METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTING A SHAPED BODY LAYER-BY-LAYER

The invention relates to a process for the layered construction of a shaped body by means of a 3D inkjet printing process with a piezo printhead (2) with several nozzles (6), to each of which a piezo element (8) is allocated which can act on the associated nozzle, in order to discharge ink from it. The piezo printhead (2) is moved, controlled by a control unit, over a construction area, the piezo elements are actuated individually for the locally selective application of filled ink, in order to apply a layer with a contour predetermined by the control unit. The applied layer is allowed to cure and the desired shaped body is constructed by successive application of layers, each with a predetermined contour. According to the invention, the control unit is set up to move the piezo printhead out of the construction area after a predetermined number of printed layers and/or if the control unit records a reduced discharge of ink in a nozzle (6) of the piezo printhead (2), then subject the nozzle or nozzles with reduced discharge or all the nozzles of the piezo printhead to a nozzle cleaning by stimulating the piezo element or elements (8) of the nozzles to be cleaned with a frequency of at least 20 kHz to generate ultrasound waves, in order to comminute and release any deposits in the nozzle.