HP Multi Jet Fusion

HP Multi Jet Fusion
Name	HP Multi Jet Fusion
Developer	Hewlett-Packard
Introduced	2016
Type	3D printing / Additive manufacturing
Model	HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200
Medium	Powder-based thermoplastics

HP Multi Jet Fusion

HP Multi Jet Fusion is a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process developed by Hewlett-Packard and introduced in 2016 that targets industrial production of functional parts. It competes with technologies from 3D Systems, Stratasys, EOS GmbH, and GE Additive and has been adopted by manufacturers such as Jabil, Ford Motor Company, and Siemens. The platform integrates software from Hewlett-Packard with hardware partners including Dyndrite and service providers like Shapeways and Carbon3D alumnae teams.

Overview

HP Multi Jet Fusion was unveiled during a period of rapid expansion in additive manufacturing and industrial design innovation, positioned beside developments from MakerBot, Ultimaker, and research at institutions such as MIT and ETH Zurich. The process emphasizes throughput and repeatability for sectors represented by companies like Boeing, General Motors, Rolls-Royce Holdings, and BMW. Early adopters included Jabil, Protolabs, and Tooling U-SME, while standards organizations such as ASTM International and ISO have evaluated metrics relevant to the technology. Strategic alliances with firms like Materialise and 3YOURMIND facilitated digital workflow integration for enterprises served by Deloitte and McKinsey & Company consultants.

Technology and Process

The technology is a variant of powder bed fusion that deploys arrays of inkjet printheads and thermal elements in concert with control software from Hewlett-Packard and electronics suppliers like Analog Devices and Texas Instruments. Build cycles utilize calibration and scanning routines similar to those in systems from Trumpf and Renishaw. The process alternates powder deposition by suppliers such as BASF and Evonik Industries with energy application patterned by algorithms influenced by research at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University. Workflow integration with CAD and PLM platforms from Autodesk, PTC, Siemens PLM Software, and Dassault Systèmes enables applications in supply chains managed by UPS and DHL. Quality control tools from Hexagon AB and Zeiss support metrology and inspection.

Materials and Hardware

Material formulations for the platform include thermoplastics from suppliers like BASF, Evonik Industries, Arkema, and DuPont, encompassing grades such as polyamides comparable to those used by EOS GmbH. Hardware lines include the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 and 5200 series and employ components sourced from Foxconn and Jabil. Ancillary equipment for post-processing is offered by companies like PostProcess Technologies and Solukon, while scanning and reverse-engineering integration comes from GOM GmbH and Creaform. Material testing and certification efforts often involve laboratories such as TÜV SÜD, SGS, and Intertek.

Applications and Industry Impact

Industries adopting the process span aerospace suppliers like Airbus and Safran, automotive manufacturers including Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group, and medical device firms such as Stryker and Zimmer Biomet. Use cases include end-use parts for Boeing, rapid tooling for Daimler, customized orthoses for clinics associated with Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, and consumer product runs coordinated by retailers like Nike and adidas. The technology influenced production strategies at Siemens and GE Additive and has been incorporated into distributed manufacturing scenarios promoted by Local Motors and Maker Faire communities. Economic analyses by McKinsey & Company and PwC highlighted potential reshoring and inventory reduction impacts for firms including Harley-Davidson and Stanley Black & Decker.

Performance, Quality, and Limitations

Performance benchmarks compare the platform to competitors such as EOS GmbH, SLM Solutions, and 3D Systems on metrics like build speed, cost per part, and mechanical properties evaluated by labs including NIST. Parts show isotropic-like properties when optimized, paralleling findings from research at Imperial College London and ETH Zurich, but limitations remain for high-temperature polymers used by GE Additive turbines and for metals produced by Arcam AB. Surface finish and resolution are often inferior to fine-detail photopolymerization systems from Carbon3D and Formlabs, requiring post-processing steps from vendors like Solukon. Material recyclability and powder handling involve health and safety frameworks from OSHA and NIOSH and compliance testing by UL LLC.

Intellectual Property and Commercial Development

Intellectual property surrounding the technology includes patents held by Hewlett-Packard and contested in contexts involving firms like 3D Systems and Stratasys. Commercial roll-out was supported by investments and partnerships with service providers such as Shapeways, Protolabs, and Sculpteo, and OEM supply chains linked to Foxconn and Jabil. Corporate strategy and market analyses from Gartner and Forrester Research tracked adoption among enterprises including Siemens PLM Software customers and procurement teams at Boeing and Rolls-Royce Holdings. Ongoing standards work with ASTM International and ISO informs certification pathways pursued by manufacturers and regulatory entities like FDA for medical applications.

Category:3D printing