HP updates HP Metal Jet, announces new material suppliers and launches Metal Jet Adoption Center
June 25, 2024
HP is showcasing the latest advancements to its metal and polymer Additive Manufacturing machines at this year’s RAPID + TCT, booth #2839. Enhancements to the HP Metal Jet S100 include an increased build height up to 170 mm, allowing for the production of larger parts and more parts in a single build cycle, enabling manufacturers to explore new dimensions in product design and innovation.
The HP Metal Jet S100 also leverages the economies of scale offered by Metal Injection Molding (MIM) powders, significantly lowering operational and material costs for large-scale production compared to other AM technologies. With new operational efficiency gains in manufacturing process times, the HP Metal Jet S100 solution continues to advance towards optimal industrial OEE, states HP.
HP is also introducing new materials through collaborations with Indo-MIM and Sandvik. These materials include IndoMIM M2 Tool Steel, ideal for high-strength mold inserts and cutting tools, and Sandvik’s Osprey® 316L, which offers improved corrosion resistance and processability for applications in the medical, automotive, and industrial markets. Both materials have undergone rigorous HP qualification processes, helping to ensure reliable performance and accessibility.
“HP is deeply committed to driving the Additive Manufacturing industry forward with persistent and new enhancements to our existing portfolio,” said Savi Baveja, President of HP Personalization & 3D Printing. “Our innovations in both metal and polymer 3D printing technologies are testament to our dedication to advancing the capabilities and applications of 3D printing, empowering our customers to turn their ideas into reality with unprecedented efficiency and quality.”
HP Metal Jet Production Service and Adoption Center
In a bid to further democratise metal Additive Manufacturing, HP has launched the HP Metal Jet Production Service. This new service is accessible via a dedicated website where customers can submit queries, request sample parts, and access comprehensive production services. The move aims to address and overcome common barriers in metal Additive Manufacturing, including cost, time, and effort, making the technology more accessible and practical for a wide range of industries.
To support this initiative, HP has established a Metal Jet Adoption Center located in Corvallis, Oregon. This centre looks to provide end-to-end application qualifications, from benchmarking and sample part testing to process optimisation, helping to ensure that customers can seamlessly transition from prototype to production. HP’s network of Contract Manufactures will play a pivotal role in supporting application development and scaling to serial production.
Software collaborations
HP’s collaboration with Autodesk has resulted in the readiness of the Autodesk® Fusion® bundle with HP AM machines, enhancing design and production integration. Similarly, a collaboration with Altair will provide customers with proprietary HP material information, facilitating better design and production of additive parts. CoreTechnologie’s collaboration with HP aims to elevate texturing for additively manufactured parts, providing users with an extensive digital texture library within the 4D_Additive software, pushing the boundaries of surface design.
“We are excited to help our customers better design parts for HP Metal Jet and HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solutions by giving them access to HP material information,” said Yeshwant Mummaneni, Chief Engineer of Data Management and Analytics at Altair. “Through this collaboration with HP, we are creating a bridge across the often-siloed functions of design and production of additive parts so that even more exciting applications can be realised.”
For HP’s polymers and metals customers, a collaboration with Dyndrite will now support HP’s entire Additive Manufacturing ecosystem, giving the option to use Dyndrite build manager software to create and submit build jobs. Additionally, HP’s Multi-level build feature included in the process development will allow printing process parameters to be adjusted on a per level basis for up to 20 levels within a single build.
HP will also introduce the HP 3D Texture Visualizer, developed by Leopoly, a 3D and XR software technology provider. This key component of the HP 3D Digital Texture Library enhances the 3D design process by allowing users to apply and visualise digital 3D textures on their CAD geometry in real time. The tool also supports the import of custom digital textures and provides the flexibility to adjust parameters like scaling, depth, and resolution to achieve the desired look.