HP Metal Jet Printers.
HP has announced a series of developments regarding customers, applications and partnerships at Formnext 2018, while also exhibiting its Metal Jet Fusion platform.
The company has seen an increase in purchase agreements and installations of its 4210 and 300/ 500 series machines, while also partnering with Autodesk to offer the software company’s Generative Design tools to users of Multi Jet Fusion (MJF).
GE Transportation has decided to use MJF in its John F. Welch Technology Centre in Bangalore, India for the production of industrial parts in mining vehicles and locomotives, while Forecast 3D has now deployed 24 4210 systems in its digital factory, and Chinese contract manufacturer, RecTech 3D is set to install 30 4210 machines by the end of 2019, with the first ten to be delivered by Q1. New buyers of the 300/ 500 series include A-Dec, a dental equipment manufacturer, Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California, and The University of Louisville.
The partnership with Autodesk means Fusion 360’s Generative Design capabilities can now be used to optimise designs, while Netfabb also supports the full range of HP printers. HP is also offering new online resources for partners and customers through I-Am Digital Talent Platform, which helps connect employers with a ‘highly engaged talent pool’, and 3D ExchangeNet, which serves to help businesses identify growth capital, investment or buyout opportunities.
Meanwhile, HP has also revealed some new applications from a couple of its automotive customers at the Frankfurt-based trade show. Volkswagen is harnessing HP’s polymer and metal technology to produce tools, and projects by the end of the year 100% of the tools used to manufacture the new T-Cross SUV will be printed using MJF. It is also integrating Metal Jet Fusion into its production roadmap for mass customisable parts, like key rings and exterior mounted name plates. BMW has been using HP’s 4200 platform to manufacture the window guide rail for the BMW i8 Roadster.
“Using our automotive standards and HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology our manufacturing team is able to produce durable, reliable final parts such as the window guide rail for our BMW i8 Roadster,” said Dr. Dominik Rietzel, head of non-metal Additive Manufacturing at the BMW Group. “In the past decade, we are proud to have produced more than one million 3D printed parts, and it’s fitting that one of these window guide rails was identified as the one-millionth part printed. Complex parts that require reliable functionality and a small footprint are a perfect example of the power of additive manufacturing and together with partners such as HP we are excited about the possibilities ahead.”
After its launch at IMTS, HP has also showcased its Multi Jet Fusion platform, and revealed in the first half of 2019, customers will be able to upload 3D design files and begin receiving industrial-grade metal parts in large quantities from HP’s Metal Jet Production service. The company sees this array of developments and range of applications presented on its Formnext Booth as evidence of its series manufacturing capacity.
“HP is accelerating the shift to 3D mass production, enabling an exciting array of applications helping customers improve their businesses as we enter the 4th Industrial Revolution. Many industries such as automotive, which is going through its biggest transformation in more than 100 years, are looking to new technologies and strategic partners like HP to help them better compete in this time of change,” commented Christoph Schell, HP’s new President of 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing. “We are working with innovators across the globe to change the way they design and manufacture with HP Multi Jet Fusion and our new Metal Jet platform, unlocking new applications, more manufacturing flexibility, and greater innovation, efficiency and sustainability across their product development lifecycle.”
HP is exhibiting at Formnext in Hall 3.1, Booth E40.
