Proto Labs HP MJF
HP’s President of 3D Printing, Stephen Nigro, and Proto Labs President & CEO, Vicki Holt, visit a Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer at Proto Labs’ 77,000 square foot additive manufacturing facility in Cary, NC.
Proto Labs has formally welcomed the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology to its 77,000 square foot additive manufacturing facility in Cary, NC.
It was first revealed that Proto Labs had agreed to take the platform on, when HP made a series of announcements at RAPID+TCT in May. Cooperation between the two companies commenced even sooner than that – HP selecting Proto Labs as a foundational partner as it launched the machine to the 3D printing market. Their partnership is part of HP’s efforts to establish a global network of 3D printing service providers.
Four months on from the RAPID+TCT event in Pittsburgh, the machine has become the fifth 3D printing technology in Proto Labs expansive fleet. The company compliments this suite of 3D printing machines, with CNC machining and injection moulding platforms, taking the total number of manufacturing tools up to ten. With the addition of the HP Multi Jet Fusion platform, Proto Labs has strengthened its capability to serve its customers with fast and accurate 3D printed parts.
“Before introducing any manufacturing process at Proto Labs, we execute thorough testing to develop a repeatable process and ensure we can meet out quality standards,” said Greg Thompson, global product manager of 3D printing at Proto Labs. “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.”
HP’s Multi Jet Fusion was launched at the 2016 RAPID event. It uses an inkjet array to apply fusing and detailing agents across a bed of nylon powder, which is then fused by heating elements into a solid layer, and building a part. Since its announcements at RAPID+TCT earlier this summer, which included developments within its Open Materials Lab and its reselling network, a host of companies have acquired the platform, and a host of resellers have agreed to distribute it. Buyers include the MTC, Jaguar Land Rover and Forecast 3D, while resellers include RP Support and SYNNEX Corp.
