What is the Aether?
We created the Aether 3D printer air filter for one simple reason: FDM 3D printers do not have sufficient filtration. As such, they produce a lot of small plastic particles, which are not very healthy to breathe in,. 3D printers also produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some times toxic fumes which are known to cause cancer.
They also tend to smell bad, especially when printing ABS/ASA, or other similar materials.
So the Aether 3D printer air filter is a device that removes VOCs, and micro particles from the build chamber or enclosure from any 3D printer. It is easy to install, it can be interfaced with most 3D printers, and provides feedback about the air quality inside the enclosure, so you know when it is safe to open the door.
Why start with a 3D printer air filter?
The answer to this is twofold: first, this is an acute problem we had to solve ASAP. One of our associates started to print in his flat, and he needed filtration, so he can avoid cancer. It is a very legitimate concern, so we decided to prioritize 3D printer air filtration developments over other things we do.
The second is, that it requires significantly less R&D effort, than creating a thousand part consumer device. It is basically a few sensors, a micro controller, additional circuitry to hold them together, a fan, and some filters. The hardest part is the software, choosing the filter, and the measurements. Fortunately we have good friends, who happen to be working in a laboratory. Thank to this, we could test the efficiency of our device.
Where can I get the Aether 3D printer air filter?
Right now, we are at the finishing steps for launching this product. We still need to design packaging, work out overseas shipping, and do some further testing. We expect to launch on some crowdfunding platform late August/early September.