HP’s new Jet Fusion 300 / 500 3D printing solution for functional prototyping and short run production
Exhibiting at SOLIDWORKS World 2018 in Los Angeles this week, HP has unveiled its new compact Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series for low cost, full colour 3D printing.
Depending on configuration and colour preference, the new machines are priced upwards of $50,000 in a bid to bring HP's Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology to small and medium-sized businesses, design teams and the education market.
“HP is committed to democratising 3D design and manufacturing, unleashing new possibilities for millions of innovators around the world,” said Stephen Nigro, President of 3D Printing, HP Inc. “No matter your industry, no matter your design complexity, no matter what colours fit your business needs – black, white, or the full colour spectrum – the new HP Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series gives you the freedom to create brilliant new parts liberated from the constraints of traditional production methods.”
Teased towards the end of last year along with a potential metal 3D printing system, the Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series includes four models; HP Jet Fusion 340 in black and white, and the 380 in colour for customers printing smaller parts, followed by the 540 in black and white, and 580 in colour for larger parts and heavier production needs. The Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series supports three leading colour file formats; OBJ, VRML, and 3MF.
“I'm excited about the range of applications for functional multi-colour 3D printing,” Terry Wohlers, President, Wohlers Associates Inc. commented. “It's good to see that HP is targeting this interesting and largely untapped opportunity. The possibilities are infinite.”
Data courtesy of Invent Medical and NACAR
Leveraging HP’s unique Open Platform for materials and applications development, the machines will launch with a new material, HP 3D High Reusability CB PA 12 which promises mechanical properties similar to the HP 3D High Reusability PA 12 material. The Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series will ultimately support similar materials as the industrial-grade HP Jet Fusion 3200/4200/4210 systems along with unique materials that enable colour at voxel level.
Speaking about the launch last week, Ramon Pastor, Vice President and General Manager at HP's 3D Printing Business, said these machines will deliver "full colour without any compromise". Leveraging the "power of colour", HP believes its customer want to produce prototypes that are more representative of their final products, and colour is a big part of that. HP is already co-developing new colour applications with universities and businesses including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Yazaki Corp., and Youngstown State University, amongst others.
Coupled with its industrial-grade HP Jet Fusion 3200/4200/4210 solutions, HP is adopting a similar approach to the likes of Carbon, promoting the ability to prototype and produce finished products all on the same technology platform.
Since launching its MJF technology in 2016, HP has amassed a network of over 65 resellers, reporting some of the biggest sales in the industry for plastic-based 3D printer during its first commercial year. Today it is also evolving that reseller network into the HP Partner First 3D Printing Specialization program which aims to provide specific manufacturing expertise.
HP today also unveiled a new collaboration with software leader Dassault Systèmes, to optimise its SOLIDWORKS 3D design and engineering applications to take advantage of HP's voxel- level capabilities.
The HP Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series is available to order today and will begin shipping in the second half of this year.
