Device of Generatively Manufacturing Three-Dimensional Objects with Insulated Building Field

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object ( 3 ), comprising: a frame ( 1 ) defining a building field ( 6 ) at an upper portion ( 2 ) thereof; a plate ( 12 ) which connects the frame ( 1 ) with a housing ( 100 ) of the device; a support ( 5 ) which is arranged in the frame ( 1 ) and vertically movable by a lift mechanics ( 4 ) at least below the building field ( 6 ); a radiation device ( 7 ) which generates an energetic beam ( 8, 8 ′) which is focused by a deflection means ( 9 ) to arbitrary points in the building field ( 6 ), so as to selectively sinter or melt a powdery material ( 11 ) which is present in the building field ( 6 ); a coater ( 10 ) for applying a layer of powdery material ( 11 ) onto the support ( 5 ) or a previously applied layer of the powdery material ( 11 ). A thermal insulation ( 13 ) is arranged between the frame ( 1 ) and the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object, comprising:
 a housing;   an exchangeable frame that is modularly insertable into and removable from the housing, that defines a building field by an upper portion of the exchangeable frame, and that surrounds the building field on all sides of the building field when inserted into the housing;   a plate that is arranged in parallel to a plane of the building field where the plane defines a build surface, the plate surrounding the exchangeable frame on all sides of the exchangeable frame, the plate being in contact with the housing;   a support arranged in the exchangeable frame and vertically movable by a lift mechanism;   a radiation device that generates an energetic beam that is focused onto the building surface by a deflector so as to selectively sinter or melt a powdery material present in the building field;   a coater for applying a layer of a powdery material onto the support or a previously applied layer of the powdery material; and   a thermal insulation arranged between the exchangeable frame and the plate,   wherein a gap is formed between the exchangeable frame and the plate and the gap surrounds the exchangeable frame on all sides of the exchangeable frame, the thermal insulation is located in the gap between the frame and the plate, the gap is sealed at a bottom of the gap by a flexible seal, and the gap can be filled with powdery material by the coater, and   the gap is delimited on one side by a sidewall of the plate and on the other side by a sidewall of the frame, such that when the gap is substantially filled with powdery material by the coater, the powdery material is immediately adjacent the exchangeable frame on one side and immediately adjacent the plate on the other side so that the plate is in contact with the exchangeable frame only via the flexible seal and the powdery material, the powdery material comprising the thermal insulation.