HP Jet Fusion Guide
Submission and Machine
Print parameters to follow:
Supported Wall Thickness
Minimum supported wall thickness: 0.6mm recommended. A supported wall thinner than 0.6mm will likely break once post processed by fablab.
Unsupported Wall Thickness
Minimum unsupported wall thickness: 0.8mm recommended. An unsupported wall thinner than 0.8mm will likely break once processed in the media blaster. An unsupported wall with a larger span to thickness ratio will likely warp due to heat build up in the printing process.
Horizontal Support Span/Bridges
Maximum Span: 40mm recommended (4mm wide x 3mm thick). Printing large horizontal spans that are thin and narrow are discouraged. Bridges over 40mm should not have a thickness under 3mm and a width under 4mm in order to avoid warping or breaking during post processing.
Vertical Wire Diameter
Minimum recommended diameter: 1mm (6mm tall) to 2mm (25mm tall). A wire is a feature whose length is greater than two times its width. 2mm wires can get up to 25mm tall before defects start to show due to heat build up during the printing process.
Emboss Detail
Minimum recommended emboss detail: 0.4mm wide and 0.4mm thick. Embossed details include shallow raised images and text. Embossing surface detail shallower than 0.4mm may not be visible in your 3d print.
Deboss Detail
Minimum recommended deboss detail: 0.4mm wide and 0.4mm deep. Debossed details shallower than 0.4mm may not be visible in your print, and remnant powder may be trapped within the surface geometry.
Unsupported Overhangs
Maximum Unsupported Overhang ratio: 6mm long by 0.6mm thick. While unsupported overhangs are very achievable with this technology, the ratio between the span to thickness needs to be considered. Cantilevered parts longer than 6mm that are 0.6mm or less in thickness will likely warp and break in when post-processed.
Clearance between moving parts
Minimum spacing between moving parts or joints in a model: 1.4mm. In order for powder to be adequately removed from the space between printed geometries, spacing should not be less than 1.4mm. Otherwise powder could remain trapped or become fused to printed parts, preventing them from moving freely.
| Printer | Dimensions |
|---|---|
Print Material | HP 3D High Reusability CB PA 12 (Thermoplastic) |
Build Area | 332 W x 190 D x 248 H |
Full Build Job time for 248 MM Height | As fast as 18 hours |
Layer Thickness | 0.08 MM |
Printhead Resolution | 1200 dpi |
Download Rhino:
Rhinoceros 3D
Rhino can create, edit, analyse, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware.
| |
Most Suited To | 3D Modelling / Digital Fabrication Best used for general 3D modelling purposes |
Use Environment | Requires a machine with at least 8 GB Ram |
Hardware Platforms | Windows, Mac |
Materials
The HP Jet Fusion printer consumes Multi Jet Fusion CB PA 12 (plastic) powder material developed by HP. The material is characterized by good elasticity and high impact resistance with the ability to produce strong, functional and detailed complex parts, ideal for purposes of prototyping and production.
The 3D printed objects printed with this plastic material are well suited against scratches and abrasion and this material is also light stabilized, U.V. stabilized and stable to weather.
Multi Fusion CB PA 12 can be characterised by:
Robust thermoplastic produces high-density parts with balanced property profiles and strong structures
Provides excellent chemical resistance to oils, greases, aliphatic hydrocarbons, and alkalies5
Ideal for complex assemblies, housings, enclosures, and watertight applications
Biocompatibility—meets USP Class I-VI and US FDA guidance for Intact Skin Surface Devices6
Designed for production of functional parts across a variety of industries
Achieves watertight properties without any additional post-processing
Engineered to produce final parts and functional prototypes with fine detail and dimensional accuracy
Colour and Texture
HP Jet Fusion printing utilises a CMYK print cartridge enabling the possibility of coloured, multi-coloured and image-mapped texture printing.
Always notify Fab Lab upon submission of a colour job request.
Please ensure files are set up correctly prior to submitting requests for coloured 3D printing by referring to the following article > Heading: Colour and Texture :
Cost
Cost is estimated when submitting a job through our submission portal on our website. You'll only need to input the volume of your geometry in cm3 if your print is in monochrome. If you are printing in colour, you'll also need to input the surface area of the geometry in cm2 (this can be done by selecting the object and typing 'area' in rhino.
Reducing the cost
HP Jet Fusion Printing charges by the amount of material used, and can easily become an expensive product if not planned out properly.
Some methods to cut down the final price of your model may include:
Hollowing out your model to release unnecessary powder through an opening. Because the cost of your job will depend on the volume of your geometry, hollowing out your model is a great way to reduce cost. The minimum shell thickness for hollow models is 2mm.
Considering alternative methods of fabrication for parts of your model. Always consider that planes/bases can be constructed with the laser cutters very easily at a much cheaper cost.
Prototyping early forms with Makerbot PLA printers. If you’re expecting to do multiple tests and/or complex form iterations, the plastic printers (charging at 30 cents/gram) may be a more economic option before powder printing your final design.
Once you are confident your file is ready, please submit job through our website.
Please ensure you include a contact phone number as a fablab technician will call you if there are any urgent job updates or questions they have for you.
A Themis string is only required for job submissions if one has been given by a tutor or subject coordinator.
Job Submission:
Due to the complex and costly nature of HP Nylon printing, FabLab technicians frequently nest several jobs into a single print. Because of this, turnaround times can vary between 1 and 10 days. Please email msd-fablab@unimelb.edu.au if you have questions regarding your job progress
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