328
agent-material interactions can power the widespread adoption of 3D design and
hardware innovation resulting in a digital transformation of manufacturing as widespread and profound as the way HP’s Thermal Inkjet solutions changed traditional
printing. Software to manage the design process is equally important, the current
shortcomings of the CAD-based format in terms of processing time and object
dimensional precision are a barrier for the production of complex, high-precision
parts by new technologies such as HP Multi Jet Fusion technology. Furthermore,
this format only allows geometric representation, so it does not allow voxel-byvoxel (volumetric pixel) information to be carried from the CAD software to the
printer. To realize the full potential of 3D printing, the roadmaps of 3D printers and
3D CAD software must be aligned, and the roadmaps must be accompanied by a
change to a more information-rich fi le format.
Comparison to commercially available 3D printing technologies has demonstrated clear advantages to HP’s technology and its material set to defi ne new levels
of part quality, high part functionality, at 10 times the build speed and at much
improved economics. A key feature of the technology is the potential to modify
material properties to produce controlled variations of the mechanical and physical
characteristics within a part, i.e. parts can have different materials built-in during
the manufacturing process, instead of being welded or connected later. This can
enable many new possibilities in the design and performance of parts built by 3D
printing.
7 Conclusion
Moving from a linear economy to a circular one will require disruptive innovation.
For more than 30 years, HP technologies have disrupted and led printing technologies in a wide range of markets. This chapter has described how HP is designing
products and services which meet and enable circular economy applications. HP has
a long history of resource effi ciency – of doing more with less – this is accepted
good business sense. HP also knows that there are good business advantages in
extending into the circular economy.
• Saving resources = lower virgin material spend (greater profi tability)
• New, convenient business models = happy customers (and repeat business)
The extension of effort does not come without its challenges:
• High grade plastics: consistency – quantity – quality
• Closing our own material loops (from service models)
• Expanding service offerings to more customers
HP is working to overcome internal and industry perceptions of recycled content
materials, business model profi tability and the need to market new business values
to customers. There is further work to align incentives throughout HP’s supply
K. McIntyre and J.A. Ortiz
agent-material interactions can power the widespread adoption of 3D design and
hardware innovation resulting in a digital transformation of manufacturing as widespread and profound as the way HP’s Thermal Inkjet solutions changed traditional
printing. Software to manage the design process is equally important, the current
shortcomings of the CAD-based format in terms of processing time and object
dimensional precision are a barrier for the production of complex, high-precision
parts by new technologies such as HP Multi Jet Fusion technology. Furthermore,
this format only allows geometric representation, so it does not allow voxel-byvoxel (volumetric pixel) information to be carried from the CAD software to the
printer. To realize the full potential of 3D printing, the roadmaps of 3D printers and
3D CAD software must be aligned, and the roadmaps must be accompanied by a
change to a more information-rich fi le format.
Comparison to commercially available 3D printing technologies has demonstrated clear advantages to HP’s technology and its material set to defi ne new levels
of part quality, high part functionality, at 10 times the build speed and at much
improved economics. A key feature of the technology is the potential to modify
material properties to produce controlled variations of the mechanical and physical
characteristics within a part, i.e. parts can have different materials built-in during
the manufacturing process, instead of being welded or connected later. This can
enable many new possibilities in the design and performance of parts built by 3D
printing.
7 Conclusion
Moving from a linear economy to a circular one will require disruptive innovation.
For more than 30 years, HP technologies have disrupted and led printing technologies in a wide range of markets. This chapter has described how HP is designing
products and services which meet and enable circular economy applications. HP has
a long history of resource effi ciency – of doing more with less – this is accepted
good business sense. HP also knows that there are good business advantages in
extending into the circular economy.
• Saving resources = lower virgin material spend (greater profi tability)
• New, convenient business models = happy customers (and repeat business)
The extension of effort does not come without its challenges:
• High grade plastics: consistency – quantity – quality
• Closing our own material loops (from service models)
• Expanding service offerings to more customers
HP is working to overcome internal and industry perceptions of recycled content
materials, business model profi tability and the need to market new business values
to customers. There is further work to align incentives throughout HP’s supply
K. McIntyre and J.A. Ortiz