APPLICATION UNIT
Application unit ( 4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects ( 2 ) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material ( 3 ) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which application unit ( 4 ) is adapted to apply build material ( 3 ) onto a build plane ( 5 ) and/or a previously applied layer ( 6 ) of build material ( 3 ), wherein the application unit ( 4 ) is adapted to selectively apply build material ( 3 ) onto at least one application region ( 7 ) of the build plane ( 5 ) or of the previously applied layer ( 6 ), wherein at least one application element ( 8, 21 ) is provided that is adapted to transfer build material ( 3 ) previously applied onto an application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8, 21 ) to the application region ( 7 ), wherein an adhesion unit ( 10, 20, 22 ) is provided that is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material ( 3 ) of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8, 21 ) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material ( 3 ).
1 . Application unit ( 4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects ( 2 ) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material ( 3 ) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which application unit ( 4 ) is adapted to apply build material ( 3 ) onto a build plane ( 5 ) and/or a previously applied layer ( 6 ) of build material ( 3 ), wherein the application unit ( 4 ) is adapted to selectively apply build material ( 3 ) onto at least one application region ( 7 ) of the build plane ( 5 ) or of the previously applied layer ( 6 ), characterized by at least one application element ( 8 , 21 ) adapted to transfer build material ( 3 ) previously applied onto an application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) to the application region ( 7 ), wherein an adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is provided that is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material ( 3 ) of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material ( 3 ).
2 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is adapted to selectively increase, in particular to generate, the adhesion ability of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) and/or to selectively decrease, in particular remove, the adhesion ability of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ).
3 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is adapted to selectively increase the adhesion ability of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) in at least one transfer region ( 19 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) corresponding to the application region ( 7 ).
4 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is adapted to selectively decrease the adhesion ability of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) in at least one complementary region of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) complementary to the application region ( 7 ).
5 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the adhesion ability is passively adjustable, in particular via a contact pressure and/or a residual heat of a previously irradiated layer of build material ( 3 ), and/or that the adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is adapted to adjust the adhesion ability actively, in particular via charging and/or magnetizing and/or bonding and/or heating.
6 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the adhesion unit is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material ( 3 ) of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) by generating a suction stream or a vacuum applied in the region of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ).
7 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one application region ( 7 ) essentially equals the cross section of the respective layer of the object ( 2 ) to be built and/or the cross section of the respective layer of at least one support structure, in particular a wall or a support element.
8 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the application element has a plate-like shape or the application element ( 8 , 21 ) has a rotational symmetric shape and/or is built as a roller, in particular as a cylindrical roller.
9 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that the application element ( 8 , 21 ) is adapted to selectively apply build material ( 3 ) via a rollover movement of the application element ( 8 , 21 ), wherein the application element ( 8 , 21 ) is moveable relative to the build plane ( 5 ) and/or a previously applied layer ( 6 ) of build material ( 3 ) in that the rollover movement is provided.
10 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized by a build material supply unit ( 11 , 23 ) adapted to apply build material ( 3 ) onto the application element ( 8 , 21 ), in particular by supplying build material ( 3 ) directly contacting an application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ).
11 . Application unit according to claim 10 , characterized in that the application element ( 8 , 21 ) is moveably, in particular rotatably, arranged with respect to the build material supply unit ( 11 , 23 ).
12 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that a layer thickness layers of build material ( 3 ) applied on the application surface ( 9 ) and/or on the application region ( 7 ) is adjustable dependent on at least one application parameter, in particular corresponding to a contact pressure between the application element ( 8 , 21 ) and the application region ( 7 ) and/or the build material supply unit ( 11 , 23 ) and/or corresponding to a rotational speed of the application element ( 8 , 21 ).
13 . Application unit according to claim 1 , characterized by a conditioning unit ( 17 ) adapted to condition, in particular to clean, the application unit ( 4 ), in particular the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ).
14 . Apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects ( 2 ) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material ( 3 ) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least one application unit ( 4 ), in particular an application unit ( 4 ) according to claim 1 adapted to apply build material ( 3 ) onto a build plane ( 5 ) and/or a previously applied layer ( 6 ) of build material ( 3 ), wherein the application unit ( 4 ) is adapted to selectively apply build material ( 3 ) onto at least one application region ( 7 ) of the build plane ( 5 ) or of the previously applied layer ( 6 ), wherein at least one application element ( 8 , 21 ) adapted to transfer build material ( 3 ) previously applied onto an application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) to the application region ( 7 ), wherein an adhesion unit ( 10 , 20 , 22 ) is provided that is adapted to adjust an adhesion ability for build material ( 3 ) of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material ( 3 ).
15 . Method for operating an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects ( 2 ) by means of successive irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material ( 3 ) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, particularly by use of an apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein build material ( 3 ) is selectively applied onto at least one application region ( 7 ) of a build plane ( 5 ) or of a previously applied layer ( 6 ), characterized in that an adhesion ability for build material ( 3 ) of the application surface ( 9 ) of the application element ( 8 , 21 ) and/or an adhesion ability of the build material ( 3 ) is adjusted.