Device for processing photo-polymerizable material for layer-by-layer generation of a shaped body

Abstract

A device for processing of highly viscous photopolymerizable material for layer-by-layer generation of a shaped body comprises a vat including a bottom which is at least in certain areas thereof transparent, a build platform, an exposure unit for exposing a material layer formed between the lower side of the build platform and the vat bottom in a locally selective manner, a control unit in order to adapt the relative position of the build platform to the vat bottom after each exposure step for a layer, in order to successively build up the shaped body in the desired shape, and a moveably guided doctor blade arrangement including a drive unit for moving the doctor blade arrangement back and forth underneath the build platform. The doctor blade arrangement comprises two doctor blades spaced apart in movement direction, which doctor blades are moveable at a constant distance to the vat bottom along the bottom. The vat includes vat end walls such that the doctor blade leading in movement direction in each case moves towards one of the vat end walls. Between the two doctor blades a chamber is formed which is open at its lower side, wherein walls of the chamber include at least one opening extending through the wall in movement direction for forming an overflow channel, so that material piling up between the leading doctor blade and the facing vat end wall is pressed through they at least overflow channel into the chamber.