Highperformance flexible polymers demand immediate, controlled cooling as they leave the nozzle. In one facility, summer temperatures turned that requirement into a production liability. With the lab sitting at 85°F, the printer’s stock fans were effectively decorative, circulating hot air that couldn’t solidify the material fast enough.
During a 14hour print, fine overhangs sagged, bridges collapsed, and the team arrived to a heap of warped polymer. Lowering extrusion temperatures weakened the part, bigger fans worsened turbulence, and installing HVAC for a single workstation was dismissed as impractical.
A Practical Fix: EXAIR Adjustable Spot Cooler
The team repurposed an EXAIR Adjustable Spot Cooler already on the shop floor. Mounted to the printer frame and routed to the extrusion zone, it delivered a focused 20°F (-7°C) stream of dry air-far below ambient and exactly where the polymer needed it.
Two features made the difference:
- Toolfree temperature control knob for dialling in anything from ambient to -30°F (-34°C).
- Interchangeable 15, 25, and 30 SCFM generators to match airflow velocity to the polymer’s cooling needs.
With instant layer solidification, the print ran flawlessly. No warping, no drooping, no drama.
Why Vortex Cooling Wins
Electric fans can only cool to room temperature. When the room is hot, they simply move hot air. A vortex tube, however, splits compressed air into hot and cold streams, delivering subambient, moisturefree cooling directly to the print.
The result is rapid heat transfer and stable geometry, even in summer conditions.
Stabilise Your Process
Seasonal heat shouldn’t dictate part quality. For plastics, metals, or hightolerance additive builds, EXAIR’s spot cooling systems offer a zeromaintenance way to keep production consistent.
David
ETEST
Tel. +27 82 920 4026
david@etest.co.za
