A new era of additive manufacturing

Your future in 3D is HP Jet Fusion

The next generation of 3D printing technology moves beyond Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and is brought to you by HP Multi Jet Fusion. For those familiar with SLS you will be close to understanding this newer technology in additive manufacturing. From prototyping to production, HP Jet Fusion 3D printing technology is enabling industry from automotive to aerospace to bring their products to market faster than ever before. These 3D printing solutions provide speed, strength of part, accuracy and ground breaking economics – fundamental to an efficient manufacturing process.

What is SLS 3D printing?

Using the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing process, parts can be produced by building up sintered powdered material one layer at a time.

At the start of the process an initial layer of polymer powder is spread across the build platform. A cross section of the part is then selectively sintered by a laser, fusing the particles of powder together. A new layer of thickness is then laid down by the build platform and the process repeats until the part build is complete.

The resulting part is a component encased in unsintered powder. Once removed from the powder and cleaned the part is ready for use or post processing.

SLS additive manufacturing is characterised by its use of material. Selected for functional application, thermoplastics are best suited for manufacturing end use parts and functional prototypes. These materials possess good mechanical properties as well as high impact, abrasion and chemical resistance.

Multi Jet Fusion

The HP Difference

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is the next level of industrial additive manufacturing technology. SLS production parts are built layer by layer by sintering thermoplastic material. The HP difference is the energy source, SLS requires a laser to scan and sinter each cross section, MJF dispenses a fusing agent onto the powder that is absorbed under infrared light.

MJF process

The technology in more detail

A layer of powder is spread across the build platform and warmed, close to sintering temperature. Step two draws from experience in the 2D sector – a carriage with HP ‘Pagewide’ inkjet nozzles passes over the bed, releasing fusing agent onto the whole layer of powder in less than 7 seconds. A high powered energy source passes over the bed and sinters the areas where the fusing agent was dispensed. This process repeats until the printed part is complete.

Once the build finishes, the entire powder bed containing the encapsulated parts is transferred to the processing station. Just like the SLS process, completed parts are encapsulated in powder and need to cool down before they can be removed and finished.

– Shorter lead times

Unlock production additive manufacturing opportunities with improved build times, greater reliability and greater throughput. Many thousands of parts can be manufactured in just one 12 hour print build, making it ideal for volume production runs of ‘end-use’ parts.

– Stronger parts

The HP Jet Fusion build process is self supporting and therefore negates the need for complex support structures during the build process. Highly detailed parts, with complex internal geometries can be built with ease.

Unlock your production potential with HP Additive Manufacturing

MJF for functional 3D printed parts

Our partner and technology giant HP have developed and launched MJF industrial 3D printing technology that has the capacity to quickly and accurately produce functional prototypes and end use parts for a variety of applications.

Design and manufacturing with HP Multi Jet Fusion, the all new 3D printing technology. From prototyping to production HP has 3D printing solutions to suit all budgets and capabilities, providing machines that fit with education settings to those requiring efficient manufacturing solutions.

Automotive

Consumer Goods

Industrial

Additive Manufacturing

Aerospace

Education

Healthcare

3D Print Service Bureaus

The right material

Introducing HP Nylon 3D Print materials

HP 3D printing material has been engineered to produce functional parts for use across a variety of industries and succeeds in providing the most efficient balance between performance and reusability. Manufacture strong production parts and functional prototypes whilst still achieving excellent finish, detail and dimensional accuracy.

Parts produced in HP material are similar to those built in the SLS process. However, HP nylon benefits from isotropic properties in x, y and z directions during the printing process. The Jet Fusion process therefore creates parts that possess unbeatable temperature and chemical resistance, making them much stronger.

HP material provides a market leading balance between performance and reusability. Easy to process material allows for productivity with less waste and ultimately much lower cost. Up to 70% of surplus powder can be reused build after build, minimising waste whilst still achieving part quality. No throwing away anymore!

HP PA 12 Nylon

Strong & Durable

This highly reusable material creates strong, low cost, quality parts. HP PA12 is a robust thermoplastic capable of producing high density parts, with detail and strong structures.It provides excellent chemical resistance to oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkalies. Making it ideal for complex assemblies, housings, enclosures as well as watertight applications.

Download the datasheet

HP 3D High Reusability PA11

Strong & Flexible

HP PA11 tensile and durable, making it high impact resistant and the best choice for producing ‘snap fit’ plastic parts, as well as those that require a high degree of flexibility – for example prostheses, orthotic insoles, sports goods and living hinges.

Download the datasheet

HP 3D High Reusability PA12 Glass Beads

Rigid & Functional

This glass bead filled (40%) thermoplastic material possesses optimal mechanical properties and high level reusability. Providing dimensional stability along with repeatability, HP PA12 with glass beads is perfect for applications requiring rigidity like enclosures, fixtures and tools.

Download the datasheet

The detail

HP Jet Fusion 3D printers

HP Jet Fusion 580 Colour 3D Printing Solution

The most compact offering within the HP portfolio of 3D printers, designed for convenient in-house automated production, specifically tailored for small to medium size product development teams, design firms and Universities.

A compact design that is suitable for office and classroom environments. Boasting cleanliness and ease of use this solution provides material mixing, loading, printing and reclaiming all in one machine.

HP Jet Fusion 4200-4210

Reinvent how you prototype and produce functional parts, this 3D printer delivers quality output up to three times faster than traditional SLS machines and at half the cost. The HP Jet Fusion 4200-4210 model is ideal for printing functional prototypes or for short production runs.

HP Jet Fusion 5200

The latest innovation from the HP 3D printing technology has been designed to sit within volume additive manufacturing environments. Introducing the most efficient and economical system to date the system boasts streamlined mixing of materials and integrated cooling units. Whilst still boasting unique print times and product quality build after build.

HP Processing Station with fast cooling

An end-to-end solution

Comprising a printer, build unit and processing component with fast cooling, the HP Jet Fusion 3D printers provide a complete production solution.

An integral, automated processing system provides a cleaner loading and mixing experience. A build unit moves onto the printer, once the build is complete the unit can be transferred back to the processing station. The processing stations benefit from a fast cooling module allowing users to benefit from more rapid access to parts.