Apparatus for cleaning a recoater, particulate-material conditioning, and use thereof in methods for producing shaped parts layer by layer

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for cleaning a recoater (101, 701), and for conditioning particulate material.

Description

[0001] Recoater cleaning device,

[0002] Particle material conditioning and its use in processes for the layer-by-layer construction of molded parts

[0003] The invention relates to a device for recoater cleaning and particulate material conditioning and its use in a method for producing three-dimensional models by means of layer build-up technology.

[0004] European patent EP 0 431 924 B1 describes a method for producing three-dimensional objects from computer data. A thin layer of particulate material is applied to a build platform using a recoater, and the particulate material (generally a fluid) is selectively printed with a binder material using a print head. The particulate area printed with the binder bonds and solidifies under the influence of the binder and, if necessary, an additional hardener or an additional heat source. The build platform is then lowered by one layer thickness in a build cylinder and covered with a new layer of particulate material, which is also printed as described above. These steps are repeated until a certain desired object height is reached. The printed and solidified areas thus form a three-dimensional object (molded part or 3D molded part).This object, made from solidified particulate material, is embedded in loose particulate material after completion, and is then removed from it. This is done, for example, using a vacuum cleaner. What remains are the desired objects, which are then freed from the residual powder, for example, by brushing.

[0005] With known devices and processes of additive manufacturing, the provision of defined particulate material as well as the smooth release of the particulate material from the recoater onto the build platform or the proper functioning of the recoater often poses a problem. This is followed by quality problems in the printed 3D molded parts as well as cost implications due to increased scrap and the problem of a time-efficient manufacturing process and thus also cost implications due to machine downtimes and the reduced productivity of the machines used.

[0006] It was therefore an object of the present invention to reduce or completely avoid the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] It was therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method in which the coater and the dispensing of the particulate material are improved and a more uniform particulate material dispensing as well as reduced contamination and / or blocking or malfunctions of the coater are reduced or substantially avoided.

[0008] It was therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a device and a method in which printing material can be delivered into the printing process essentially in good quality, in particular uniformly and with the desired application quality.

[0009] It was therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a device and a method in which the particulate material can be further conditioned.

[0010] Brief summary of the invention

[0011] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for conditioning particulate material in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device comprises a conditioning means which is attached to the device in a substantially rigid or movable manner and which engages the particulate material in at least one travel position of the powder coater and / or a travel position of the conditioning means and thereby substantially homogenizes the particulate material and / or the outflow of the particulate material.

[0012] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for cleaning a gap or oscillating blade coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device has a cleaning agent that is attached to the device essentially rigidly or displaceably and that engages in the gap of the gap powder coater or comes into contact with it or the oscillating blade coater in at least one travel position of the gap powder coater. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a gap powder coater in a powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. moving the powder coater to a cleaning agent, b. positioning the powder coater gap or the cleaning agent such that the cleaning agent engages in the gap of the powder coater and / or that the cleaning agent comes into contact with at least one blade of the powder coater, c.Moving the powder coater or the cleaning agent so that the cleaning agent no longer penetrates the gap of the powder coater and / or that the cleaning agent is no longer in contact with at least one blade of the powder coater.

[0013] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for conditioning particulate material present in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device in a powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. Moving the powder coater to a conditioning agent or a conditioning agent to a roller of a particulate material outside a powder coater, b. Positioning the powder coater or the conditioning agent so that the conditioning agent engages the particulate material, c. Applying a layer of particulate material in the X or Z direction and optionally selectively solidifying the particulate material thus applied, d. Repeating steps a.) to c.) until a desired 3D molded part is constructed, e. Optionally performing further method steps, preferably unpacking and / or post-treatment of the 3D molded part. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Figs. 1 - 7 show various preferred aspects of the invention.

[0015] Detailed description of the invention

[0016] According to the invention, an object underlying the application is achieved by a device according to claim 1 and / or by a method according to claims 11 and 12. Further preferred aspects are described in the subclaims.

[0017] In the following, some terms of the revelation will be explained in more detail.

[0018] For the purposes of the disclosure, "layer construction processes" or "3D printing processes" or "3D processes" or "3D printing" are all processes known from the prior art that enable the construction of components in three-dimensional shapes and are compatible with the process components and devices described below.

[0019] "Binder jetting" in the sense of the disclosure means that powder is applied layer by layer to a build platform, the cross-sections of the component on this powder layer are printed with one or more liquids, the position of the build platform is changed by one layer thickness to the last position, and these steps are repeated until the component is finished. Binder jetting also includes layer-by-layer construction processes that require an additional process component, such as layer-by-layer exposure, e.g., with IR or UV radiation.

[0020] In "powder bed fusion" such as the "high-speed sintering process" as defined in the disclosure, a thin layer of plastic granulate, such as PA12 or TPU, is applied to a preferably heated build platform (build area). An inkjet print head then moves over a large area of ​​the platform and wets the areas of the build area with electromagnetic radiation, e.g., infrared light, or absorbing ink (absorber) where the prototype is to be created. The build platform is then irradiated with (e.g., infrared) light. The wetted areas absorb the heat, causing it to melt and bond with the underlying powder layer. The unprinted powder, however, remains loose. After sintering, the build platform lowers by one layer thickness. This process is repeated until the build of a component is complete.The sintered parts are then cooled in a controlled manner in the build chamber before they can be removed and unpacked.

[0021] “Laser sintering process” within the meaning of the disclosure is a 3D printing process in which the particulate material is selectively solidified by means of a laser.

[0022] "3D molded part," "molded body," or "component" within the meaning of the disclosure are all three-dimensional objects produced by the method according to the invention and / or the device according to the invention that exhibit dimensional stability. "Build space" is the geometric location in which the particulate material fill grows during the build process through repeated coating with particulate material or through which the fill passes in the case of continuous principles. Generally, the build space is bounded by a floor, the build platform, walls, and an open top surface, the build plane. Continuous principles usually involve a conveyor belt and delimiting side walls.The build space can also be designed by a so-called job box, which is a unit that can be moved into and out of the device and allows batch production, whereby a job box is moved out after the process is completed and a new job box can be immediately moved into the device, so that the production volume and thus the device performance is increased.

[0023] All flowable materials known for 3D printing can be used as "building material" or "particle material" or "powder" or "powder bulk" within the meaning of the disclosure, in particular in powder form, as a slurry, or as a liquid. These can be, for example, sand, ceramic powder, glass powder, and other powders made of inorganic or organic materials such as metal powder, plastics, wood particles, fiber materials, cellulose and / or lactose powder, as well as other types of organic, powdery materials. The particulate material is preferably a dry, free-flowing powder, but a cohesive, cut-resistant powder can also be used. This cohesiveness can also be achieved by adding a binder material or an auxiliary material such as a liquid. The addition of a liquid can result in the particulate material in the form of a slurry being freely flowable.In general, particulate material within the meaning of the disclosure can also be referred to as fluids.

[0024] In the present application, particulate material and powder are used synonymously.

[0025] Particle material deposition is the process by which a defined layer of powder is created. This can occur either on the build platform (build field) or on an inclined plane relative to a conveyor belt in continuous processes. Particle material deposition is also referred to as "coating" or "recoating."

[0026] Any known 3D printing device that includes the required components can be used as a "device" for performing a method according to the disclosure. Typical components include a coater, a build field, means for moving the build field or other components in continuous processes, a job box, dosing devices, and heating and irradiation means, as well as other components known to those skilled in the art, which are therefore not described in detail here. In particular, the device can be suitable for a powder bed fusion process, such as high-speed sintering (HSS), multijet fusion (MJF), selective absorption fusion (SAF), and other processes known to those skilled in the art.

[0027] Furthermore, the device can have a particulate material reservoir, wherein preferably a device for regulating the air humidity is also installed in the particulate material reservoir. A device according to the invention can have several silos for particulate material, wherein a recycling silo receives particulate material from the unpacking process of the parts or from the overflow and / or cleans it, e.g., is sieved, or is subjected to other processing steps and optionally also enriched with new, fresh powder. Finally, particulate material for the printing process is preferably conveyed to a machine silo, from which the coater is filled. A conveyor device conveys particulate material into the machine silo and preferably moistens and / or conditions it in the process.This conveying device can be a screw conveyor or a pneumatic conveyor, which are specifically adapted to the requirements of humidification and / or conditioning. A screw conveyor according to the invention can be characterized by certain design features, such as the absence of a core or a defined number of openings (e.g., 10 to 100, preferably 20 to 50) in one or more conveyor spirals, which allow a backflow of particulate material, leading to advantageous mixing and homogenization of the particulate material with the introduced moisture and / or a conditioning agent, so that the particulate material is substantially uniformly moistened and / or conditioned as soon as it leaves the conveyor.

[0028] The "build material" according to the disclosure is always applied in a "defined layer" or "layer thickness," which is individually adjusted depending on the build material and process conditions. It is, for example, 0.05 to 5 mm, preferably 0.07 to 2 mm. A "coater blade" (also "recoater blade") within the meaning of the disclosure is a substantially flat metallic component or component made of another suitable material, located at the outlet opening of the coater, through which the fluid is dispensed onto the build platform and smoothed. A coater can have one or two or more coater blades. A coater blade can be an oscillating blade that performs oscillations in the sense of a rotary motion or an oscillating motion when excited. Furthermore, this oscillation can be switched on and off by a means for generating oscillations.Depending on the arrangement of the outlet opening, the coating blade is arranged "essentially horizontally" or "essentially vertically" within the meaning of the disclosure.

[0029] "Sintering" or "melting" in the context of this disclosure refers to the partial coalescence of the particles in the powder. In this system, sintering is associated with the buildup of strength.

[0030] "3D printer" or "printer" or "3D printing machine" within the meaning of the disclosure refers to the device in which a 3D printing process can take place. A 3D printer within the meaning of the disclosure comprises a means for applying build material, e.g., a fluid such as a particulate material, and a solidification unit, e.g., a print head or an energy input means such as a laser or a heat lamp. Other machine components known to those skilled in the art and components known in 3D printing are combined with the above-mentioned machine components depending on the specific requirements of the individual case. Alternatively, the term "device" can be chosen.

[0031] "Construction site" is the level or, in a broader sense, the geometric location on or in which a particulate material bed grows during the construction process by repeated coating with particulate material. The construction site is often bounded by a floor, the "construction platform," by walls, and an open ceiling area, the construction level.

[0032] The process "printing" or "3D printing" within the meaning of the disclosure refers to the combination of the processes of material application, selective solidification or printing and adjustment of the working height and takes place in an open or closed process or construction space.

[0033] A "receiving plane" or "construction plane" within the meaning of the disclosure is the plane onto which construction material is applied. According to the disclosure, the receiving plane is always freely accessible in one spatial direction by a linear movement.

[0034] "Spreading" or "applying" or "depositing" within the meaning of the disclosure means any manner by which the particulate material is distributed. For example, a larger quantity of powder can be introduced at the starting position of a coating run and distributed or spread into the layer volume by a blade or a rotating roller. "Coater" or "recoater" or "material application means" within the meaning of the disclosure is the unit by means of which a particulate material is applied to the build area. This can consist of a reservoir and an application unit, wherein, according to the present invention, the application unit comprises an outlet and a "doctoring device." This doctoring device could be a coating blade. However, any other conceivable suitable doctoring device could also be used. Rotating rollers or a nozzle, for example, are also conceivable.The material can be fed freely via storage containers or extruder screws, pressurization or other material conveying devices.

[0035] "Layer treatment means" within the meaning of the disclosure are all means suitable for achieving a specific effect in the layer. These can be the aforementioned units such as the print head or laser, but also heat sources in the form of IR radiators or other radiation sources such as UV radiators. Means for de- or ionization of the layer are also conceivable. What all layer treatment means have in common is that their effective zone is distributed linearly across the layer and that, like the other layer units such as the print head or coater, they must be guided across the build field in order to reach the entire layer.

[0036] "Overflow" in the sense of the disclosure refers to the additional space required when an aggregate is moved on a linear axis completely across the build area from one end to the other without creating shadows on the build area. "Conditioning," "conditioning agent," and "cleaning agent" in the sense of the invention mean that the particulate material is modified in its structure, preferably in its grain structure or cohesion and / or flowability. Conditioning can lead to a substantially homogenized particulate material and / or to improved flow behavior, thus ensuring that the recoater gap remains substantially functional and that the particulate material is discharged properly, with a positive impact on the process flow and the quality of the printed parts.The conditioning of particulate material can take place inside or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device. The conditioning agent can penetrate the particulate material of the powder roller outside the roller coater or within the gap of a gap coater. The cleaning agent preferably penetrates the recoater gap.The conditioning agent or cleaning agent can equally be a thread, a rope, a wedge, a flattened, square or rectangular agent, a comb-like structure, preferably solid material or braided, preferably made of plastic, metal, natural fiber, composite material or fiber, preferably provided with further elements such as balls, rings, bristles, blades. The conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is preferably designed to be circumferential, or the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is at least one compressed air nozzle or an array of nozzles that blow into and / or suction from the gap of the gap powder coater. A cleaning agent is essentially rigidly or movably attached to the device and engages in the gap of the gap powder coater in at least one travel position of the gap powder coater.Preferably, clamping means and / or a means for stimulating the conditioning agent or cleaning agent can be provided. The conditioning agent or cleaning agent can preferably move in the Z direction and / or be set in vibration along any axis.

[0037] A "particle collection means" within the meaning of the invention can be a container compatible with the device, such as a box, a silo, a container, which is preferably closed. Furthermore, it can be characterized by further features of the device according to the invention, which are described below.

[0038] The invention and its disclosure are further described below.

[0039] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for conditioning particulate material in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device comprises a conditioning means which is attached to the device in a substantially rigid or movable manner and which engages the particulate material in at least one travel position of the powder coater and / or a travel position of the conditioning means and thereby substantially homogenizes the particulate material and / or the outflow of the particulate material.

[0040] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for cleaning a gap or oscillating blade coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device has a cleaning means which is attached to the device in a substantially rigid or movable manner and which, in at least one travel position of the gap powder coater, engages in the gap of the gap powder coater or comes into contact with the gap or the oscillating blade coater.

[0041] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a gap powder coater in a powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. moving the powder coater to a cleaning agent, b. positioning the powder coater gap or the cleaning agent such that the cleaning agent engages in the gap of the powder coater and / or that the cleaning agent comes into contact with at least one blade of the powder coater, c. moving the powder coater or the cleaning agent such that the cleaning agent no longer engages in the gap of the powder coater and / or that the cleaning agent is no longer in contact with at least one blade of the powder coater.

[0042] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for conditioning particulate material that is present in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device in a powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. moving the powder coater to a conditioning agent or a conditioning agent to a roller of a particulate material outside a powder coater, b. positioning the powder coater or the conditioning agent so that the conditioning agent engages the particulate material, c. applying a layer of particulate material in the X or Z direction and optionally selectively solidifying the particulate material applied in this way, d. repeating steps a.) to c.) until a desired 3D molded part is constructed, e. optionally carrying out further method steps, preferably unpacking and / or post-treatment of the 3D molded part.

[0043] With the device and method according to the invention, the particulate material can advantageously be provided in a homogeneous composition, while the coater can be maintained consistently functional and at a high level of quality throughout the entire printing process. Furthermore, the particulate material can be kept homogeneous and further conditioned. This improves the quality of the printed products and ensures that machine downtimes can be kept to a minimum, thus advantageously increasing the efficiency of the printing press.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, any coater known to the person skilled in the art can be used, wherein the powder coater is preferably a gap coater, an oscillating blade coater, a blade coater or a roller coater.

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent engages the particulate material of the powder roller outside the roller coater. The conditioning agent has dimensions adapted to the device of the coater, and preferably the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent has substantially the same length or a partial length as the powder coater.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is a thread, a rope, a wedge, a flattened, square or rectangular agent, a comb-like structure, preferably a solid material or is braided, preferably made of plastic, metal, natural fiber, composite material or fiber, preferably it is provided with further elements such as balls, rings, bristles, blades, preferably the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is designed to be circumferential, or the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is at least one compressed air nozzle or an array of nozzles that blow into and / or suck into the gap of the gap powder coater.

[0047] In a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a clamping means and / or a means for exciting the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent and / or a linear actuator and / or a measuring means.

[0048] In a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises a powder coater, wherein the powder coater has a bearing with an eccentric which can execute a stroke of the powder coater.

[0049] In a further preferred embodiment, the device has no actuators and / or the cleaning agent is not a brush.

[0050] In a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a guide on the sides of the powder coater, which guides the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent and preferably causes the cleaning agent or the

[0051] The conditioning agent moves in the Z direction and / or is set into vibration along any axis. In a further preferred embodiment of the device, the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent moves in the Z direction and / or is set into vibration.

[0052] In a further preferred embodiment, the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent is tensioned with a tensioning means.

[0053] Preferably, the powder coater performs a stroke by means of a bearing with an eccentric.

[0054] Furthermore, the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent preferably carries out a movement in the Z direction.

[0055] Furthermore, a strain or frequency measurement is preferably carried out on the cleaning agent or conditioning agent using measuring means.

[0056] In a further preferred embodiment, agglomerates in the particulate material are substantially broken up by means of cleaning agents or conditioning agents and preferably the particulate material is substantially homogenized and / or is substantially of uniform grain size.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, gap sizes of the coater or layer thicknesses of the applied particulate material are used as follows: Gap size and layer thickness:

[0058] For sand 3 - 3.5 mm, layer thickness up to 0.5 mm For HSS: 3 - 4.5 mm, layer thickness up to 0.4 mm

[0059] There may also be: up to 12 mm (for beads instead of powder),

[0060] Layer thickness up to 1.2 mm

[0061] Preferred embodiments are described below in the figures.

[0062] Fig. 1a shows a schematic of the basic function of the cleaning device. As a rule, the entire coater assembly 101 is moved over a surface for coating. This surface is characterized by the coater blade 102 and coater gap opening 103, which are essential elements for the invention. When dosing particulate material, agglomerates 104 can form whose size exceeds the gap opening 103. In the simplest case, the device of the cleaning device 201 consists of a mounted eyelet with a feedthrough 202, through which the cleaning agent 203, e.g. a steel cable with a diameter of 4.0 mm - 0.1 mm, preferably 0.3 mm for HSS, although smaller wire diameters have an advantageous effect as long as stability is not impaired too much, is stretched parallel to the coater gap opening 103. The cleaning agent is pre-tensioned 204 by means of a tensioning device 205, which can be a spring, weight or rubber band, for example.The device of the cleaning agent 201 can be rigidly connected to the machine body, but it is also possible to make it mounted or movable.

[0063] Fig. 1b shows the initial cleaning status immediately after the coating process: Particulate material has already left the coater gap, but the agglomerates 105 remain and impede the further outflow of particulate material. They are now to be removed. To do this, the coater assembly is moved toward the cleaning device.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 1c, the horizontal force exerted on the cleaning agent by the movement of the coater assembly causes the particulate material agglomerates caught in the coater gap to be crushed 106. This allows them to leave the coater gap via the coater blade during the next coating process, along with the particulate material that follows. This prevents the accumulation of agglomerates, which would otherwise prevent the correct coating process.

[0065] The cleaning effect can be even further enhanced using an oscillating blade coater as shown in Fig. 2. Here, the coater assembly 101 is attached to a coater suspension 113 by means of a solid-state joint 115, which is moved horizontally. An eccentric 112, mounted on a bearing block 114, generates a stroke with an amplitude of 1.0 mm - 0.05 mm, preferably 0.15 mm, in the horizontal and vertical directions. This stroke is generally used to excite the particulate material in the coater at a preferred frequency of 10 to 200 Hz, particularly preferably 60 to 75 Hz, and thus cause it to flow out 107. In combination with the cleaning agent 201, however, this stroke movement can also be used to generate a relative movement between the cleaning agent and the agglomerates. The energy generated by these vibrations can further break up the agglomerates.The combination of oscillating blade coater and cleaning agent is therefore advantageous.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows the structure of the cleaning agent in combination with the oscillating blade coater for better understanding in the x-direction.

[0067] The cleaning agent can be designed in various ways as shown in Fig. 4.

[0068] In Fig. 4a, the cleaning agent is provided with cleaning supports 401. These can be brushes, clamps, prongs and / or knobs or rings. Furthermore, the cleaning agent is set in motion by means of a linear actuator 403, e.g., a compressed air cylinder, compressed air vibrator, a coil, or a linear motor, while it is held under tension and stress on the opposite side by means of a tensioning device 205, e.g., a spring or an elastic material. This prevents the cleaning agent from sagging. The linear actuator causes a lateral movement of the tensioning device and thus of the cleaning support means, so that an additional force is exerted on existing agglomerates in a vertical direction, thus contributing to an intensification of the cleaning effect.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4b, the individual cleaning or conditioning agents can also be designed as nozzles 406, with the help of which an air blast can be generated in combination with a lateral movement. The nozzles can be controlled via a distribution system 407. It can also be useful to apply a vacuum to the nozzles and thus remove contaminants in the coater gap. 407 can also contain a means for separating solids in order to remove them from the sucked-in gas stream. Air blasts and vacuum can be alternated or pulsed to improve effectiveness. Designs that have both a nozzle for sucking in and a nozzle for blowing out compressed air or another fluid can also be advantageous. If these are used simultaneously, dust development can be counteracted.In this exemplary embodiment, the vertical movement of the cleaning agent is generated by a motor with an eccentric shaft, creating an oscillating movement. The cleaning agent can be designed to rotate 408 and can be guided by deflection rollers 404.

[0070] Fig. 4c shows a structure of the cleaning agent, where a weight 409 is connected to a clamping device 205 and thus ensures a defined pre-tension of the cleaning agent. If a force 410 is exerted by the coater on the cleaning agent 401, e.g. due to agglomerates or other foreign bodies contained therein that block the coater gap, this force can be detected by a suitable measuring device 411. In a further example, it would be possible to detect defects and wear (elongation) on the cleaning agent. The measuring device can be a device for changing the length, a means for measuring the expansion, a means for measuring a frequency or any desired combination of several measuring devices. If the eccentric connected to the coater is switched on to fluidize the particulate material, the fill level of the coater can be determined using a suitable frequency measuring device by detecting the higher harmonic excitations.The emptier the coater is of particle material, the higher the amplitude of these higher frequency excitations due to the lack of damping by mass application.

[0071] A further increase in the cleaning effect can be achieved cost-effectively and easily by means of a so-called gate 501, as shown in Fig. 5a, e.g., attached to the coater. If the coater is now moved toward the cleaning agent, the cleaning agent is forced in a predetermined direction by the gate guide 502, e.g., in a downward movement as shown in Fig. 5a. Agglomerates are thus prevented from escaping upwards and are reliably crushed.

[0072] The guide of the slotted guide can be provided with additional features. For example, a guide with teeth 503 can force a sudden downward movement, which causes vibrations in the cleaning agent, which can then be transmitted to the agglomerates, thus breaking them up (see Fig. 5b).

[0073] In a further embodiment (Fig. 6), it would also be possible to connect the non-stationary cleaning agent 601 to the coater suspension 113 by means of a fastening 602 and to guide it along during its horizontal movement. The cleaning agent could be permanently positioned in the coater gap and would remain rigid upon activation of the eccentric shaft and thus fluidization of the particulate material, whereas the coater assembly, and thus also the particulate material and agglomerates, would be in relative motion. This also allows a cleaning effect to be achieved, even advantageously during the coating process. The formation of agglomerates would thus be suppressed.

[0074] Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment with a powder roller applied in front of the coater, into which a conditioning agent engages and thus effects a conditioning and preferably a homogenization of the particulate material.

[0075] List of reference symbols

Claims

Patent claims 1. A device for conditioning particulate material in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device comprises a conditioning means which is attached to the device in a substantially rigid or movable manner and engages the particulate material in at least one travel position of the powder coater and / or a travel position of the conditioning means and thereby substantially conditions and / or homogenizes the particulate material and / or the outflow of the particulate material.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder coater is a gap coater, an oscillating blade coater, a blade coater or a roller coater, preferably wherein the conditioning agent engages the particulate material of the powder roller outside the roller coater.

3. Device for cleaning a gap or oscillating blade coater of a 3D printing device, wherein the device has a cleaning agent that is attached to the device in a substantially rigid or movable manner and that engages in the gap of the gap powder coater or comes into contact with it or the oscillating blade coater in at least one travel position of the gap powder coater.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent has substantially the length or a partial length of the powder coater.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is a thread, a rope, a wedge, a flattened, square or rectangular means, a comb-like structure, preferably solid material or braided, preferably made of plastic, metal, natural fiber, composite material or fiber, preferably provided with further elements such as balls, rings, bristles, blades, preferably the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is designed to be circumferential, or the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent is at least one compressed air nozzle or an array of nozzles that blow into and / or suck into the gap of the gap powder coater, preferably further comprising a clamping means and / or a means for exciting the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent and / or a linear actuator and / or a measuring means and / or wherein the powder coater has a bearing with an eccentric,which can execute a stroke of the powder coater and / or wherein the cleaning agent has no actuator and / or is not a brush and / or wherein the device further comprises a link on the sides of the powder coater, which guides the conditioning agent or the cleaning agent and preferably causes the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent to move in, Z-direction, and / or is vibrated in any axis.

6. Method for cleaning a gap powder coater in a Powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. Moving the powder coater to a cleaning agent, b. Positioning the powder coater gap or the cleaning agent so that the cleaning agent engages in the gap of the powder coater and / or that the Cleaning agent with at least one blade of the Powder coating comes into contact, c. Process of Powder coating or cleaning agent so that the Cleaning agent no longer penetrates into the gap of the powder coater and / or that the cleaning agent is no longer in contact with at least one blade of the powder coater.

7. A method for conditioning particulate material that is present in or outside a powder coater of a 3D printing device in a powder-based 3D printing process, characterized by the steps: a. Moving the powder coater to a conditioning agent or a conditioning agent to a roller of a particulate material outside a powder coater, b. Positioning the powder coater or the conditioning agent so that the conditioning agent engages the particulate material, c. Applying a layer of particulate material in the X or Z direction and optionally selectively solidifying the particulate material thus applied, d. Repeating steps a.) to c.) until a desired 3D molded part is constructed, e. Optionally Carrying out further process steps, preferably Unpacking and / or post-processing of the 3D molded part.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the powder coater is an oscillating blade coater, a blade coater or a roller coater and / or wherein the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent executes a movement in the Z direction and / or is set into vibration and / or wherein the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent is tensioned with a tensioning means.

9. Method according to one of claims 6 - 8, wherein the powder coater executes a stroke by means of a bearing with an eccentric and / or wherein the cleaning agent or the conditioning agent executes a movement in the Z-direction.

10. Method according to one of claims 6 - 9, wherein a strain or frequency measurement is carried out on the cleaning agent or conditioning agent by means of measuring means and / or wherein agglomerates in the particulate material are substantially broken up by means of the cleaning agent or conditioning agent.

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