Generating a three-dimensional object

Abstract

According to one example, there is provided a system for generating a three-dimensional object. The system comprises a carriage to move bi-directionally along a first axis relative to a support platform. The carriage is to receive, or have installed thereon, a plurality of modules each to perform an operation from a set of operations to generate a layer of a three-dimensional object. The system further comprises a controller to cause relative movement between the carriage and the support platform along the first axis, and to control, during the relative movement, operation of the modules to perform the set of operations in a predefined order.

1 . A system for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
 a carriage to move bi-directionally along a first axis relative to a support platform, the carriage to receive, or have installed thereon, a plurality of modules each to perform an operation from a set of operations to generate a layer of a three-dimensional object; and   a controller to:
 cause relative movement between the carriage and the support platform along the first axis; and 
 control, during the relative movement, operation of the modules to perform the set of operations in a predefined order. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is to control the modules to perform the set of operations in the predefined order during a single pass of the carriage over the support platform in a first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is to control the modules to perform the set of operations in the predefined order over more than one pass of the carriage over the support platform. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is to control the modules to perform the set of operations in the predefined order during each pass in either direction along the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the carriage comprises a pair of modules each to perform the same operation, and wherein the controller is to control one of the pair of modules to operate during a first pass in a first direction, and to control the other one of the pair of modules to operate during a second pass in a second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein one module is a build material distributor to form a layer of build material on the support platform and wherein one module is an agent distributor to selectively deposit drops of agent on a formed layer of build material in accordance with control data. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the agent distributor is to deposit drops of a chemical binder agent. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the agent distributor is to deposit drops of a coalescing agent, and wherein one of the modules is an energy source to apply energy to a layer of build material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one of the modules is an agent distributor to deposit drops of a coalescence modifier agent. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a system to generate a three-dimensional object, comprising:
 controlling a carriage, on which are mounted, or on which may be received, a plurality of modules to perform operations to generate a layer of a three-dimensional object, to move bi-directionally along a first axis over a support; and   whilst the carriage is moving, controlling the modules to perform operations from a set of operations in a predefined order.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising controlling the modules to perform operations from the set of operations during a single pass of the carriage over the support. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising controlling the modules to perform operations from a first sub-set of the set of operations during a pass in a first direction of the carriage over the support, and to perform operations from a second sub-set of the set of operations during a pass in a second direction of the carriage over the support. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the set of operations includes:
 forming a layer of build material on the support; and depositing agent at selected locations on a formed layer of build material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the set of operations further includes:
 applying energy to a formed layer of build material.   
     
     
         15 . A system for generating a three-dimensional object, comprising:
 a carriage to move bi-directionally in a first axis relative to a support platform, the carriage to receive, or have installed thereon, a build material distributor to form a layer of build material on the support platform and an agent distributor to selectively deposit drops of agent on a formed layer of build material in accordance with control data; and   a controller to:
 cause relative movement between the carriage and the support platform along a first axis; and 
 control the build material distributor and the agent distributor to operate in a predefined order.