Method and apparatus for producing free-form products

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing products from a powered base material, by means of so-called free form fabrication, wherein the powder granules are bound together into a solid product.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for producing products from a particulate material by means of free form fabrication, comprising:
 a. at least one container having a bottom which can be elevated and lowered;   b. a powder applicator for depositing the powder in layers in the container;   c1. a first depositing device which is arranged, to deposit a first additive in the form of an inactivating agent in a predetermined pattern onto selected supporting portions of the uppermost layer, for inactivating said selected portion, and preventing these from participating in a particle unification in a subsequent unification process; and/or   c2. a second depositing device which is arranged to deposit an additive in the form of an activating agent in a predetermined pattern onto selected product-forming portions of the uppermost layer, for activating said selected portions and uniting these in a subsequent unification process; and   d. at least one unification process device for permanent unification of the unbound layered particulate material in the product-forming portions when all layers or all layers in a group have been deposited, wherein, the container is constituted of a cylinder and that at least the shell walls of the cylinder can be heated by means of heating elements surrounding these.   
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the container is constituted of a cylinder having a bottom which can be elevated and lowered, and that at least the shell walls of the cylinder can be heated by means of heating elements surrounding these. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein, the powder applicator is displaceable across the opening of the container and designed with a gap nozzle, which extends across the entire opening. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein, the gap nozzle can be connected to a stationary powder reservoir, which can be opened and closed by means of a shutting valve. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein, the gap nozzle is arranged to be delimited, along two opposite sides by two plates, out of which at least one is connected to a vibrator and a heating element. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein, the lower, horizontal edge of the plates of the gap nozzle is bevelled or rounded in a direction towards the gap, and that the plates can be elevated and lowered. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein, the first depositing device comprises at least one printer, with at least one, arranged in at least one row, for a first additive, and the depositing device is displaceable across the container opening in a direction which is transverse to the direction of motion of the powder applicator. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein, the first depositing device is displaceable transversely to its direction of motion a distance of a magnitude corresponding one or a few grain sizes, after each deposition of a layer, in order to compensate for printing nozzles which have been put out of operation. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein, a control instrument is arranged for detecting the droplet activity of the printer nozzles. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein, the piston of the cylinder-shaped container can be connected to and disconnected from a piston stem connected to a bracket which can be elevated and lowered, and that the apparatus is provided with means for removing the cylinder and the piston and inserting a new container having a bottom. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein, a coupling device is applied at the free end of the piston stem or at the piston, and is includes a cup or the like. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for producing products from a particulate material by means of fabrication, comprising:
 a. at least one container having a bottom which can be elevated and lowered;   b. a powder applicator for depositing the powder in layers in the container,   c1. a first depositing device which is arranged to deposit a first additive in the form of an inactivating agent in a predetermined pattern onto selected supporting portions of the uppermost layer, for inactivating said selected portions and preventing these from participating in a particle unification in a subsequent unification process; and   c2. a second depositing device which is arranged to deposit said second additive in the form of an activating agent in a predetermined pattern onto selected product-forming portions of the uppermost layer, for activating said selected portions and uniting these in a subsequent unification process; and   d. at least one unification process device for permanent unification of the unbound layered particulate material in the product-forming portions when all layers or all layers in a group have been deposited, wherein the first and/or second depositing devices are displaceable across the container opening in a direction which is transverse to the direction of motion of the powder applicator.