Proto Labs (Maple Plain, Minn.) had already been among a number of companies testing the HP industrial-grade 3D printing tech.
HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology employs an inkjet array to apply fusing and detailing agents across a nylon powder bed; heating elements then fuse them into a solid layer. The technology boasts faster build speeds and more isotropic material properties – ultimately resulting in lower costs compared to other powder-based 3D printing processes.
“We are extremely confident with the feature resolution and quality surface finishes we have seen with HP’s Multi Jet Fusion and are excited to offer our customers another tool to accelerate product development and reduce manufacturing costs,” Greg Thompson, global product manager of 3D printing at Proto Labs, said in a news release.
Proto Labs now offers five different industrial 3D printing processes, with the capability to produce plastic, metal, and elastomeric components as quickly as one day.
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