The present invention relates to a method for the generative production of components, particularly of single-crystalline or directionally-solidified components, particularly for the production of components for turbomachines, in which the component is constructed in layers on a substrate or a previously produced part of the component (3), wherein a construction in layers takes place by melting of powder material in layers with a high-energy beam (14) and solidification of the powder melt (16) takes place, wherein the high-energy beam has a beam cross section (19) in the area of its impingement on the powder material that is altered in comparison to a circular or other symmetrical cross section and/or the beam energy is distributed non-uniformly, in particular asymmetrically or eccentrically, over the beam section.

In a method for controlling an irradiation system (20) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a first and a second irradiation unit (22a, 22b) a first irradiation area (18a) is defined on a surface of a carrier (16) adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by the first irradiation unit (22a) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the first irradiation unit (22a) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is pre-heated. Thereafter the layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) in the first irradiation area (18a) is irradiated by means of the second irradiation unit (22b) of the irradiation system (20), wherein the operation of the second irradiation unit (22b) is controlled in such a manner that the raw material powder is heated to a temperature which allows sintering and/or melting of the raw material powder in order to generate a layer of the three-dimensional work piece.