Wematter launches Atmosphere, a thermal control unit
Wematter released a new device, the Atmosphere, designed to create a more stable thermal environment during the printing process. The device enhances printed components’ durability. Wematter boasts a 70% improved strain-at-break in its printed parts when using Atmosphere and recycled powders. The device also reduces wear on powder bed material that is not fused inside the build chamber.
Wematter, which creates SLS printing systems and is developing its own software, focuses on making the printing process more sustainable and reliable. Atmosphere accomplishes these goals by balancing build chamber heat, thus allowing for increased part density during print runs: more structurally sound parts get made in less time. Unused powders are, moreover, more easily recovered, thus increasing sustainability.
Atmosphere is designed to work with Wematter’s 3D printer, the Gravity 2021, and its controlling Deep Space software. Atmosphere starts automatically at each print job for increased reliability. The unit only works by regulating the air that is already in the chamber and does not add any additional substances to the machine.
“It is very fun to see, after several years of development, the results of our hard work and that the response from the market is so positive. Atmosphere will be another part of making our ecosystem scalable. Our customers will be able to modularly upgrade their equipment with the features that suit the company’s operations” said founder and CEO Robert Kniola.
Speaking of fun, Wematter’s user-friendly designs mean that Atmosphere does not require any additional equipment such as ventilation or compressed air. The user just plugs the device into a wall outlet.
“Some manufacturers solve the climate aspect with complicated infrastructure, others solve it with a gas tube, which entails a great safety risk. We have a stand-alone system that is safe for the user from a work environment point of view. It will be a safer alternative than, for example, just connecting a nitrogen generator”, explained founder and CEO Robert Kniola.
