327
grinding. Candidates for 3D printing include the functional and aesthetic components of machines, consumer and industrial products that are produced in short
runs – typically less than 1000 units, and, in particular, highly customized and highvalue products that may be one-of-a-kind. Because 3D printing builds objects from
cross- sections, complex parts – previously requiring multiple elements that were
welded or assembled together – can now be built either as a monolithic structure or
from fewer subcomponents. For example, some types of 3D printing can produce
parts with hollow internal structures and complex 3D internal passages (for air or
other fl uids) that once required several sections to be fi tted together with sealing
surfaces between them.
HP’s vision for 3D printing is the revolution of part manufacturing (how parts are
made) and the part distribution supply chain (where and when parts are made). In
the near term, affecting the creative process by making far more useful parts available to a much broader audience. And in the longer term, disrupting supply chains
with 3D printing technology. In order for that disruption to occur, there must be
signifi cant changes in the economics of 3D printing and in the standards for maintaining quality.
Current 3D printing machines could be categorized in two groups, machines that
produce smooth parts with good detail, and machines that produce parts with good
strength. Because of the materials that are currently used to produce smooth parts
with good detail, this group of machines does not make parts with good strength. In
contrast, because of point energy needed to produce parts with good strength, this
group of machines does not produce smooth parts with detail. Further, many existing processes fuse or cure the materials together at a focused point, for example
using a focused laser beam to fuse, or using a single nozzle to extrude. This pointprocessing limits the build speed of these technologies. In the end, adoption of current technologies may be limited by imperfect parts, and slow productivity.
As with many 3D printing processes, HP Multi Jet FusionTM technology starts
by laying down a thin layer of material in the working area. Next, the carriage containing an HP Thermal Inkjet array passes from left-to-right, printing chemical
agents across the full working area. The layering and energy processes are combined in a continuous pass of the second carriage from top-to-bottom. The process
continues, layer-by-layer, until a complete part is formed. At each layer, the carriages change direction for optimum productivity.
High productivity can lead to challenges in making quality parts. For parts to
work, it’s important to ensure that the material has been properly fused and that part
edges are smooth and well-defi ned. To achieve quality at speed, HP invented a proprietary multi-material printing process where the materials are applied by HP
Thermal Inkjet arrays. In addition to fusing and detailing agents, HP’s technology
can employ additional materials to transform properties at each volumetric pixel (or
voxel). Color and even different materials can be used in the same print run to produce complex, multi-dimensional parts.
To realize this full potential of 3D printing , HP’s vision is to develop a 3D printing platform designed to become an industry standard, and HP is inviting creative
collaboration in materials for 3D printing. These breakthroughs in materials and
17 Multinational Corporations and the Circular Economy: How Hewlett Packard…
grinding. Candidates for 3D printing include the functional and aesthetic components of machines, consumer and industrial products that are produced in short
runs – typically less than 1000 units, and, in particular, highly customized and highvalue products that may be one-of-a-kind. Because 3D printing builds objects from
cross- sections, complex parts – previously requiring multiple elements that were
welded or assembled together – can now be built either as a monolithic structure or
from fewer subcomponents. For example, some types of 3D printing can produce
parts with hollow internal structures and complex 3D internal passages (for air or
other fl uids) that once required several sections to be fi tted together with sealing
surfaces between them.
HP’s vision for 3D printing is the revolution of part manufacturing (how parts are
made) and the part distribution supply chain (where and when parts are made). In
the near term, affecting the creative process by making far more useful parts available to a much broader audience. And in the longer term, disrupting supply chains
with 3D printing technology. In order for that disruption to occur, there must be
signifi cant changes in the economics of 3D printing and in the standards for maintaining quality.
Current 3D printing machines could be categorized in two groups, machines that
produce smooth parts with good detail, and machines that produce parts with good
strength. Because of the materials that are currently used to produce smooth parts
with good detail, this group of machines does not make parts with good strength. In
contrast, because of point energy needed to produce parts with good strength, this
group of machines does not produce smooth parts with detail. Further, many existing processes fuse or cure the materials together at a focused point, for example
using a focused laser beam to fuse, or using a single nozzle to extrude. This pointprocessing limits the build speed of these technologies. In the end, adoption of current technologies may be limited by imperfect parts, and slow productivity.
As with many 3D printing processes, HP Multi Jet FusionTM technology starts
by laying down a thin layer of material in the working area. Next, the carriage containing an HP Thermal Inkjet array passes from left-to-right, printing chemical
agents across the full working area. The layering and energy processes are combined in a continuous pass of the second carriage from top-to-bottom. The process
continues, layer-by-layer, until a complete part is formed. At each layer, the carriages change direction for optimum productivity.
High productivity can lead to challenges in making quality parts. For parts to
work, it’s important to ensure that the material has been properly fused and that part
edges are smooth and well-defi ned. To achieve quality at speed, HP invented a proprietary multi-material printing process where the materials are applied by HP
Thermal Inkjet arrays. In addition to fusing and detailing agents, HP’s technology
can employ additional materials to transform properties at each volumetric pixel (or
voxel). Color and even different materials can be used in the same print run to produce complex, multi-dimensional parts.
To realize this full potential of 3D printing , HP’s vision is to develop a 3D printing platform designed to become an industry standard, and HP is inviting creative
collaboration in materials for 3D printing. These breakthroughs in materials and
17 Multinational Corporations and the Circular Economy: How Hewlett Packard…