Aurora
Powder material for SLS 3D-Printers
Highly elastic, tear resistant, and resilient
Materials and our Process
The combination of our developed machines, processes and materials make Wematter one of a kind. Because of this, we are able to compete with other SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technologies, while achieving even better mechanical properties. On this page, you will learn more about our powder materials used in the printing process.
Why Wematter?
Wematter’s uniqueness lies in the fact that we can, with our proprietary software and process, produce really strong and tough prints.
To really make it clear, we have sent samples from our prints to a third party lab that demonstrate that we are stronger. Below, we have a compilation of how our 3D prints look if you x-ray them compared to the competitors’ absolute best machines.
In the pictures to the left, dark fields can be seen, which are air pockets in the print. The images on the right contain smaller air pockets or pores, which gives higher density and thus higher strength. With Gravity, the print quality is more even and the material strong in all directions.
Benefits with Aurora material
Strong & flexible prints
SLS 3D prints that are both strong and flexible. Our process and our material create some unique 3D prints that can be bent, go back to their original shape, and do not break into thousands of small pieces.
- Complex geometries
- UV-resistant
- Incredibly strong
- Can be ordered in black or white
Unique container for a powder free office
The absolute biggest disadvantage of a powder bed 3D-printer (SLS) is the powder handling. We at Wematter have solved this with a very simple solution where you refill powder with our patented powder packaging. Pick up the package, place in the opening and turn it around. It couldn’t be easier.
Material Specifications
Our SLS 3D-printer Gravity is prepared for a variety of materials and comes initially with Wematter Aurora PA11.
| Minimum wall thickness | 0.8 mm, but living hinges are possible at 0.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Minimum details | 0.25 mm |
| Accuracy | ± 0.3% (with lower limit on ± 0.2 mm) |
| Maximum size | 300 x 300 x 300 mm |
| Clearance | 0.3 mm (recommended 0.5 mm) |
| Interlocking or enclosed parts | Yes |
Our materials are currently available in the different options below. Let us know if you have specific color requirements for your products!
- Aurora Arctic White
- Aurora Charcoal Grey
- Aurora Pure Black
Components 3D-printed with SLS technology can be used in a number of different areas. We have delivered parts to companies in, among other things, the automotive industry, healthcare, the aviation industry and the technology industries.
Examples of types of prints to date are:
- Prototypes
- Functional parts
- Small complex parts
- Parts for the automotive industry
- Medical supplies
- Pipelines and fittings for water pipes
- Industrial components
| Weight | 2,5 kg |
|---|---|
| Size | 10 x 54 cm |
| Storage temperature | 25 ℃ ± 10 ℃ |
| Packaging material | Cardboard, paper and wood |
| Reusable | Yes |
| Locking mechanism | Sealed lid with patented refill interface |
Mechanical properties
Our most common material, Aurora PA11 has superior mechanical performance compared to polymers such as polyamide 12 which are widely used for freeform production.
- Polyamide 12
- Aurora PA11
3D-prints that last
In order to truly demonstrate the strength of our prints, we have let one of our employees hang freely in a 3D-printed chain made by us in Aurora material in the video below.
Aurora PA11
- UV resistant
- Flexible
- 100 % renewable source
- Low water uptake
Aurora PA11 is a Polyamide 11 based material made from 100 % bio-based substances which are used primarily in industrial applications. The material is a sustainable thermoplastic polymer that produces strong UV-stable prints, well suited for technical end-products. Aurora PA11 has superior mechanical performance compared to polymers such as Polyamide 12 widely used in rapid prototyping. It also meets the USP Class VI requirements for medical applications.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density of finished parts | 1,05 | g/cm3 |
| Density for powder | 0,65 | g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 200 | °C |
| Tensile Strength | 51 | Mpa |
| Elongation at break | 51 | % |
| Tensile modulus | 1700 | MPa |
| Flexural modulus | 1200 | MPa |
| Hardness | 80 | Shore D |
Application areas
- Functional prototypes
- Functional parts
- Housings
- Mounts
- Gears
- Small complex parts
Main benefits
- Superior mechanical properties
- Low risk of sink marks
- Low water uptake
- Flexible
- High strength
- Salt water resistant
Aurora PA11 product sheet
Aurora PA11 Food Grade
- UV resistant
- Flexible
- 100 % renewable source
- Low water uptake
Aurora PA11 Food Grade is a Polyamide 11-based material designed for primary use in food industry applications. It is made from 100% bio-based substances. The material is well suited for technical end products: the material is a sustainable thermoplastic polymer that produces strong UV-stable prints. The highly visible blue colour makes the printed parts easy to detect in the event of foreign material accidentally falling into the food product.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density of finished parts | 1,05 | g/cm3 |
| Density for powder | 0,65 | g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 200 | °C |
| Tensile Strength | 51 | Mpa |
| Elongation at break | 51 | % |
| Tensile modulus | 1700 | MPa |
| Flexural modulus | 1200 | MPa |
| Hardness | 80 | Shore D |
Application areas
- Food industry
- Safety equipments
- Blue colour parts
- PA11-based parts
Main benefits
- Superior mechanical properties
- Low risk of sink marks
- Low water uptake
- Flexible
- High strength
- Salt water resistant
Aurora PA11 Food Grade product sheet
Aurora PA12
- Flexible
- High toughness
- Chemical resistance
- Vibration damping
Polyamid 12 (PA12) is a material well suited for manufacturing of functional prototypes, manufacturing of individual units as well as serial parts. Aurora PA12 has excellent resistance to greases, oils, fuels, hydraulic fluids, water, alkalis, and salt solutions as well as many solvents. It also has very good stress cracking resistance even in the presence of chemicals as well as damping of noise and vibration.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density of finished parts | 1,02 | g/cm3 |
| Density for powder | 0,44 | g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 186 | °C |
| Tensile Strength | 51 | Mpa |
| Elongation at break | 20 | % |
| Tensile modulus | 1800 | MPa |
| Flexural modulus | 1800 | MPa |
| Hardness | 75 | Shore D |
Application areas
- Functional testing and functional prototypes
- Parts for the automobile industry
- Medical supplies
- Pipelines and fittings for water mains
- Industrial components
Main benefits
- Excellent mechanical properties
- Nice surface finish
- Excellent recyclability
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent surface resolution and feature detail
Aurora PA12 product sheet
Aurora TPU
- UV resistant
- Flexible
- Low water uptake
- Vibration damping
Aurora TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a rubber-like material is a form of TPE (thermoplastic elastomer). The material can be used in applications such as medical technology, healthcare, automotive, sporting goods, and other consumer products. TPU prints are highly durable, do not absorb water, and are resistant to UV light, oil, grease, and solvents, making them well suited for gaskets, hoses, and tires.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density of finished parts | 1,10 | g/cm3 |
| Density for powder | 0,6 | g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 120-150 | °C |
| Tensile Strength | 8 | Mpa |
| Elongation at break | 270 | % |
| Tensile modulus | 75 | MPa |
| Flexural modulus | 70 | MPa |
| Hardness | 89 | Shore A |
Application areas
- Sports & Leisure
- Footwear
- Transportation Industry
- Jigs & Fixtures
Main benefits
- Good flexibility
- Shock absorption
- UV restistant
- Wear resistant
- Hydrolysis resistant
Aurora TPU product sheet
Aurora PP
- High flexural strength
- Exceptional chemical resistance
- Good ductility
- Low moisture absorption
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer and one of the most used materials in the plastic industry. The material has exceptional plasticity, higher elongation, durability, and low moisture absorption compared to polyamides. Printed parts are resistant to most acids and bases. Health care and orthopedic products, automotive, electrical, and sports goods are some of the applicational fields. The natural color of the material is semi-transparent white.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Density of finished parts | 0,9 | g/cm3 |
| Density for powder | 0,3 | g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 140 | °C |
| Tensile Strength | 27 | Mpa |
| Elongation at break | 40 | % |
| Tensile modulus | 1400 | MPa |
| Flexural modulus | 1500 | MPa |
Application areas
- Economic and functional prototypes
- Water reservoirs and branch pipes
- Strong jigs & fixtures
- Healthcare products
- Piping and air ducts
Main benefits
- Good ductility
- Great rigidity
- Low operating cost
- Exceptional chemical resistance
- Excellent plasticity
- Low moisture absorption
Aurora PP product sheet
Customer-specific solutions & research projects
Upcoming material for our Gravity SLS 3D printer.
We at Wematter spend the majority of our revenue on research and development to create products for the future. Should you have needs that are outside the materials we present above, you are welcome to contact us and tell us about your specific requirements so we can look at a customized printing process. In the list below you can see materials that are currently under development.
- Aurora PP (Polypropylene)
- Aurora Fiber reinforced (Polyamide + Fibre)
- Aurora Polypropylene PP + Nanocellulosa
- Aurora Nanocellulosa
- Aurora Grafen
- Aurora PA FR (Fire Retardent)
- Aurora TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
- Aurora ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)
Research projects
We have been awarded money from VINNOVA, the Swedish administrative authority of innovation, to work with Sweden’s most innovative companies to develop the 3D-printing capabilities of the future. See our ongoing research projects in the list below.
- Additive manufacturing of prosthetic products based on forest raw materials (AMPOFORM)
- Groundbreaking precision for orthopedic surgery
- VIST – Vision Inspection Swedish Testbed
- LIGHTer – This includes among other things: FiAM3D and Surface treatment of additively made thermoplastic
Frequently Asked Questions
The combination of our in-house developed machines, processes and materials makes Wematter unique. Because of this, we can compete with other SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technologies, while achieving even better mechanical properties. Wematter’s uniqueness lies in the fact that our own developed, Swedish-made 3D printer together with process and materials can produce really strong prints.
We currently offer the following materials for our 3D printer Gravity:
- Aurora PA11
- Aurora PA12
At the same time, other materials are constantly being developed. You will find current development projects here.
We primarily target mechanical consulting companies with in-house development and product-owning companies with plastic details in their products, but we are also open to other types of applications. Feel free to contact us and surprise us with your needs!
Yes! In principle, all powder can be recycled from our materials. We receive used material from our customers which we then check and mix with new powder to ensure that all material properties are maintained. We then give a discounted price on the following orders after powder has been sent in for recycling.
Thanks to our tight powder packaging with a patented closed lid, the operator does not have to come into contact with any powder when filling the machine.
You can print any color (as long as you choose one of the following variants)
- Aurora Arctic White
- Aurora Charcoal Grey
- Aurora Pure Black
Today, many people are used to PA6 for use in mass production. Our standard materials PA11 and PA12 have similar properties but can be compared to more premium versions of PA6 and are well suited for both prototype production and series production.