Wematter Gravity Essential

The Wematter Gravity Essential is an SLS 3D printer from Wematter with a 300 x 300 x 150 mm build volume.

Specifications

Light Engine: CO₂ laser with galvanometer scanner; wavelength ~10,600 nm.

Optics/Scanner: Galvanometer scanner with dynamic focus control for uniform energy density across the build area.

Platform: Vertical build chamber 300×300×150 mm (~13.5 L): Z-height halved versus the full Gravity; recoater roller deposits powder layers.

Chamber: Sealed active chamber with activated carbon + HEPA filtration: office-safe, CE marked. Single-phase power, no special ventilation required.

Build Volume: 300×300×150 mm; footprint identical to full Gravity (<1 m²).

Precision: 0.1 mm on parts (same as full Gravity).

Calibration

Thermal pre-heat: Smaller build volume heats faster: adapt pre-heat time (20–35 min for PA12 ~168–170 °C) based on actual Deep Space readings.

Laser power / scan speed: Use Deep Space material profiles; run a 20×20×20 mm test cube when switching powder batch.

Powder refresh ratio: 50/50 fresh/recycled for PA12: manage inventory carefully at low volumes.

Common defects

Orange peel: Non-uniform temperature or contaminated optics: increase pre-heat; clean optical path.

Delamination: Energy below sintering threshold: reduce scan speed in Deep Space profile.

Warping: Cool inside chamber 4–6 h (smaller volume cools faster); orient flat parts at a slight angle to Z.

Porosity: High recycled ratio: reduce below 50%; reduce scan speed for higher linear energy.

What it is used for

Universities / education: Lower price + office-safe format = SLS in a classroom without industrial infrastructure.

Small R&D teams: Sufficient for 1–2 builds per week at low volumes.

Functional PA12/TPU prototypes: Snap-fits, housings, flex components: identical material properties to full Gravity.

Proof-of-concept: Test the SLS workflow before committing to a larger system.