Articles and structures prepared by three-dimensional printing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to articles prepared using a three-dimensional printing method, an auxiliary structure being additionally formed beyond an extension of the one or more components during the construction of components. The invention also relates to an auxiliary structure for components produced by means of three-dimensional printing methods, the auxiliary structure being constructed along with the component and extending beyond a dimension of the one or more components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing an auxiliary structure and a three-dimensional component comprising the steps of:
 repeatedly:   i) depositing a layer of a particulate material; and   ii) selectively connecting the deposited particulate material by applying an energy;   wherein the auxiliary structure and the three-dimensional component are constructed of the same material;   wherein the auxiliary structure is directly connected to the three-dimensional component or holds three-dimensional component in a positive fit;   wherein the same material includes the particulate material and optionally an additional material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes a step of removing the auxiliary structure and the three-dimensional component from loose particulate material that was not connected by the energy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method includes a step of separating the three-dimensional component from the auxiliary structure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the auxiliary structure extends beyond a dimension of the three-dimensional component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional component is a first three-dimensional component and the method includes producing a second three-dimensional component, wherein the first and second three-dimensional components are each directly connected to the auxiliary structure or held by the auxiliary structure in a positive fit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a break point is formed at a junction between the three-dimensional component and the auxiliary structure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary structure extends beyond a dimension of the three-dimensional component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary structure includes a holder or coupling for handling with a handling tool. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a robot with a handling tool removes the three-dimensional component from a build container without contacting the three-dimensional component. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the auxiliary structure is directly connected to the first and second three-dimensional components. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes producing layers of three-dimensional components, wherein each layer includes a separate auxiliary structure that is connected to one or more three-dimensional components in the layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each layer includes two or more three-dimensional components connected to the separate auxiliary structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method includes removing a layer of three-dimensional components from a build container without contacting the three-dimensional components. 
     
     
         14 . A method for producing an auxiliary structure and two or more three-dimensional component comprising the steps of:
 repeatedly:   i) depositing a layer of a particulate material; and   ii) selectively connecting the deposited particulate material by adding a further material and applying an energy;   wherein the auxiliary structure and the three-dimensional component are constructed of the same material, wherein the same material includes the particulate material and the further material;   wherein the auxiliary structure is directly connected to the three-dimensional component or holds three-dimensional component in a positive fit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method includes a step of removing the auxiliary structure and the three-dimensional components from loose particulate material that was not connected by the energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method includes a step of separating the three-dimensional component from the auxiliary structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a break point is formed at a junction between the three-dimensional component and the auxiliary structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary structure extends beyond a dimension of the three-dimensional component. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary structure includes a holder or coupling for handling with a handling tool,
 optionally wherein a robot with a handling tool removes the three-dimensional component from a build container without contacting the three-dimensional component.   
     
     
         20 . A method for producing an auxiliary structure and a three-dimensional component comprising the steps of:
 repeatedly:   i) depositing a layer of a particulate material; and   ii) selectively connecting the deposited particulate material by applying an energy;   wherein the auxiliary structure and the three-dimensional component are constructed of the same material;   wherein the auxiliary structure is directly connected to the three-dimensional component or holds three-dimensional component in a positive fit;   wherein the same material consists of the particulate material;   wherein the auxiliary structure extends beyond a dimension of the three-dimensional component.