Three-dimensional forming apparatus and three-dimensional forming method

Abstract

A three-dimensional forming apparatus includes: a stage; a material supply unit that supplies the stage with a sintered material including metal powder and a binder, a head unit that includes an energy radiation unit supplying energy capable of sintering the sintered material to the sintered material supplied by the material supply unit, a head base that holds a plurality of the head units, and a driving unit that is capable of three-dimensionally moving the head base relative to the stage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A three-dimensional forming method comprising:
 a first step of forming a sheet of material by supplying a first material containing a metal powder onto a first stage and pressurizing the first material supplied onto the first stage,   a second step of moving the sheet of material from the first stage to a second stage different from the first stage,   a third step of curing a predetermined area of the sheet of material transferred to the second stage,   a fourth step of repeatedly performing the first step, the second step, and the third step to form a laminate.   
     
     
         2 . The three-dimensional forming method according to  claim 1  comprising,
 a fifth step of removing an uncured portion from the laminate. 
 
     
     
         3 . The three-dimensional forming method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the first step, the pressurized first material is cut to a predetermined length to form the sheet of material.   
     
     
         4 . The three-dimensional forming method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first material includes a binder.   
     
     
         5 . The three-dimensional forming method according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising, in the first step, pressurizing the first material supplied onto the first stage by a roller to form the sheet of material.   
     
     
         6 . The three-dimensional forming method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the roller presses the supplied the first material twice to form the sheet material.   
     
     
         7 . A three-dimensional forming apparatus comprising,
 a first stage;   a second stage different from the first stage;   a material supply unit that supplies a first material containing a metal powder onto the first stage;   a pressurizing unit configured to pressurize the first material supplied onto the first stage to form a sheet of material;   a moving unit configured to move the sheet of material from the first stage to the second stage; and   a curing unit configured to cure a predetermined region of the sheet of material.