A powder discharge unit for equipping and/or upgrading a device for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a selective layer-by-layer solidification of building material in powder form includes a powder container for receiving building material in powder form and a filling chamber for filling in building material in powder form into the powder container. The powder discharge unit is configured to fluidise the building material in powder form in the powder container and the building material in powder form in the filling chamber independently of one another.

The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object without height limitation by means of layer-by-layer material application, wherein geometric data for the shaped object, a substrate part having a base surface for holding the shaped object, flowable first and second material, and a transfer body are provided. Material portions of the flowable first material are applied to the base surface and/or to a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on the base surface in accordance with the geometric data in order to produce a material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The material layer consisting of the first material is solidified. A surface region of the transfer body is coated with a layer of the second material, and said layer is brought into contact with the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object facing away from the base surface in such a way that the flowable second material is transferred from the transfer body to the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object and forms the further material layer on the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object, the structure of which further layer corresponds to the structure of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The further material layer is likewise solidified.

The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional shaped object without height limitation by means of layer-by-layer material application, wherein geometric data for the shaped object, a substrate part having a base surface for holding the shaped object, flowable first and second material, and a transfer body are provided. Material portions of the flowable first material are applied to the base surface and/or to a solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object located on the base surface in accordance with the geometric data in order to produce a material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The material layer consisting of the first material is solidified. A surface region of the transfer body is coated with a layer of the second material, and said layer is brought into contact with the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object facing away from the base surface in such a way that the flowable second material is transferred from the transfer body to the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object and forms the further material layer on the surface of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object, the structure of which further layer corresponds to the structure of the topmost solidified material layer of the three-dimensional shaped object. The further material layer is likewise solidified.

A three-dimensional printing system may include a build platform, the build platform including at least one hole defined through the build platform, a diffuser plate placed below the at least one hole to maintain an amount of build material between a lower surface of the build platform and an upper surface of the diffuser plate, and a flow channel defined around the diffuser plate and sealing the diffuser plate from atmosphere.

Described are methods and apparatus for the inspection of cured layers of an object during the fabrication of the object using a 3D printing system. A just-printed layer may be inspected by pressing the layer against a pressure-sensitive surface in order to collect information about the layer. For example, a tank may contain a photo-curing liquid polymer, and at its bottom are pressure sensitive elements (e.g., in a backing member or mask). An extraction plate to which the object is affixed may be adjusted so as to position a surface of the object adjacent to the pressure sensitive elements, which report a pressure distribution (e.g., by virtue of a force exerted by a localized region of the object on a localized region of the pressure sensitive elements).

Described are methods and apparatus for the inspection of cured layers of an object during the fabrication of the object using a 3D printing system. A just-printed layer may be inspected by pressing the layer against a pressure-sensitive surface in order to collect information about the layer. For example, a tank may contain a photo-curing liquid polymer, and at its bottom are pressure sensitive elements (e.g., in a backing member or mask). An extraction plate to which the object is affixed may be adjusted so as to position a surface of the object adjacent to the pressure sensitive elements, which report a pressure distribution (e.g., by virtue of a force exerted by a localized region of the object on a localized region of the pressure sensitive elements).

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, an additive manufacturing system is described. The additive manufacturing system includes a build material distributor to deposit metal powder build material and an agent distribution system to selectively deposit a binding agent on the metal powder build material in a pattern of a layer of a three-dimensional (3D) object to be printed. The additive manufacturing system also includes an ultraviolet (UV) energy source. The UV energy source, in a layer-by-layer fashion 1) cures the binding agent to join together metal powder build material with binding agent disposed thereon and 2) evaporates a solvent of the binding agent.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, an additive manufacturing system is described. The additive manufacturing system includes a build material distributor to deposit metal powder build material and an agent distribution system to selectively deposit a binding agent on the metal powder build material in a pattern of a layer of a three-dimensional (3D) object to be printed. The additive manufacturing system also includes an ultraviolet (UV) energy source. The UV energy source, in a layer-by-layer fashion 1) cures the binding agent to join together metal powder build material with binding agent disposed thereon and 2) evaporates a solvent of the binding agent.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.

An interchangeable chamber is provided for a 3D printing device, wherein the interchangeable chamber includes a building space for receiving a building platform on which a three-dimensional object can be produced, which building space is designed to be temporarily open in the direction of a top of the interchangeable chamber, as well as optionally a storage container for storing building material and wherein the interchangeable chamber comprises a side wall and a cover, wherein the cover is adapted to close the interchangeable chamber at the top such that building material cannot get through the cover out of nor into the interchangeable chamber and the cover is coupled with the side wall.