02/08/23

3D Printing Software for Open SLS System

With its new partner Weirather, CoreTechnologie introduces an open system for SLS 3D printing of high-quality plastic parts.

CoreTechnologie has partnered with 3D printer specialist Weirather to develop an open system for SLS 3D printing of high-quality plastic components.

Through the new partnership between Weirather and CoreTechnologie, an open system for SLS 3D printing is now available. With the new application, users can seamlessly work in the 4D_Additive software from the CAD model to sending the file to the Weirather printer.

Full Control and Flexibility

In the Build Manager of the new software version, users can customize all slicer and laser parameters beyond the predefined parameter sets. This gives users full control and the flexibility of an open system. The software features a modern, fast, and user-friendly graphical interface, as well as innovative functions such as automatic 3D nesting with optimal heat distribution.

The open 4D_Additive SLS and SLM Build Manager provides access to all slicing parameters. Users can adjust laser speeds, hatching strategies, and path distances for contours, hatching, up- and downskin, as well as laser and Z compensation beyond the standard settings, optimizing them for other materials.

The individual slices of the print job are stored on the Weirather machine in the svg standard format via a network, ensuring optimal traceability and transparency of the workflow. After saving the packed slices in the wls format, the jobs appear in the printer’s job list and can be started immediately. The integration requires no internet connection for the printer or a print server, making it completely autonomous.

Seamless Workflow

With the 4D_Additive software, it is now possible to precisely check, repair, and prepare print jobs to CAD engineering standards using the original CAD geometry. The software reads all common native and standard formats and processes CAD data and STL models with its hybrid core. The new tool covers the entire workflow from CAD model to the machine without interruption. The software’s native interfaces eliminate the need to generate additional STL data in the CAD system. The precise and lightweight 3D data are also used for nesting, enabling a particularly compact description of the print job.

Extensive Applications

The open and independent technology enables quick adaptations, for example, for new materials. A current example is Weirather’s optimization for printing polypropylene (PP) materials, completed in just a few days, specifically for the medical sector and the food industry.