{"id":10174,"date":"2026-06-09T16:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/?p=10174"},"modified":"2026-06-09T16:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:18:17","slug":"snowwhite2-thermal-characterization-of-the-sls-print-bed-using-infrared-thermography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/snowwhite2-thermal-characterization-of-the-sls-print-bed-using-infrared-thermography\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowwhite2: Thermal Characterization of the Print Bed"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-27dkawu-402556d243db2f635cacd0b856b4f093 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-10174'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6nxlgf-74df16b6bd1c2c37d9339dcc9b721c92\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mq6nxlgf-74df16b6bd1c2c37d9339dcc9b721c92{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mq6nxlgf-74df16b6bd1c2c37d9339dcc9b721c92 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mq6nxlgf-74df16b6bd1c2c37d9339dcc9b721c92 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mq6nxlgf-74df16b6bd1c2c37d9339dcc9b721c92 av-special-heading-h2  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-first '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Snowwhite2: Thermal Characterization of the Print Bed Using Infrared Thermography<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-1qorsda-e282d79c2d6c7cfaa0500c088e5f4a2c av_two_third  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_one_third  first flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6o0i6g-cd32ec4717e450375077341eb9359b12 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This article presents an experimental investigation of the thermal distribution across the print bed of the <strong>Sharebot Snowwhite 2 SLS printer<\/strong>, conducted using an infrared thermographic camera through a ZnSe optical window. The study compares acquisitions obtained in two geometrically distinct camera positions \u2014 overhead (perpendicular to the print bed) and lateral \u2014 across two powder distributor configurations: standard area (100\u00d7100 mm) and reduced area (20\u00d740 mm). It also examines the agreement between the machine&#8217;s onboard IR sensor and the external thermocamera. Results, reproduced on two separate machines, <strong>confirm a homogeneous print bed in the overhead measurement<\/strong> configuration and provide a quantitative framework for the correct interpretation of onboard sensor readings in SLS process research.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-15cz6n2-64298cd6c76d1e075b04cf07dc12419a av_one_third  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div  '     ><p><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6q4uk4-5950d36eb0d3d8a4a1f7507dad50fad4\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-mq6q4uk4-5950d36eb0d3d8a4a1f7507dad50fad4:hover{\ncolor:white;\ntransition:all 0.4s ease-in-out;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .avia-button.av-mq6q4uk4-5950d36eb0d3d8a4a1f7507dad50fad4:hover .avia-svg-icon svg:first-child{\nfill:white;\nstroke:white;\n}\n<\/style>\n<a href='en\/printers\/snowwhite-2\/#request-form' class='avia-color-theme-color avia-font-color-theme-color avia-button avia-button-fullwidth av-mq6q4uk4-5950d36eb0d3d8a4a1f7507dad50fad4 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-color-theme-color'   aria-label=\"Ask us a question\"><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left avia-svg-icon avia-font-svg_entypo-fontello' data-av_svg_icon='info-circled' data-av_iconset='svg_entypo-fontello'><svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"29\" height=\"32\" viewBox=\"0 0 29 32\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\" aria-labelledby='av-svg-title-1' aria-describedby='av-svg-desc-1' role=\"graphics-symbol\">\n<title id='av-svg-title-1'>Info-circled<\/title>\n<desc id='av-svg-desc-1'>Info-circled<\/desc>\n<path d=\"M14.528 1.28q6.080-0.064 10.432 4.16t4.48 10.304q0.064 6.080-4.192 10.464t-10.336 4.512q-6.080 0.064-10.464-4.192t-4.448-10.336q-0.128-6.080 4.16-10.464t10.368-4.448zM16.192 6.144q-1.344 0-2.080 0.768t-0.736 1.6q-0.064 0.896 0.48 1.408t1.568 0.512q1.216 0 1.952-0.704t0.736-1.728q0-1.856-1.92-1.856zM12.352 25.152q0.96 0 2.688-0.832t3.392-2.496l-0.576-0.768q-1.536 1.152-2.304 1.152-0.448 0-0.128-1.216l1.344-5.12q0.832-3.072-0.704-3.072-0.96 0-2.848 0.928t-3.68 2.4l0.512 0.832q1.664-1.088 2.368-1.088 0.384 0 0 1.088l-1.152 4.864q-0.832 3.328 1.088 3.328z\"><\/path>\n<\/svg><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Ask us a question<\/span><span class='avia_button_background avia-button avia-button-fullwidth avia-color-theme-color-highlight'><\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6ojd6h-8abd6336ede0d6e8a8ef6e93ae75f8e5\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mq6ojd6h-8abd6336ede0d6e8a8ef6e93ae75f8e5 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mq6ojd6h-8abd6336ede0d6e8a8ef6e93ae75f8e5 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mq6ojd6h-8abd6336ede0d6e8a8ef6e93ae75f8e5 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_button_big  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-1667 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-1667 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-300x300.png\" alt='Snowwhite2 fron view' title='Snowwhite2'  height=\"300\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-1030x1030.png 1030w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2-705x705.png 705w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Snowwhite2.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-10174'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6o1u8d-dc0b388abd4047ab98ab8d94c1982dd7\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mq6o1u8d-dc0b388abd4047ab98ab8d94c1982dd7{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mq6o1u8d-dc0b388abd4047ab98ab8d94c1982dd7 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mq6o1u8d-dc0b388abd4047ab98ab8d94c1982dd7 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mq6o1u8d-dc0b388abd4047ab98ab8d94c1982dd7 av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >1. Background and Objectives<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div  class='hr av-istsce-e085349b34726bc63cb79a3699ea62f7 hr-default  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6o3mv2-a569c3b872eaae3696ad202ca948bed3 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The Sharebot Snowwhite 2 and<\/strong> its high-temperature variant, the <strong>Snowwhite HT<\/strong>, employs an onboard IR sensor <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">mounted laterally to the galvanometer for process temperature control. This sensor, protected with a zinc selenide window, continuously reads the temperature of a central zone of the print bed, an ellipse of approximately 20\u00d730 mm, enabling the closed-loop control required for selective laser sintering of polymer powder.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Point-by-point verification of the thermal distribution across the full print surface has traditionally relied on measurements using thermistors and thermocouples inserted directly into the build chamber. To obtain a spatially continuous temperature map, a dedicated infrared thermocamera installation was designed and implemented, with the following objectives:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">assess the thermal uniformity of the print bed under standard operating configurations;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">compare readings obtained from two geometrically distinct camera positions;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">verify the agreement between the onboard IR sensor and the external thermocamera;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">provide the academic and applied research community with reproducible, transparent data on the metrological reliability of thermal measurements in SLS environments.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6o4mxo-891ac28b783a13c71093b1e0a267f1e9\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mq6o4mxo-891ac28b783a13c71093b1e0a267f1e9{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mq6o4mxo-891ac28b783a13c71093b1e0a267f1e9 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mq6o4mxo-891ac28b783a13c71093b1e0a267f1e9 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mq6o4mxo-891ac28b783a13c71093b1e0a267f1e9 av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >2. Experimental Setup<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6o5ovb-cb68c30a5b4a2fab45c2663c180b2b5b '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>2.1 Optical Adaptation of the Machine<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The original borosilicate glass window, located in the aperture previously occupied by the build chamber monitoring webcam, was replaced with a zinc selenide (ZnSe) window, a material transparent to thermal infrared with transmittance exceeding 80% in the 8\u201312 \u00b5m spectral range. A dedicated mechanical mount and a modified laser enclosure were designed and fabricated to house the acquisition system.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>2.2 Instrumentation<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The thermocamera used was an Optris Xi400 (uncooled microbolometer sensor, 382\u00d7288 pixel resolution, 8\u201314 \u00b5m spectral range, 29\u00b0\u00d722\u00b0 angular aperture). An important technical note for any laboratory seeking to replicate this configuration: the CO\u2082 laser used in SLS machines emits at 10.6 \u00b5m, a wavelength that falls within the sensitivity range of thermal infrared bolometers. Operating a thermocamera in this environment without dedicated bandpass filters that exclude the laser wavelength leads to progressive saturation and irreversible pixel damage. The use of appropriate filters is therefore a non-negotiable technical requirement for any installation of this type.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>2.3 Configurations and Measurement Positions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Two powder distributor configurations were tested:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Standard distributor \u2014 100\u00d7100 mm print area<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Reduced distributor \u2014 20\u00d740 mm print area<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">For each configuration, acquisitions were performed in two geometrically distinct positions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Overhead position (central): <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">thermocamera mounted in place of the galvanometer, perpendicular to the print bed and geometrically centred over the build area. This position serves as the geometric reference for absolute thermal uniformity assessment.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6oazvh-342e5a0462a3b412069b2888c8a239ce\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mq6oazvh-342e5a0462a3b412069b2888c8a239ce img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mq6oazvh-342e5a0462a3b412069b2888c8a239ce .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mq6oazvh-342e5a0462a3b412069b2888c8a239ce av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-10177 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-10177 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/experimental_setup-495x400.png\" alt='Thermal camera setup in Snowwhite2 for temperature analysis' title='experimental_setup'  height=\"400\" width=\"495\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mq6oc0um-d733935e3d5e14d153fbee29a8b75d7c\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mq6oc0um-d733935e3d5e14d153fbee29a8b75d7c{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mq6oc0um-d733935e3d5e14d153fbee29a8b75d7c .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mq6oc0um-d733935e3d5e14d153fbee29a8b75d7c .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mq6oc0um-d733935e3d5e14d153fbee29a8b75d7c av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >3. Results<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6ocqak-5d0b6134411ccf23957f801609b7091d '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>3.1 Overhead Position \u2014 Print Bed Thermal Distribution<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">With the thermocamera in the overhead position, the thermal distribution across the print bed is substantially homogeneous in both distributor configurations:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Standard distributor (100\u00d7100 mm): total spread of approximately 8\u00b0C across the five measurement points recorded on the surface. The front edge shows slightly lower values compared to the rest of the bed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-portfolio wp-image-10180 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_standard-495x400.png\" alt=\"Snowwhite2 temperature distribution for standard distributor\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_standard-495x400.png 495w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_standard-845x684.png 845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Reduced distributor (20\u00d740 mm): spread of approximately 5\u00b0C across the measurement points. The front edge again shows a slight decrease relative to the centre.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-portfolio wp-image-10185 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_reduced-495x400.png\" alt=\"Snowwhite2 temperature distribution for standard distributor\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_reduced-495x400.png 495w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/result_reduced-845x684.png 845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6ps84y-18066be66578772dd389d245b04cf829 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>3.2 Lateral Position \u2014 Comparative Observations<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Acquisitions in the lateral position consistently reveal two phenomena relative to overhead readings, reproduced across both machines and both distributor configurations:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>1. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Absolute value offset: temperatures recorded in the lateral position are approximately 30\u201335\u00b0C lower than those acquired in the overhead position under identical operating conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>2. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Left\/right lateral gradient: in the lateral position, a systematic gradient appears between the left and right sides of the print bed, approximately 4\u00b0C with the reduced distributor and approximately 8\u00b0C with the standard distributor. The right side, opposite to the camera mounting side, consistently reads lower values. This gradient is absent in overhead acquisitions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10195\" style=\"width: 505px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10195\" class=\"size-portfolio wp-image-10195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_standard-495x400.png\" alt=\"Snowwhite2 lateral temperature distribution for standard distributor\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_standard-495x400.png 495w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_standard-845x684.png 845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-10195\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Standard distributor<\/p><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-portfolio wp-image-10197 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_reduced-495x400.png\" alt=\"Snowwhite2 lateral temperature distribution for reduced distributor\" width=\"495\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_reduced-495x400.png 495w, https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lateral_result_reduced-845x684.png 845w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mq6pur1w-21e4f8fe1b92b39cda22ad2338529243 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>3.3 Agreement Between Onboard Sensor and External Thermocamera<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A result of particular interest is the close agreement observed between the Snowwhite 2 onboard<strong> IR sensor readings and those of the external thermocamera in lateral position<\/strong>. The two instruments, though physically distinct and mounted on opposite sides of the galvanometer, consistently return concordant values, both <strong>approximately 30\u00b0C lower than overhead readings<\/strong> under the same conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This agreement was observed consistently across all configurations and both machines tested.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>4. Operational and Metrological Implications<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The data collected allow the following practical guidelines to be formulated for researchers and laboratories using the Snowwhite2 or Snowwhite HT in applied or academic contexts:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Print bed homogeneity confirmed in overhead position. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Overhead measurements show a maximum spread of 8\u00b0C across the full surface under the tested conditions. The print bed performs in accordance with the machine&#8217;s heating system specifications.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The lateral position introduces a systematic and reproducible offset. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The 30\u201335\u00b0C offset between lateral and overhead readings is stable, consistent, and reproducible across different machines. This makes the lateral position unsuitable for absolute temperature measurement, but potentially valuable for relative monitoring of thermal drift, cycle-to-cycle variation, and session-to-session comparisons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The machine&#8217;s process setpoints are calibrated to the onboard sensor geometry. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Snowwhite 2 operating parameters have been developed and optimised with reference to onboard sensor readings, which agree with lateral thermocamera acquisitions. The machine operates correctly with these readings. Researchers seeking to correlate process parameters with absolute powder surface temperatures should account for the systematic offset relative to overhead position readings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\">\u2022 <\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The left\/right gradient is absent in the overhead configuration. <\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The systematic gradient observed in lateral position is not present in overhead acquisitions, which confirm the absence of significant non-uniformity in bed heating. The phenomenon manifests exclusively as a function of the acquisition geometry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #1a6baf;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>5. Conclusions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This study provides, for the first time in systematic published form, a quantitative thermographic characterisation of the print bed in Sharebot Snowwhite 2 SLS machines. The results demonstrate a homogeneous and reproducible heating system, and establish a clear metrological framework for interpreting onboard sensor readings in research and development contexts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The methodological transparency of this work, including documentation of the technical challenges encountered during setup, in particular the requirement for bandpass filters specific to the CO\u2082 laser wavelength, is an integral part of its scientific value, and is intended as a practical reference for academic laboratories and research centres using Sharebot SLS technology.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #2c2c2c;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Snowwhite 2 and Snowwhite HT confirm their suitability as research-grade platforms for process investigation: the reproducibility of data across different machines, the modular architecture that enabled thermocamera integration, and the stable agreement of the onboard sensor with external measurements make them reliable instruments for studies requiring rigorous control and in-depth understanding of printing thermal conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[38,62,63],"class_list":["post-10174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-snowwhite-2","tag-sls-2","tag-temperature","tag-thermal-camera"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10174"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10202,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10174\/revisions\/10202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sharebot.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}