Let’s talk about the special MJF 3D Printing!
A good friend of mine once suggested to print some functional parts for a customer using MJF technology. My comment in this blog is not what he proposed but how he proposed to go with that specific 3D printing method. Let’s see why!
Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing
It is known that Multi Jet Fusion has been developed by Hewlett Packard. It is also widely noticed that MJF leaves an excellent impression to the end user or customer with the amazing smooth finish on the surfaces of your 3D printed part. Both MJF and its sibling SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) belong to the laser fusion on the powder bed family. MJF actually combines both SLS and Binder Jetting (BJ) in one technology by keeping the very precious advantages of both without using lasers. (to find out more about other printing methods please visit Our platform )
Multi Jet Fusion is considered the manufacturing process that really sets the bar in the additive manufacturing field. The accuracy during the printing process combined with the parts with almost perfect isotropic properties and the excellent surface finish, sets the MJF at the top of the additive manufacturing processes for many manufacturing and engineering companies around the world.
Materials
Multi Jet Fusion performs excellent with a selection of thermoplastics from Hewlett Packard, including High Reusability (HR) PA 12 nylon, HR PA 12 GB (a nylon reinforced with glass beads) and HR PA 11.
How it works at a glance
First of all, a very thin and even powder layer is laid down on the object. A fusing nozzle head, drops particles on where they need to be positioned passing over the bed repetitively. At the same time a detailing agent dispensed on the contours to optimise the part’s accuracy and resolution. An Infrared light (because it’s electromagnetic radiation) passes over the bed and sinters the surfaces where the detailing agent was jetted previously. That process will be repeated as many times needed for the part to be finished. The final part will then have to cool down and be carefully removed.
Due to its higher accuracy (0.25mm versus 0.30mm in SLS) and the smallest layer thickness (70-100 μm (microns) versus 100-120 μm in SLS) the Multi Jet Fusion in our humble opinion has taken the scepters from the SLS manufacturing process. These advantages come handy when functional parts with minimum post process finish and very short lead time are needed in automotive, aerospace or any other engineering sector.
Why MJF ?
Multi Jet Fusion can produce functional prototypes and end-use production parts in as fast as one day. The used powder can be recycled by collecting it and putting it back into a small tank from the post-processing device. In summary, with MJF, the users are able to produce finest parts with better mechanical properties, more detailed and with better aesthetic appeal (especially if someone applies black dye as an MJF post process) than most of the 3D additive manufacturing methods.
Further Reading
Some good links for further study about Multi Jet Fusion can be found: