes of the components considered in the method correspond to the actual volumes of the components (target volumes according to CAD data, or also expected actual dimensions of the components after production) with an accuracy of + / -50% or better, preferably + / -40% or better, particularly preferably + / -30% or better, and most particularly preferably + / -20% or better, based on the actual volume of the components. Preferably, the at least approximate volume of the individual components also takes into account the at least approximate volume of associated supports, if present.

[0025] Within the scope of the invention, the subsequent processing by the high-energy beams and their associated sub-areas on the build platform is already taken into account during the arrangement of the parts on the build platform. This is done by distributing the components among the predefined sub-areas in such a way that these sub-areas have approximately equal total volumes. In particular, the components are not distributed first on the build platform and then determined for the sub-areas for the high-energy beams.

[0026] The high-energy beams can in particular be laser beams or electron beams.

[0027] Advantageously, in step a), the components to be manufactured are arranged exclusively in such a way that they each lie entirely in one of the sub-areas.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, the sub-areas occupy approximately equal areas on the construction platform.

[0029] According to one embodiment, at least some, in particular all, of the subregions in an interior region of the construction platform have straight boundaries which are aligned along a direction of a protective gas flow acting during the production of the components.

[0030] Advantageously, in step a), the components to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform in such a way that the components to be manufactured are rotated until their predetermined extension perpendicular to the protective gas flow direction is reached.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, both several components to be manufactured can be positioned on the construction platform or only one component to be manufactured can be positioned.

[0032] Advantageously, several energy beams are used simultaneously, at least temporarily, in at least a majority of the layers.

[0033] The object is also achieved by providing a manufacturing device for producing at least one component layer by layer from a plurality of powder material layers arranged sequentially in a layer sequence in a work area of ​​the manufacturing device, by locally selective solidification of the powder material arranged in the work area. The manufacturing device comprises at least one beam generating device configured to generate at least one energy beam, at least one scanner unit configured to displace the at least one energy beam in the work area, an application device for applying a powder material layer to the work area, and a control unit configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

[0034] The object is further achieved by providing a computer program product which, when used on a manufacturing device for layer-by-layer production of components on a construction platform, carries out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9 by locally solidifying powdered material in a respective layer.

[0035] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings. Likewise, the above-mentioned and further-described features can be used individually or in combination in any desired manner. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are exemplary in nature for describing the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure: Fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a manufacturing device for the layer-by-layer production of three-dimensional components for the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a construction platform used in a first variant of the method according to the invention, with two partial areas; Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a construction platform used in a second variant of the method according to the invention, with two partial areas and a prohibited zone; Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a construction platform used in a third variant of the method according to the invention, with three sub-areas; and Fig. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a candidate arrangement with a plurality of components to be manufactured on a construction platform with two partial areas, with a cutting plane for determining full dimensional values ​​for the invention. Detailed description

[0037] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings are intended to teach the principles of the present disclosure and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to implement and use the present disclosure in a variety of environments and for a variety of applications. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not intended to be, and should not be considered, a limiting description of the scope of patent protection. Rather, the scope of patent protection is to be defined by the appended claims.

[0038] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a manufacturing device 1 for the layered production of a plurality of components 5 on a construction platform 3, according to the invention. In particular, a method according to the invention for layered production of components 5 can run on the manufacturing device 1, or a method according to the invention for planning layered production of components 5 on a construction platform 3 can run. For this purpose, a corresponding computer program product can be installed and used on the manufacturing device 1.

[0039] The manufacturing device 1 comprises a build chamber 2, in which an inert atmosphere (e.g., an N2 atmosphere or a noble gas atmosphere) is typically established. A build platform 3 is movable relative to a floor 4 of the build chamber 2 in a Z direction (height direction). The build platform 3 has a flat upper surface 3a aligned in the xy plane, on which several components 5 are manufactured.

[0040] For this purpose, a powdered material 9 (here a metal powder) is applied layer by layer to the build platform 3 using a feeder 6. Using several scanners 7a, 7b, several high-energy beams 8a, 8b (here laser beams) are directed at an uppermost layer 9a of the powdered material 9, which melt the powdered material 7 in selected regions of the uppermost layer 9a and fuse it to the build platform 3 and later to already manufactured parts of the components 5. This advances the production of the components 5. After the uppermost layer 9a has been completely processed, the build platform 3 is lowered by one layer height in the Z direction, a next layer of powdered material 9 is applied and processed with the high-energy beams 8a, 8b, and so on until the loading of the build platform 3 is completely processed.

[0041] The high-energy beams 8a, 8b are generated here with a common laser source 11, with an original laser beam being split between the two scanners 7a, 7b or the two high-energy beams 8a, 8b by means of a beam splitter 12. Alternatively, separate radiation sources can be provided for each high-energy beam (not shown in detail).

[0042] The production device 1 has an electronic control device 13, which in particular controls the scanners 7a, 7b, the feeder 6, and the movement of the construction platform 3 during the production of the components 5. The control device 13 is also programmed to plan the arrangement of the components 5 to be used (to be manufactured) on the construction platform 3 before production begins. The arrangement of the components 5 to be used on the construction platform 3 is selected according to the invention such that the components to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform such that their extension perpendicular to the direction of the protective gas flow is the smallest (see Fig. 2).

[0043] The Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of a construction platform 3 which can be used in a first variant of the method according to the invention (e.g. on a production device as in Fig. 1). The build platform 3 is circular here and, for example, divided on its upper side 3a into two sub-areas T1 and T2. The sub-areas T1 and T2 have a common boundary 20 in an interior area of ​​the build platform 3. The boundary 20 runs straight and is aligned along a direction GS of a gas flow that is established during production.

[0044] In the variant shown, four components 5 to be manufactured are arranged in the first sub-area T1, and three components 5 to be manufactured are arranged in the second sub-area T2, by way of example; the components 5 are each arranged entirely in one of the sub-areas T1 or T2, and do not lie on the boundary 20. The areas of the sub-areas T1 and T2 on the upper side 3a of the construction platform 5 are of equal size here.

[0045] The components 5 in the sub-area T1 are manufactured exclusively with a first high-energy beam (e.g. with the high-energy beam 8a from Fig. 1), and the components 5 in the sub-area T2 are manufactured exclusively with a second high-energy beam (e.g. with the high-energy beam 8b from Fig. 1).

[0046] The Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic plan view of a construction platform 3 that can be used in a second variant of the method according to the invention. For simplicity, no components to be manufactured are marked here (see, for example, Fig. 2).

[0047] On the build platform 5, a first sub-area T1 and a second sub-area T2 are set up, each occupying an equal area on the build platform 3. The sub-areas T1 and T2 are separated from each other by a prohibited zone 30 with a width BR. A typical width BR is 0.5 mm or more. No components or parts of components are placed in the prohibited zone 30. The sub-areas T1 and T2 have boundaries 20 in the interior of the build platform 3, which also delimit the prohibited zone 30.

[0048] The boundaries 20 are again aligned parallel to the direction GS of the gas flow. When processing the build platform 3 with the two high-energy beams, the regions to be processed in the respective sub-area T1, T2 are processed line by line along a general processing direction BA, which runs opposite to the direction GS of the gas flow, see the example trajectories 31a, 31b of the two high-energy beams. This ensures that any smoke that is generated is blown toward areas already being processed, and the advancing high-energy beams are not absorbed by the smoke that has already formed. With respect to the direction transverse to the direction GS of the gas flow, the trajectories 31a, 31b each begin on the same side (here on the left) in order to establish a large distance between the simultaneously acting beam spots. The rows of the trajectories 31a, 31b run transverse to the processing direction BA.

[0049] Note that a construction platform 3, as in a third variant in Fig. 4, illustrated in plan view, can also have more sub-areas, for example three sub-areas T1, T2, T3, which are again separated by prohibited zones 30. The construction platform 3 shown here is square.

[0050] Within the scope of the invention, an arrangement of the components to be manufactured is selected and applied for the production of the three-dimensional components on the build platform, in which an approximately equal distribution of the (at least approximately) volumes of the components to be manufactured is established among the sub-areas. This allows for high utilization of the high-energy beams, which exclusively process these sub-areas throughout the entire loading of the build platform. Furthermore, by avoiding the impact of multiple high-energy beams on the same component, high processing quality and high control over this quality can be achieved.

[0051] The Fig. Figure 5 shows, by way of example, a longitudinal sectional view through a build platform 3 and the components 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 to be manufactured arranged thereon in a candidate arrangement. Also marked is the upper edge 60a of the full loading area 60 on the build platform 3, i.e., the height (in Z) up to which layers of powdered material are applied during the loading of the build platform 3 and locally solidified by means of the high-energy beams. The build platform 3 is divided into two sub-areas T1 and T2; components 5.1 and 5.2 are allocated to the first sub-area T1, and components 5.3 and 5.4 to the second sub-area T2. Note that the build platform 5 also extends in depth (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing).

[0052] In order to approximately determine the volumes of components 5.1 to 5.4, in the variant shown here, a common section plane 61 is placed through components 5.1-5.4, which is parallel to the xy plane (i.e. parallel to build platform 3). The common section plane 61 is placed such that for as many components 5.1-5.4 as possible, it lies at points with a typical (i.e. approximately average for the respective component) cross-sectional area; this is usually the case in the middle of the full loading height range 60; here, however, the section plane 61 was chosen slightly below this middle. The cross-sectional area Q1-Q4 of components 5.1-5.4 is then determined (calculated) in the section plane 61, for example from the CAD data. This cross-sectional area Q1-Q4 is then multiplied by the height of the component H1-H4 of the component 5.1-5.4, resulting in a full dimension value VMi (i: component index) for the component, with VM1=Q1*H1 for the component 5.1, etc., so generally VMi=Qi*Hi.

[0053] The volume sum VS(T1) of the first sub-area T1 is then the full dimensional value sum VMS(T1) from VS(T1)=VMS(T1)=VM1+VM2, and the volume sum VS(T2) of the second sub-area T2 is the full dimensional value sum VMS(T2) from VS(T2)=VMS(T2)=VM3+VM4. The absolute (maximum) difference BMDVS of the volume sums VS(T1) and VS(T2) for the candidate arrangement is then BMDVS=|VS(T2)-VS(T1)|.

[0054] The invention generally provides for selecting a candidate arrangement for which the maximum difference in the volume sums BMDVS is small (e.g. 20% or less, preferably 10% or less, particularly preferably 5% or less, based on the smallest volume sum) or is minimized. Often, a selection value for BMDVS (e.g. BMDVS equal to or less than 5%, based on the smallest volume sum) is used to preselect candidate arrangements from a large number of candidate arrangements, i.e., to determine a subset from which or from which the selection is then further refined, for example, by determining difference sums (see Fig. 12). List of reference symbols 1 manufacturing device 2 construction chamber 3 Construction platform 3a Top of the build platform 4 Floor of the build chamber 5; 5.1-5.4 Component(s) 6 feeders 7a, 7b Scanner 8a, 8b High-energy beams (here: laser beams) 9 powdered material 9a top layer of the powdered material 11 Laser source 12 beam splitters 13 Control device 20 limit 30 prohibited zone 31a, 31b Trajectory 60 full loading height range 60a upper edge of the full loading height range 61 (common) cutting plane BA Direction of processing BMDVS maximum difference in volume totals BR Width of the prohibited zone GS Direction of gas flow H1-H4 Height of the component in Z Hi Height of component i (full loading height range) Hi(THj) Height of component i in the partial height range THj i Component index Q1-Q4 calculated cross-sectional area of ​​the component in section plane (full loading height range) Qi calculated cross-sectional area of ​​component i in section plane (full loading height range) Qi(THj) calculated cross-sectional area of ​​component i in section plane in partial height range j T1-T3 sub-areas VMS(Tk) Full measurement value sum of sub-area k VM1-VM4 Full dimension value of the component VMi Full dimension value of component i VS(Tk) Volume sum of the sub-area Tk X direction (in plane of the build platform) Y direction (in plane of the build platform) Z direction (perpendicular to the build platform), height direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 732 890 A2

[0002] US 2020 / 0238623 A1

[0008] WO 2016 / 075026 A1

[0009] DE 10 2015 118 162 A1

[0012]

Claims

[1] Method for the layer-by-layer production of components (5; 5.1-5.4) on a construction platform (3) by local solidification of powdered material (9) in a respective layer, comprising the following steps: a) an applicable arrangement of components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured on the construction platform (3) is determined, and b) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are manufactured layer by layer with the arrangement to be used as defined in step a), wherein a protective gas flow flows horizontally over the construction platform (3) in a protective gas flow direction, and wherein in step a) at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, particularly preferably at least 95%, of the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform (3) in such a way that their extent perpendicular to the protective gas flow direction is the smallest. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the construction platform (3) is divided into a plurality of sub-areas (T1-T3), wherein in step a) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are distributed over the sub-areas (T1-T3) in such a way that the volume sums (VS(Tk)) of at least approximate volumes of the components (5; 5.1-5.4) arranged in each of the sub-areas (T1-T3) are approximately the same over a full loading height range (60), and wherein in step b) a respective sub-area (T1-T3) is processed exclusively by the same energy beam (8a, 8b) over all layers at least for all components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured arranged exclusively in this sub-area (T1-T3). [3] Method according to claim 1, wherein the construction platform (3) is divided into a plurality of sub-areas (T1-T3), wherein in step a) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are distributed over the sub-areas (T1-T3) in such a way that the volume sums (VS(Tk)) of at least approximate volumes of the components (5; 5.1-5.4) arranged in each of the sub-areas (T1-T3) are approximately the same over a full loading height range (60), and wherein in step b) it is determined that a respective sub-area (T1-T3) is to be processed exclusively by the same energy beam (8a, 8b) over all layers, at least for all components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured arranged exclusively in this sub-area (T1-T3). [4] Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein in step a) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are arranged exclusively in such a way that they each lie completely in one of the partial areas (T1-T3). [5] Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the partial regions (T1-T3) occupy approximately equal areas on the construction platform (3). [6] Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least some, in particular all, of the partial regions (T1-T3) in an inner region of the construction platform (3) have straight boundaries (20) which are aligned along a direction of a protective gas flow acting during the manufacture of the components (5; 5.1-5.4). [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in step a) the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are arranged on the construction platform (3) in such a way that the components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured are rotated until their predetermined extent perpendicular to the protective gas flow direction is reached. [8] Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein both a plurality of components (5; 5.1-5.4) to be manufactured can be positioned on the construction platform (3) and only one component (5) to be manufactured can be positioned. [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least in a plurality of the layers, at least temporarily, several energy beams (8a, 8b) are used simultaneously. [10] Manufacturing device (1) for producing at least one component (5; 5.1-5.4) layer by layer from a plurality of powder material layers of a powder material (9) arranged in a layer sequence in a working area of ​​the manufacturing device (1) by locally selective solidification of the powder material (9) arranged in the working area, comprising at least one beam generating device which is arranged to generate at least one energy beam (8a, 8b), at least one scanner unit which is arranged to displace the at least one energy beam (8a, 8b) in the working area, an application device for applying a layer of powder material to the work area, and a control unit (13) which is configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9. [11] Computer program product which, when used on a manufacturing device (1) for the layer-by-layer production of components (5; 5.1-5.4) on a construction platform (3) by locally solidifying powdered material (9) in a respective layer, carries out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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