Patent attributes
A method is provided for producing a three-dimensional object that includes an external skin, a 3D mesh enclosed in the skin and having a portion that penetrates at least a part of a thickness of the skin, and an unmelted portion enclosed in the skin. The object is formed from superposed layers each including an outer edge and an inner mesh, with the superposed outer edges forming the skin, and with the superposed inner meshes forming the 3D mesh. Each superposed layer is formed by scanning a powder layer using an energy beam to form micro-connections between grains of the powder without melting the metal powder. First and second melting and solidifying steps are performed using the energy beam to form the outer edge in one of the first and second steps and the inner mesh in the other of the first and second steps.
