HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is an industrial 3D printing solution for manufacturing rigid and flexible polymer prototypes and parts. MJF is a powder bed fusion 3D printing process akin to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). However, instead of using lasers as the heat source like in SLS, MJF employs HP’s proprietary ink jet technology to fuse layers of powder.
This advanced 3D printing technology selectively applies fusing and detailing agents to transfer and control thermal energy from infrared heat lamps. The build process is repeated for each layer of powder until the part is printed. Powder from each previous layer acts as the support, so there is no need for support structures to produce complex parts with lattice structures, overhangs and undercuts. After the build cycle is completed, parts are cooled and bead blasted to remove residual power. Post-processing techniques can then be employed to improve visual appearance and performance of MJF parts, such as chemical smoothing, engineered coatings, and inserts for assembly.
MJF produces durable end-use parts and functional prototypes with outstanding resolution, surface finish, and edge definition. With speeds up to ten times faster than SLS, HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing makes production-level manufacturing and customization possible without expensive tooling.
