an alternative it is possible for the levelling device 39 to be adjusted to a height above the base surface 14 corresponding to the desired layer thickness to be applied in this case the surface of the shaped body 29 to which the layer of material powder is applied lies at the level of the base surface 14 fig3 a to c show a side view of the levelling device 39 the levelling device 39 comprises a multiplicity of individual elements 42 arranged in a row in the embodiment illustrated in fig3 the individual elements 42 are formed as bristles of a brush these bristles are provided by thin metal wires or plates alternatively it is also possible to use bristles made from plastic or the like furthermore the bristles may also have a coating or a structure the brush illustrated in fig3 has a plurality of rows of individual elements 42 which are arranged one behind the other the packing density is such that in the event of a linear movement over the shaped body 29 a pulling effect is produced so that a predetermined height of material powder 17 is set and levelled the individual elements 42 of the levelling device 39 have free ends which preferably lie in a common plane so that the free ends form an imaginary continuous pulling off edge after the material powder 17 has been melted as what is now the bottom layer the shaped body 29 has unevenness and projecting sections 43 which are higher than the desired layer thickness that is to be applied these projecting sections.