Additive manufacturing device and additive manufacturing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for a production facility for the additive manufacture of articles, in particular for a production facility for selective laser melting. The device comprises a process chamber (1) for providing at least one working space in the area of a building zone and at least one separating wall (2), which divides the process chamber (1) into at least two sub-chambers (1a, b), wherein at least one of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) provides the at least one working space. This sub-chamber has at least one coater (22, 22a, b) for applying the powdered material (7) to the building zone, and at least one optics module (9a, b). At least one gas inlet (4a, b) or at least one gas outlet (24a, b) is arranged in the at least one separating wall (2).

Description

[0001] Additive manufacturing device and additive manufacturing process

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for a manufacturing system for the additive manufacturing of objects, in particular for a manufacturing system for selective laser melting. Furthermore, an improved additive manufacturing method is proposed.

[0003] The process of additive manufacturing allows the production of objects by building them layer by layer from a powdered material (material powder) using optical interaction. The process of selective laser melting (SLM) primarily uses metallic material powders, which are melted layer by layer into coherently solidified sections, preferably using a focused laser beam. This method can be used to produce, for example, machine parts, tools, prostheses, jewelry, etc.

[0004] A device for producing molded bodies based on the principle of selective laser melting is described, for example, in DE 10 2019 200 680 A1. The subject matter of this application is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0005] The layered construction of objects in additive manufacturing processes allows for considerable geometric freedom in their design. Furthermore, additive manufacturing does not require product-specific tools, enabling the cost-effective production of small batches of components. Therefore, additive processes are often used in rapid prototyping and small-batch production.

[0006] However, in order to benefit from the advantages of additive processes even in series production with high component volumes, an increase in the productivity of additive manufacturing systems, particularly SLM manufacturing systems, is desirable. One object of the present invention is to provide a device for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material using optical interaction (a device for the additive manufacturing of objects), with which the productivity of an additive manufacturing system, particularly an SLM manufacturing system, can be increased and, preferably, simultaneously the manufacturing quality of the objects to be manufactured can be improved.Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved additive manufacturing process, in particular an SLM manufacturing process, with which both the productivity of the manufacturing plant and preferably the quality of the manufactured objects can be increased.

[0007] To solve these problems, the features of the independent claims are proposed. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0008] A device for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material using optical interaction comprises a process chamber for providing at least one workspace in the region of at least one build area. The device can be intended, in particular, for a selective laser melting process. In this case, metallic materials can preferably be used.

[0009] A workspace is particularly referred to as a space / volume of the process chamber in which the layer-by-layer construction of one or more objects takes place. A build field is preferably understood to be a two-dimensional region in the workspace in which the optical interaction for solidifying the powdered material takes place. In selective laser melting, a build field can thus comprise a two-dimensional region in the workspace in which a focused laser beam impinges on an uppermost layer of the powdered material. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one partition wall which divides the process chamber into at least two sub-chambers, wherein at least one of the at least two sub-chambers provides the at least one workspace.Depending on the size of the process chamber and the objects to be manufactured, the process chamber can be divided into two sub-chambers by means of a partition wall, four sub-chambers by means of two partition walls, six sub-chambers by means of three partition walls, etc. Each of the sub-chambers formed in this way can provide at least one work space. Alternatively, only a predetermined number of the sub-chambers formed can provide at least one work space. Preferably, sub-chambers with at least one work space can have substantially the same size (the same volume). However, it is also possible to form sub-chambers with at least one work space of different sizes.

[0010] The at least one subchamber, which provides the at least one workspace, preferably has at least one coater and at least one optics module. This means that all subchambers formed by partition walls with at least one workspace preferably have at least one coater and at least one optics module. The at least one coater serves to apply the powdered material to the build area of ​​the subchamber. In other words, the coater applies the material powder layer by layer to the build area present in the at least one workspace of the subchamber.

[0011] The at least one optical module, which can be part of an irradiation device or the irradiation device itself, serves for the location-selective irradiation of the powdered material present in the region of the build field. In other words, the optical module specifically irradiates the powdered material present in the region of the build field of the sub-chamber according to geometric specifications for one or more objects to be manufactured, after the coater has applied a new layer of material powder to the build field. The optical module can in particular be configured to location-selectively irradiate the material powder with a focused laser beam, so that it is heated locally to such an extent that it briefly enters the liquid phase and solidifies upon solidification. The optical module is preferably arranged above the sub-chamber and at a distance from it.

[0012] Since all subchambers formed by the at least one partition wall with at least one workspace preferably have at least one separate coater and at least one separate optics module, different objects / different types of objects made of different materials can be manufactured in the individual subchambers. This can increase the flexibility and productivity of the production facility.

[0013] Furthermore, the at least one subchamber, which provides the at least one work space, comprises at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet for supplying and discharging a protective gas into the subchamber. This means that each subchamber used for the additive manufacturing of objects can have a separate protective gas atmosphere with a separate protective gas flow. The protective gas atmosphere can prevent the oxidation of the metallic material, and the protective gas flow can also help remove smoke and melt splashes from the build area that arise when the material is irradiated by the optics module. For example, argon and / or helium, nitrogen, or neon (or others) can be used as protective gases.By dividing the process chamber into individual sub-chambers with a separate optics module and a separate shielding gas flow, smoke formation can be reduced and the resulting smoke removal can be improved. This enables the provision of consistent process conditions in the sub-chambers and thus increases the manufacturing quality of the finished objects.

[0014] To supply and remove the protective gas to and from the at least one sub-chamber, which provides the at least one work space, either the at least one gas inlet or the at least one gas outlet is arranged in the at least one partition wall. For example, gas can be removed through the partition wall by sucking the protective gas out (upwards) through the partition wall. For this purpose, suitable channels / pipes can be installed in the partition wall through which the protective gas can be conveyed out of the sub-chambers by means of one or more extraction devices. If, for example, a process chamber with two sub-chambers is used in which the same protective gas is used, the extracted protective gas can be fed to a common filter system for cleaning. In this case, a common channel / pipeline through the partition wall and a common extraction device are also possible.

[0015] However, the use of separate sub-chambers for the additive manufacturing of objects also allows the use of different protective gases in the individual sub-chambers. This enables a further increase in both the flexibility and the quality of the manufacturing process, since the respective protective gas can be selected according to the different requirements for the production of the different objects in the individual sub-chambers (e.g. with regard to the required process parameters for the production of the various objects). The different protective gases can be removed via separate ducts / pipes in the partition wall using separate extraction devices to separate filter systems. In particular, the aforementioned filter systems can be recirculating air filter systems which comprise the extraction device and feed the purified protective gas back to the at least one sub-chamber via the at least one gas inlet.

[0016] It is also possible that, instead of the at least one gas outlet, the at least one gas inlet of the at least one subchamber, which provides the at least one work space, is arranged / integrated in the at least one partition wall. In this case, the protective gas can be guided, for example, from above through the partition wall and laterally from there into the subchamber(s). The at least one gas inlet can preferably be arranged in the partition wall in such a way that the supplied protective gas can flow evenly over the construction area of ​​the at least one work space.

[0017] By integrating the gas inlet or gas outlet into the partition wall, a larger area is available in the partial chamber for at least one work area, as no additional elements for supplying or discharging the shielding gas need to be installed in the partial chamber. Consequently, the productivity of additive manufacturing can be increased, as a larger number of objects can be produced in the partial chamber.

[0018] Furthermore, by integrating the gas supply into the partition wall, the sub-chambers formed by the partition wall can be supplied with shielding gas from central gas inlets, which can be located, for example, on both sides of the partition wall. Alternatively, shielding gas can be removed from multiple sub-chambers via gas outlets on both sides of the partition wall. This enables a compact design of the shielding gas supply for the individual sub-chambers of the process chamber, which can reduce flow losses and thus increase the efficiency of the production system.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the at least one gas inlet and the at least one gas outlet in the at least one sub-chamber can be arranged opposite one another. This means that either the at least one gas inlet or the at least one gas outlet can be arranged opposite the at least one partition wall. If the at least one gas outlet is arranged in the at least one partition wall, the gas inlet of the sub-chamber can be located in an element / component that is arranged in an outer region of the sub-chamber and opposite the partition wall. In this case, a flow can be formed over the build area that flows parallel to it from an outer side to an inner side of the sub-chamber. This makes it possible to achieve a uniform velocity distribution in the flow, whereby smoke and melt splashes can be continuously removed.An inner side of a sub-chamber is to be understood as the side that borders on at least one partition wall and thus on an adjacent sub-chamber.

[0020] If, however, the at least one gas inlet is arranged in the at least one partition wall, the gas outlet of the at least one sub-chamber can be located in an element / component arranged in an outer region of the sub-chamber. In this case, a flow can be formed over the build area, flowing parallel to it from the inner side to the outer side of the sub-chamber. Preferably, the element in which the gas outlet is located directly borders the build area of ​​the at least one work chamber, so that any smoke and melt splashes generated there can be directly extracted.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the at least one coater for applying the powdered material to the build area can be arranged in the partition wall. For example, the powder feed of the at least one coater can be integrated directly into the partition wall, so that the material powder can reach the build area of ​​the at least one work area of ​​the at least one sub-chamber, e.g., via a channel / pipe in the partition wall. This allows the work area in the sub-chamber to be made larger, thus further increasing the productivity of the production plant.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the device can further comprise a construction container support arranged below the process chamber, the upper side of which closes off the process chamber at the bottom. In other words, the upper side of the construction container support can encompass the underside / part of the underside of the process chamber. To seal the at least one gas inlet or outlet arranged in the partition wall from the upper side of the construction container support, the partition wall can have at least one seal on its underside.

[0023] The construction container carrier can comprise at least one construction container with a construction plate and a lifting device, which accommodates the at least one work chamber. This means that the at least one work chamber of the at least one sub-chamber can be arranged in the at least one construction container. The construction container carrier can comprise a plurality of construction containers. In particular, each sub-chamber of the process chamber can contain at least one construction container. It is also possible for a sub-chamber to have multiple construction containers.

[0024] The build plate of the at least one build container can, in particular, support the build area in the work space of the build container. This means that one or more objects to be manufactured can be built on the build plate. The lifting device can position the build plate vertically so that the at least one work space can be formed, e.g., by lowering the build plate in the build container. In particular, the lifting device can move the build plate vertically downwards by one layer thickness (thickness of a layer of material powder to be applied) after each build step. A build step can comprise applying the material powder to the build plate by means of the at least one coater and solidifying the material by means of the at least one optics module.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the construction container carrier can move the at least one construction container from a first position to a second position. The construction container carrier can preferably be a cylindrical carrier that can be rotated to move the at least one construction container from the first position to the second position. The rotation can preferably occur around a longitudinal axis of the construction container.

[0026] However, it is also possible for the construction container carrier to have a shape other than a cylinder, for example as a cuboid, cube, or truncated pyramid. To move the at least one construction container, instead of / in addition to the rotation of the construction container carrier, a translational movement of the same can be carried out in order to move the at least one construction container from the first to the second position. During both the rotational and the translational movement, the construction container carrier performs a movement to move the construction container itself (proper movement). However, it is also possible for the construction container carrier to not perform any movement of its own, or for only parts of the construction container carrier to be moved. For example, in this case, the at least one construction container can be moved from the first to the second position using a gripper.

[0027] A movement of the build container from a first and a second position should be understood as a movement of the build container from any position to any further arbitrary position of the build container in the process chamber. The number of positions in the process chamber is not limited to two; rather, the build container can be moved into a variety of positions. The term “from a first position to a second position” is simply intended to express that the build container is moved from one position to the next position. It can therefore also be moved from the second position to a third position, from the third position to a fourth position, etc. In a first position, the build container can be located in a first sub-chamber, for example, while in a second (next) position it can be located in a different sub-chamber of the process chamber, for example.It is also possible for both positions to be located in a sub-chamber. Likewise, one of the positions can be located below the at least one partition wall, for example, to apply material powder from the coater located in the separation chamber to the build plate of the at least one build container.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, the at least one construction container can be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Alternatively or additionally, the building plate of the at least one construction container can be rotatable about its longitudinal axis and / or the longitudinal axis of the construction container. In particular, the construction container can have a cylindrical shape (construction cylinder). However, it is also possible for the construction container to have a shape other than a cylinder and to be designed, for example, as a cuboid or cube. Depending on the embodiment of the construction container, the building plate can, for example, have a round or rectangular shape. The building plate can be mounted on / in the construction container such that its longitudinal axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the construction container. In this case, a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the building plate simultaneously comprises a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the construction container.However, it is equally possible that the longitudinal axes of the build plate and the build container do not coincide and the build plate is arranged, for example, on a radius of a build cylinder that is spaced from the longitudinal axis. In this case, a rotation of the build plate around the longitudinal axis of the build cylinder can mean a movement of the build plate along this radius. A rotation of the build plate around its own longitudinal axis can in this case take place outside the longitudinal axis of the build cylinder, in a position offset from it by the said radius. A rotation of at least one build container or its build plate makes it possible to take into account different component orientations for different objects to be manufactured. This can further increase the flexibility and productivity of the production plant. Component orientation should be understood as the orientation / alignment of an object to be manufactured in the work space.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the at least one coater for applying the powdered material to the build area can be integrated into the partition wall. In this case, the partition wall can preferably have at least one wiper lip on its underside. In this embodiment, the at least one coater can be completely contained in the partition wall; in particular, all functions of the coater can also be carried out with the aid of the partition wall. As already described above, the powder can be fed to the coater, for example, via a channel / pipeline in the partition wall. The required amount of material powder can be provided, for example, by means of a conveyor shaft and fed to the build plate of the build container via the channel in the partition wall.The scraper lip located on the underside of the partition wall allows the powdered material to be distributed over the build plate as the build container passes the partition wall on its way from a first to a second position. This means that the powdered material is simultaneously applied to the build area (coating) as the build container moves. Before the build plate is moved under the partition wall with the scraper lip, it can be vertically positioned appropriately using the lifting device, e.g., lowered by one layer thickness.

[0030] This design allows the coating function to be fully integrated into existing components of the device, eliminating the need for a separate coating component to feed and distribute the material powder across the build area. This allows for an increased workspace in each subchamber and further reduces the component load for the production facility.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the construction container carrier can also have at least one material removal opening. Excess material powder can be removed from the at least one construction container, in particular from its construction plate, via this opening. This can be achieved by an intrinsic movement, such as a rotation, of the construction container carrier, for example while it moves the at least one construction container from a first to a second position. During such a movement, the surface of the construction container carrier is continuously guided past / under the at least one wiper lip on the underside of the at least one partition wall, such that excess material located on the surface can be continuously fed to the at least one material removal device. This can preferably be arranged on the upper side of the construction container carrier.Particularly preferably, a plurality of material discharge openings can be arranged on the top side of the construction container support. The excess material can be fed through the material discharge opening(s) to one or more powder overflow containers.

[0032] According to a further embodiment, at least one of the at least two sub-chambers can provide a space for the preparation and post-processing of the layer-by-layer build-up of objects from powdered material. In other words, at least one sub-chamber, which is formed by the at least one partition wall, can be used not as a work space for the additive manufacturing of objects, but rather, for example, as an unpacking and / or setup station. In this case, no separate optics module is required in the respective sub-chamber. Such an embodiment makes it possible to integrate the preparation and post-processing of the objects to be manufactured / manufactured into the production system. This allows the overall process to be optimized and production productivity to be further increased, since, for example, no distance needs to be covered between a setup station and the additive manufacturing system.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, a first of the at least two sub-chambers can have a first coater. This can apply a first powdered material to a first build field, which is supported by a first build plate of a first build container that accommodates a first work space. Furthermore, a second of the at least two sub-chambers can have a second coater. This can in turn apply a second powdered material to a second build field, which is supported by a second build plate of a second build container that accommodates a second work space. In particular, the second material can be different from the first material. However, it is also possible for the first and second materials to be the same material. The exposure can take place simultaneously in the work spaces.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the first sub-chamber can have a first optics module that can selectively irradiate the first powdered material present in the region of the first build field. The second sub-chamber can accordingly have a second optics module that can selectively irradiate the second powdered material present in the region of the second build field. The number of sub-chambers is not limited to two; rather, there can be a plurality of sub-chambers, onto whose build fields a different material can preferably be applied, which is subsequently irradiated by the optics module of the respective sub-chamber. In this way, objects made of different materials can be additively manufactured in different sub-chambers of a process chamber.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the construction container carrier can move the first construction container with the first construction plate from the first sub-chamber into the second sub-chamber, and move the second construction container with the second construction plate from the second sub-chamber into the first sub-chamber. This enables the production of objects from different materials. For example, the first construction container, to whose construction plate a powder layer of the first material has been applied, can be moved into the second sub-chamber after irradiation by the first optics module. At the same time, the second construction container with the second material can be moved into the first sub-chamber after irradiation. The two construction plates can then be positioned vertically, e.g.by one layer thickness, and a powder layer of the second material can be applied to the first material in the second sub-chamber, and a powder layer of the first material can be applied to the second material in the first sub-chamber. After irradiation by the first and second optical modules in the two sub-chambers, the two build containers can be moved from one sub-chamber to the other, and the process can be repeated. This enables, for example, the construction of objects using a sandwich construction.

[0036] The exact position of the first and second build field after a movement from one sub-chamber to another can be detected by means of a suitable sensor system and transmitted to the first and second optics module. In this way, the focused laser beam of the two optics modules can always be correctly positioned. In addition, the position of the first and second build field can be adjusted by rotating the first and second build containers and / or their build plates as described above. Preferably, the first and second coaters can be integrated into the at least one partition wall. The first coater can be attached at a first position in / on the partition wall and the second coater can be attached at a second position in / on the partition wall. A first wiper lip can be arranged at the first position on the underside of the partition wall, and a second wiper lip can be arranged at the second position.It is also possible to arrange a continuous wiper lip on the underside of the partition wall. Using the coaters integrated into the partition wall, the first and second materials can be alternately applied to the first and second build areas. In particular, the first and second materials can be alternately fed to the first and second build panels and distributed over the build panels by moving the first and second build containers.

[0037] Excess material powder can be fed to at least one material discharge opening by the inherent movement, in particular the rotation of the construction container carrier as described above, using the scraper rib(s). If the first and second materials are different materials, the material powder mixed by the material discharge can be fed to one or more powder overflow containers for reprocessing.

[0038] According to a further embodiment, the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber can have a common gas inlet or a common gas outlet. Preferably, the common gas inlet or outlet can be arranged / integrated in the at least one partition wall as described above. The protective gas can be sucked from the first and second sub-chambers, which are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the partition wall, e.g. via openings in the two sides of the partition wall, into a common outlet channel in the partition wall. In a similar way, a common gas inlet into the first and second sub-chambers can be realized by conducting protective gas from above through a channel in the partition wall via openings in its side surfaces into the first and second sub-chambers.Since the same shielding gas is used in both subchambers in this case, a common filter system can be used with a shared gas outlet through the partition wall. With a shared gas inlet through the partition wall, only one shielding gas supply is required. This enables a compact shielding gas supply design for both subchambers, which can reduce flow losses and thus increase the efficiency of the production system.

[0039] A method using the device described above for building up an object from powdered material in layers by means of optical interaction comprises at least one of the steps described below.

[0040] In a first step, at least one workspace is provided in at least one subchamber in the region of a build area, wherein the at least one subchamber is formed by dividing a process chamber by means of at least one partition. In particular, a plurality of subchambers can be formed by means of a plurality of partitions. The workspace can preferably be provided in a build container comprising a build plate and a lifting device.

[0041] In a second step, a protective gas is supplied to the at least one subchamber. In other words, a protective gas atmosphere is created in the at least one subchamber, which can prevent the oxidation of the metallic material and also help to remove smoke and melt splashes from the build area.

[0042] Once a protective gas atmosphere has been established in the at least one sub-chamber, in a third step, powdered material is applied to the build area of ​​the at least one work space in the at least one sub-chamber by means of at least one coater. The build area of ​​the at least one work space can preferably be supported by the build plate of the build container. This can be positioned vertically by means of the lifting device. In particular, the build plate can be lowered by the lifting device by one layer thickness before the material powder is applied to the build area by the at least one coater. As described above, the at least one coater can preferably be arranged in the at least one partition wall.

[0043] After the material powder has been applied to the build area, a fourth step involves location-selective irradiation of the powdered material present in the area of ​​the build area using at least one optical module. In other words, the powdered material present in the area of ​​the build area of ​​the sub-chamber is specifically irradiated by the at least one optical module according to geometric specifications for one or more objects to be manufactured. In particular, the material powder is location-selectively irradiated by the optical module with a focused laser beam and locally heated to such an intense level that it briefly transitions completely into the liquid phase and solidifies upon solidification.

[0044] After the material has been irradiated, the shielding gas is removed from the at least one subchamber in a fifth step to remove smoke and melt spatter from the build area. The removed shielding gas is preferably fed to a filter system for cleaning and then reintroduced into the subchamber via the at least one gas inlet. In particular, a continuous gas flow can be established over the build area, ensuring constant process conditions during the irradiation of the material powder. In other words, the second process step of supplying the shielding gas and the fifth process step of removing the shielding gas are not to be understood as one-off steps within the process sequence; rather, these steps occur continuously.

[0045] Steps two to five, i.e. the layer-by-layer application and solidification of the material powder onto the build area under a continuous flow of protective gas, are repeated until the object is completely built / manufactured. The protective gas is either supplied to the at least one sub-chamber or the protective gas is removed from the at least one sub-chamber by means of at least one gas inlet or at least one gas outlet arranged in the at least one partition wall. This enables a compact design of the protective gas supply for the at least one sub-chamber, whereby flow losses can be reduced. In addition, a larger area is available in the at least one sub-chamber for the at least one work space, since no additional elements for supplying or removing the protective gas need to be arranged in the sub-chamber.

[0046] According to one embodiment, at least one of the following steps may additionally be performed between the second and third of the steps described above.

[0047] Before the powdered material is applied by means of the at least one coater, a first building plate can be positioned vertically in a first sub-chamber using a first lifting device. In particular, the first building plate can be lowered by the first lifting device by one layer thickness. The first building plate can be arranged in a first construction container, which accommodates a first work space, to support a first construction field. In the same way, a second building plate can be positioned vertically in a second sub-chamber using a second lifting device. In particular, the second building plate can also be lowered by one layer thickness by the second lifting device. The second building plate can be arranged in a second construction container, which accommodates a second work space, to support a second construction field.

[0048] After the vertical positioning of the first and second building panels, in a further step, the first and second building containers can be moved from a first position to a second position by means of a building container carrier in which the first and second building containers are arranged. In particular, the first and second building containers can be moved from a first position in the first and second sub-chambers to a second position below the partition wall. Preferably, a first and second coater are arranged in the partition wall, which coat a first material powder onto the first building area and a second material powder onto the second building area. This can mean, in particular, that the first and second material powders are fed from a first and second channel in the partition wall to the first and second building panels and distributed onto the first and second building panels by means of at least one wiper lip arranged on an underside of the partition wall.

[0049] According to a further embodiment, the construction container carrier can move the first and second construction containers from the second position to a third position between the third and fourth steps, i.e., before the location-selective irradiation of the material powder. In particular, the first and second construction containers can be moved from the second position below the two coaters in the partition wall to a third position, in which the second construction container is located in the first sub-chamber and the first construction container is located in the second sub-chamber. In this third position, the first and second material powder can be location-selectively irradiated and thereby solidified by means of the at least one optical module in the respective sub-chamber.

[0050] By repeating the steps described above, the first and second material powders can be applied alternately to the first and second build areas. In this way, in the present case, objects made of two materials can be produced in a sandwich construction. However, the number of subchambers, coaters, and material powders is not limited to two; rather, a plurality of subchambers, coaters, and material powders can be present, allowing objects made of more than two materials to be produced. Brief description of the figures

[0051] Fig. 1a and 1b: show schematically an embodiment of a device for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and in a cross-sectional representation;

[0052] Fig. 2a and 2b: show schematically an internal view of the device shown in Figs. 1a and 1b in a spatial representation;

[0053] Fig. 3a and 3b: show schematically a further embodiment of the device for layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and in a cross-sectional representation;

[0054] Fig. 4a to 4c: show schematically a plan view and two sectional views of the device shown in Fig. 3a and 3b;

[0055] Fig. 5 shows schematically an embodiment of a method for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction;

[0056] Fig. 6a and 6b: show schematically yet another embodiment of the device for layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and in a plan view;

[0057] Fig. 7a and 7b: schematically show a top view and a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 6a and 6b. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0058] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail using exemplary figures. The features of the exemplary embodiments can be combined in whole or in part, and the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. In the figures, identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals, so that a repeated description of the elements is omitted unless necessary.

[0059] Figures 1a and 1b schematically show an embodiment of a device for the layered construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and a cross-sectional representation. The sectional plane of the cross-sectional representation in Fig. 1b is marked in Fig. 1a by thin dotted lines.

[0060] The device shown comprises a process chamber 1, which is divided by a partition wall 2 into a first sub-chamber 1a and a second sub-chamber 1b. For the sake of clarity, the process chamber 1 with its sub-chambers 1a, 1b is only shown in Fig. 1b. A coater 22a, 22b is arranged in each of the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b. Furthermore, an optics module 9a, 9b is arranged above each sub-chamber 1a, 1b, and a gas inlet 4a, 4b is arranged on the outer sides of each sub-chamber 1a, 1b. The gas outlet of each sub-chamber 1a, 1b is located in the partition wall 2 (indicated by an arrow in the partition wall 2). The process chamber 1 is placed on a housing 3. A build container carrier 5 is arranged below the process chamber 1 in the housing 3, which build container carrier 5, in the embodiment shown, contains a first build container 11a and a second build container 11b. Each of the two construction containers 11a, 11b in turn comprises a lifting device 10a, 10b and a construction plate 12a, 12b.In the illustrated embodiment, the construction container carrier 5 has a cylindrical shape, and the construction containers 11a, 11b are also designed as construction cylinders. The upper side 5a of the construction container carrier closes off the process chamber 1 at the bottom or, in the illustrated embodiment, forms part of the underside of the process chamber 1.

[0061] For the layer-by-layer construction of one or more objects using selective laser melting, the coaters 22a, 22b apply a layer of a powdered, preferably metallic material to a respective build area supported by the build plates 12a, 12b. The applied powder layer is then irradiated in a location-selective manner with a focused laser beam by the optics modules 9a, 9b. In particular, the optics modules 9a, 9b specifically irradiate the powdered material present on the build plates 12a, 12b with a focused laser beam 19a, 19b in accordance with the geometric specifications for the objects to be manufactured. After irradiation, the lifting devices 10a, 10b lower the build plates 12a, 12b by one layer thickness, and the coaters 22a, 22b apply another layer of material powder to the respective build area. The working space for the layer-by-layer construction of the objects to be manufactured is thus formed in the construction containers 11a, 11b.

[0062] The division of the process chamber 1 into two sub-chambers 1a, 1b, each providing a workspace for additive manufacturing, makes it possible to produce different objects with different properties in one production facility. Since each sub-chamber 1a, 1b has its own coater 22a, 22b and its own optics module 9a, 9b, objects made of different materials, for example, can be produced in the individual sub-chambers 1a, 1b.

[0063] To prevent oxidation of the metallic material powder and to remove smoke and melt splashes from the build area, a protective gas is introduced into the sub-chambers via the gas inlets 4a, 4b located laterally on the sub-chambers 1a, 1b. This gas flows over the build area and is discharged centrally via gas outlets in the partition wall 2 (indicated by arrows in Fig. 1b). This creates a continuous gas flow. An exemplary arrangement of the gas outlets is shown in Fig. 4c and will be described in more detail in conjunction with this figure.

[0064] The arrangement of the gas inlets and outlets in the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b enables a homogeneous flow over the respective build area, ensuring consistent process conditions. By dividing process chamber 1 into two sub-chambers 1a, 1b, each with a separate shielding gas flow, smoke and melt spatter can be reliably removed.

[0065] Furthermore, the arrangement of the gas outlets in the partition wall 2 eliminates the need for additional components for gas removal in the sub-chambers 1a, 1b, thus providing a larger workspace for the additive manufacturing of the objects. If the same shielding gas is used in both sub-chambers, it is possible to implement a common gas outlet in the partition wall 2 through which the contaminated shielding gas can be fed to a common filter system. This can reduce the component complexity of the production facility.

[0066] However, it is also possible to install separate gas outlets in the partition wall 2, allowing different shielding gases to be used in the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b. This further increases the flexibility and quality of the manufacturing process, as the respective shielding gas can be selected according to the different manufacturing requirements of the different objects in the two sub-chambers.

[0067] Furthermore, only one of the two subchambers 1a, 1b can be used for additive manufacturing, while the other subchamber 1a, 1b can serve as an unpacking and setup station. In this case, no separate optics module 9a, 9b is required in the respective subchamber 1a, 1b. Such an embodiment also makes it possible to integrate the preparation and post-processing of the manufactured / produced objects into the production system. This allows the overall process to be optimized and production productivity to be further increased, since, for example, no distance needs to be covered between a setup station and the additive manufacturing system.

[0068] Figures 2a and 2b schematically show an interior view of the device shown in Figures 1a and 1b in a three-dimensional representation. In particular, Figures 2a and 2b show an embodiment of the construction container carrier 5 with the construction containers 11a, 11b.

[0069] In Fig. 2a, the construction container 5 is shown in a position in which the construction containers 11a, 11b are in a first position. The first construction container 11a is located in / below the first sub-chamber 1a and the second construction container in / below the second sub-chamber 1b (cf. Fig. 1b). By rotating the construction container carrier 5 about its longitudinal axis, the two construction containers 11a, 11b in Fig. 2b are in a second position in which the first construction container 11a is positioned in / below the second sub-chamber 1b and the second construction container in / below the first sub-chamber 1a. The rotation of the construction container 5 is indicated by the arrow shown below the construction container 5. The arrows shown below the construction containers 11a, 11b illustrate that in the exemplary embodiment shown here, the individual construction containers 11a, 11b can also be rotated about their longitudinal axes.

[0070] By moving the two build containers 11a, 11b from one sub-chamber 1a, 1b to another sub-chamber 1a, 1b, which both have a separate coater 22a, 22b and a separate optics module 9a, 9b, objects made of two different materials can be manufactured. For example, after applying and solidifying a powder layer, with the two build containers 11a, 11b in the first position, the build container carrier 5 can be rotated so that the build containers 11a, 11b are then in the second position. While in the first position, in which the first build container 11a was in the first sub-chamber 1a, a first material was applied to a first build field of the first build container 11a and solidified, a second material can now be applied to the first build field of the first build container 11a and solidified in the second sub-chamber 1b.The same applies in reverse for a second build area of ​​the second build container 11b. Subsequently, the build container carrier 5 can be rotated again so that both build containers 11a, 11b are again in the first position, and a new layer of the starting material can be applied to the first and second build areas and solidified. In this way, objects made of two materials can be manufactured using a sandwich construction.

[0071] The precise position of the first and second construction field of the construction containers 11a, 11b in the sub-chambers 1a, 1b after a rotation of the construction container carrier 5 can be detected by means of a suitable sensor system and transmitted to the optics modules 9a, 9b. In this way, the focused laser beam of the two optics modules 9a, 9b can always be correctly positioned. In addition, the position of the first and second construction field can be adjusted by rotating the first and second construction containers. In the illustrated embodiment, the construction containers 11a, 11b rotate about their longitudinal axes so that different component orientations can be realized in the two construction containers 11a, 11b. However, it is also possible for the construction panels 12a, 12b to be rotated instead of the construction containers or in addition to the construction containers.These can be mounted centrally in the build container 11a, 11b, so that the respective build plate 12a, 12b has the same longitudinal axis as the build container 11a, 11b. However, it is also possible for the build plates 12a, 12b to be mounted at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the build container 11a, 11b. In this case, the build plates 12a, 12b can preferably be rotated both about their own longitudinal axis and about the longitudinal axis of the build container 11a, 11b. This results in a high degree of freedom with regard to the positioning of the objects to be manufactured in the workspace.

[0072] It is also possible for the device shown to have more than one partition 2. For example, the process chamber 1 can be divided into four sub-chambers 1a, 1b by means of two partitions 2 arranged perpendicular to one another, for example. If each of these sub-chambers 1a, 1b has its own coater 22a, 22b and its own optics module 9a, 9b, objects made of up to four materials can be manufactured in this case. Depending on the size of the process chamber 1, more than two partitions 2 can also be installed in the process chamber 1 to divide the process chamber 1 into more than four sub-chambers 1a, 1b.

[0073] 3a and 3b schematically show a further embodiment of the device for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and in a cross-sectional representation. The sectional plane of the cross-sectional representation in Fig. 3b is marked in Fig. 3a by thin dotted lines. For the sake of clarity, the process chamber 1 with its sub-chambers 1a, 1b is again only shown in Fig. 3b. The embodiment shown here differs from the previous one only in that the coaters 22a, 22b are no longer present in the first and second sub-chambers 1a, 1b. All other elements are identical in construction to the device shown in Figures 1a and 1b. In the present embodiment, the two coaters 22a, 22b are integrated into the partition wall 2. An implementation of this integration is described in more detail below in conjunction with Fig. 4b.

[0074] Figures 4a to 4c schematically show a top view and two sectional views of the device shown in Figures 3a and 3b. Figure 4a essentially serves to define the sectional planes AA and BB through the device, which are shown in Figures 4b and 4c.

[0075] Fig. 4b shows, by way of example, the integration of a single coater 22 into the partition wall 2, which is arranged in the sectional plane AA. A second coater can be integrated in the same way, for example on a side of the device opposite the sectional plane AA (for example in a plane resulting from a reflection of the sectional plane AA at the center line BB). In particular, with these two coaters 22 integrated into the partition wall 2, objects made of two materials can be manufactured in a sandwich construction in the same way as described in the previous exemplary embodiment. It is also possible for the device to have more than one partition wall 2. For example, the process chamber 1 can be divided into four sub-chambers 1a, 1b by means of two partition walls 2, wherein two coaters 22 can be integrated into each partition wall 2.Thus, the present embodiment of the device also enables the production of objects from more than two materials.

[0076] It can be seen that a quantity of material powder 7 is fed to the coater 22 from above through the partition wall 2. The quantity of material powder 7 required for each layer can be provided, for example, via a conveyor shaft in the partition wall 2. This powder then reaches the top side 5a of the construction container carrier 5 via a funnel-shaped opening on the side of the coater 22 facing the construction container carrier 5. By means of a scraper lip 23 arranged on the underside of the partition wall 2, the material powder 7 can be applied to the construction area of ​​the first construction container 11a by rotating the construction container carrier 5. In particular, the required quantity of material powder 7 can reach the construction area of ​​the first construction container 11a via the funnel-shaped opening of the coater 22, so that the material powder 7 can be distributed over the construction area by rotating the construction container carrier 5 by means of the scraper lip 23.For this purpose, the build container 11a can be rotated in advance into a suitable position relative to the coater 22. Before the material powder 7 is applied to the build area of ​​the first build container 11a, its build plate 12a can preferably be lowered by one layer thickness.

[0077] Fig. 4c shows, by way of example, the integration of two gas outlets 24a, 24b into the partition wall 2, through which the protective gas can be removed from the first and second sub-chambers 1a, 1b. The protective gas from the first sub-chamber 1a is removed via a first gas outlet 24a, and the protective gas from the second sub-chamber 1b is removed via a second gas outlet 24b. To seal the gas outlets 24a, 24b from the upper side 5a of the construction container support 5, seals 24aa, 24ba are attached in the area of ​​the gas outlets on the underside of the partition wall 2. The protective gas contaminated by smoke and melt splashes, which is removed from the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b through the gas outlets 24a, 24b, can each be fed to a filter system (not shown). Preferably, this can be a recirculating air filter system in which the protective gas is cleaned and then fed back into the partial chambers 1a, 1b via the gas inlets 4a, 4b.If the same shielding gas is used in both subchambers 1a, 1b, it can be fed into a common filter system for cleaning. In this case, a common gas outlet 24a, 24b through the partition wall 2 is also possible.

[0078] Fig. 5 shows schematically an embodiment of a method for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction.

[0079] In a step S500, a first sub-chamber 1a and a second sub-chamber 1b are first formed by dividing a process chamber 1 by means of a partition wall 2, and a work space is provided in each of the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b in the region of a build field. For this purpose, each of the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b comprises a build container 11a, 11b, which in turn has a build plate 12a, 12b and a lifting device 10a, 10b (see, for example, Figs. 1b, 3b and 4c). The work space is provided in the two sub-chambers by vertically positioning the build plates 12a, 12b in the build containers 11a, 11b by means of the lifting devices 10a, 10b, in particular by lowering them by a layer thickness (thickness of a layer of material powder to be applied). Furthermore, a protective gas atmosphere / protective gas flow is created in both sub-chambers 1a, 1b in order to prevent oxidation of the material powder to be applied and to remove smoke and melt splashes from the construction area.The gas is supplied to the first subchamber 1a via a first gas inlet 4a, and the gas is supplied to the second subchamber 1b via a second gas inlet 4b. The gas is discharged from the two subchambers 1a, 1b via the partition wall (see Figure 4c).

[0080] After the vertical positioning of the first and second build panels 12a, 12b, in a next step S510, the first and second build containers 11a, 11b are moved from a first position to a second position by means of a build container carrier 5 in which the first and second build containers are arranged. In the present case, the first and second build containers 11a, 11b are moved from a first position in the first and second sub-chambers 1a, 1b to a second position below the partition wall 2 or adjacent to the partition wall 2. A first and second coater are arranged in the partition wall 2 (see Fig. 4b), which apply a first material powder 7a to the first build field and a second material powder 7b to the second build field.This can mean in particular that the first and second material powder 7a, 7b are fed from a first and second channel in the partition wall 2 to the first and second building plate 12a, 12b and distributed on the first and second building plate 12a, 12b by means of at least one scraper lip 23 arranged on an underside of the partition wall 2 (see also Fig. 4b).

[0081] After applying the first and second material powder 7a, 7b to the first and second construction field, the construction containers 11a, 11b are moved from the second position to a third position by means of the construction container carrier 5 in a next step S520.

[0082] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first and second build containers 11a, 11b are moved from the second position below the two coaters in the partition wall 2 to a third position, in which the second build container 11b is located in the first sub-chamber 1a and the first build container 11b is located in the second sub-chamber 1b. In the third position, the two build containers 11a, 11b are each located in an irradiation area 9aa, 9ba of a first and second optical module 9a, 9b and, at the same time, in an optimal area of ​​the protective gas flow between the gas inlet 4a, 4b and the gas outlet of the respective sub-chamber. Therefore, in this position, in a next step S530, the first and second material powders can be location-selectively irradiated by means of the optical modules 9a, 9b and thereby solidified.

[0083] During the rotation from the second to the third position, excess material powder 7a, 7b, which may be located on the upper side 5a of the construction container carrier 5a, can be conveyed / pushed by means of the scraper lip 23 via the material discharge openings 6a, 6b into one or more powder overflow containers (not shown).

[0084] By repeating the above-described steps S500 to S530, the first and second material powders 7a, 7b can be applied alternately to the first and second build areas. In this way, according to the described embodiment, objects made of two materials can be produced in a sandwich construction. The build container carrier 5 can rotate continuously, i.e., both the application and the irradiation of the first and second material powders 7a, 7b can already take place during the rotation of the build container carrier 5. Likewise, excess material powder 7a, 7b can be continuously removed from the surface 5a of the build container carrier during the rotation, since it is constantly moved under the wiper lip 23.The continuous process of material application and solidification can significantly accelerate the production of additively manufactured objects and thus increase the productivity of the production plant.

[0085] 6a and 6b schematically show yet another embodiment of the device for the layered construction of objects from powdered material by means of optical interaction in a spatial representation and in a plan view. The embodiment shown here differs from the previous one in that a first and second gas outlet 24a, 24b is arranged on the outer sides of the first and second sub-chambers 1a, 1b, instead of the first and second gas inlets 4a, 4b. Furthermore, the construction container carrier 5 in this embodiment comprises six instead of just two construction containers 11a, 11b. For this reason, the two optical modules 9a, 9b are not arranged directly opposite one another on both sides of the partition wall 2, as shown in the previous embodiments, e.g., in Figs. 1a and 3a, but are mounted spaced from one another in the direction of extension of the partition wall (cf. Fig. 6b).The same applies to the first and second gas outlets 24a, 24b, which, unlike the gas inlets 4a, 4b shown in Figs. 1a and 3a, are also not arranged opposite one another, but rather spaced apart from one another in the extension direction of the partition wall 2. In particular, the gas outlets 24a, 24b in this exemplary embodiment are arranged such that smoke and melt splashes (also called process by-products) can be extracted directly at the point of origin. The gas is supplied to the two sub-chambers 1a, 1b via corresponding gas inlets in the partition wall 2. This is explained in more detail below in connection with Figs. 7a and 7b.

[0086] Figs. 7a and 7b show schematically a plan view and a sectional view of the device shown in Figs. 6a and 6b.

[0087] Fig. 7a shows a top view of the irradiation areas 9aa, 9ba of the two optical modules 9a, 9b shown in Figs. 6a and 6b. A shielding gas flow is present in each of the irradiation areas 9aa, 9ba through the opposing gas inlets and outlets in the two subchambers 1a, 1b. The shielding gas flows from gas inlets arranged in the partition wall toward the gas outlets 24a, 24b. This is indicated by thin arrows in the irradiation areas 9aa, 9ba.

[0088] It is clear that the irradiation areas 9aa, 9ba with the associated protective gas flow are arranged such that the construction areas of the six construction containers 11a, 11b present in this exemplary embodiment can be continuously irradiated one after the other by rotating the construction container carrier 5. In particular, with continuous rotation of the construction container carrier 5, an additive manufacturing process step (application of the material powder, irradiation of the material powder, lowering of the construction panels) can always take place on each construction area of ​​the six construction containers 11a, 11b.

[0089] Fig. 7b shows the device illustrated in Figs. 6a and 6b in the sectional plane AA. The sectional plane AA is defined in Fig. 7a and corresponds to the sectional plane AA according to Figs. 4a and 4b. In the present exemplary embodiment, in this sectional plane, next to the coater 22, the gas inlet 4 is integrated into the partition wall 2. The gas is supplied from above through the partition wall 2 and is subsequently introduced laterally into the second sub-chamber 1b. The inlet point is arranged directly opposite the gas outlet 24b so that a uniform protective gas flow can develop over the build field of a build container 11a, 11b entering the irradiation area 9ba. The gas inflow into the sub-chamber 1b, the gas flow over the build field and the gas discharge through the gas outlet 24b are marked with corresponding arrows in Fig. 7b.

[0090] Analogous to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4b, a further coater and a further gas inlet can be integrated into the partition wall 2 in the same way, for example on a side of the device opposite the sectional plane AA. The further gas inlet can in particular be arranged directly opposite the gas outlet 24a in order to form a uniform protective gas flow over the construction field of a construction container 11a, 11b entering the irradiation area 9aa. If two different protective gases are used in the first and second sub-chambers 1a, 1b, these are fed to different filter systems (not shown) for cleaning.

[0091] If the same protective gas is used in both subchambers 1a, 1b, in the present embodiment, it can also be directed downwards via a common downpipe in the partition wall 2 and branched off to the gas inlets at the irradiation areas 9aa, 9ba. In this case, the contaminated protective gas can be directed through the two gas outlets 24a, 24b to a common filter system.

[0092] Since two coaters 22 can be integrated into the partition wall 2 in this embodiment, the production of objects made of two materials in a sandwich construction is also possible here. Likewise, more than one partition wall 2 with integrated coaters 22 and gas inlets 4 can be installed in the process chamber 1, so that the present embodiment of the device also enables the production of objects made of more than two materials.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for the layer-by-layer construction of objects from powdered material (7, 7a, b) by means of optical interaction, in particular according to the method of selective laser melting, comprising: a process chamber (1) for providing at least one working space in the region of a build field; at least one partition wall (2) which divides the process chamber (1) into at least two sub-chambers (1a, b), one of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) providing the working space; a coater (22, 22a, b) for applying the powdered material (7) to the build field; an optical module (9a, b) of an irradiation device for the location-selective irradiation of the powdered material (7a, b) present in the region of the build field; a gas inlet (4, 4a, b) for supplying a protective gas into the sub-chamber (1a, b); and a gas outlet (24a, b) for discharging the protective gas from the partial chamber (1a, b);wherein the gas inlet (4a, b) and / or the gas outlet (24a, b) is arranged in the at least one partition wall (2); 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet (4, 4a, b) and the gas outlet (24a, b) are arranged opposite one another in the at least one sub-chamber (1a, b).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one coater (22, 22a, b) for applying the powdered material (7) to the construction field is arranged in the partition wall (2).

4. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a construction container carrier (5) which is arranged below the process chamber (1) and whose upper side (5a) closes off the process chamber at the bottom, wherein the construction container carrier (5) has at least one construction container (11a, b) with a construction plate (12a, b) and a lifting device (10a, b) which receives the work space, wherein the lifting device (10a, b) is designed to vertically position the construction plate (12a, b) in one of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) and the construction plate (12a, b) is designed to support the construction field.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the construction container carrier (5) is configured to move the at least one construction container (11a, b) from a first position to a second position. Device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one construction container (11a, b) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and / or the construction plate (12a, b) of the at least one construction container (11a, b) is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and / or about the longitudinal axis of the construction container (11a, b). Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coater (22, 22a, b) for applying the powdered material (7) to the construction field is integrated in the partition wall (2), and / or the partition wall (2) has at least one wiper lip on its underside. (23). Device according to at least one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the construction container support (5) has at least one material discharge opening (6a, b). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) is configured to provide a space for the preparation and post-processing of the layered buildup of objects from powdered material (7).Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a first (1a) of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) has a first coater (22a) which is configured to apply a first powdered material (7a) to a first build field supported by a first build plate (12a) of a first build container (11a) which accommodates a first work space; and a second (1b) of the at least two sub-chambers (1a, b) has a second coater (22b) which is configured to apply a second powdered material (7b) to a second build field supported by a second build plate (12b) of a second build container (11b) which accommodates a second work space.Device according to claim 10, wherein the first sub-chamber (1a) is assigned a first optical module (9a) which is configured to irradiate the first powdered material (7a) present in the region of the first construction field in a location-selective manner, and the second sub-chamber (1b) is assigned a second optical module (9b) which is configured to irradiate the second powdered material (7b) present in the region of the second construction field in a location-selective manner.

2. Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the construction container carrier (5) is configured to move the first construction container (11a) with the first construction plate (12a) from the first sub-chamber (1a) into the second sub-chamber (1b), and to move the second construction container (11b) with the second construction plate (12b) from the second sub-chamber (1b) into the first sub-chamber (1a).

3. Device according to at least one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the first sub-chamber (1a) and the second sub-chamber (1b) have a common gas inlet (4a, b) and / or a common gas outlet (24a, b).

4. Method for the layer-by-layer construction of an object from powdered material (7, 7a, b) by means of optical interaction using a device according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one of the steps: (1) Providing a working space in at least one sub-chamber (la, b) in the region of a construction field, wherein the at least one sub-chamber (la, b) is formed by dividing a process chamber (1) by means of at least one partition wall (2); (2) supplying a protective gas into at least one partial chamber (la, b), (3) applying powdered material (7, 7a, b) to the construction area of ​​the working space of the at least one partial chamber (1a, b) by means of at least one coater (22, 22a, b), (4) location-selective irradiation of the powdery material present in the region of the at least one construction field by means of at least one optical module (9a, b); and (5) removing the protective gas from at least one partial chamber (la, b), (6) Repeating the above steps (2) to (5) until the object has been completely constructed, wherein the supply of the protective gas into the at least one partial chamber (1a, b) and / or the removal of the protective gas from the at least one partial chamber (1a, b) takes place by means of at least one gas inlet (4a, b) or at least one gas outlet (2a, b) which is arranged in the at least one partition wall (2).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein additionally at least one of the following steps is carried out: - vertical positioning of a first building plate (12a) for supporting a first construction field in a first construction container (11a) which accommodates a first work space, by means of a first lifting device (10a) in a first sub-chamber (1a), and vertical positioning of a second building plate (12b) for supporting a second construction field in a second construction container (11b) which accommodates a second work space, by means of a second lifting device (10b) in a second sub-chamber (1b); and - Moving the first and second construction containers (11a, b) from a first position to a second position by means of a construction container carrier (5) in which the first and second construction containers (11a, b) are arranged.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the following step is additionally carried out: - Moving the first and second construction container (11a, b) from the second position to a third position by means of the construction container carrier (5).

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