HP Hosts Innovation Summit to Highlight 3D Printing Advances

HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology is meant to be one of the processes capable of mass production. After announcing a partnership with JABIL that will see MJF used as a production technology, HP further demonstrated the uses of 3D printing in manufacturing at its HP Innovation Summit in Spain.

A robotic gripper 3D printed by Stern 3D, which has 10 MJF 3D printers. (Image courtesy of HP.)

At the event, HP announced several new partnerships, as well as new applications for MJF in industrial production. Among the announcements was news that Protolabs, already an HP customer, would be upgrading its seven HP Jet Fusion systems in the U.S. and Germany to the industrial HP Jet Fusion 4210 3D printers.

At the event, Protolabs demonstrated the use of MJF to create custom packaging for PepsiCo, which 3D-printed Black Panther masks for promotional beverage kits. The company also used MJF to 3D print a model hammer that allows Stream Lion Design to survey engine turbines in the field.

An ankle foot orthosis 3D printed for Crispin Orthotics costs 50 percent less than a carbon fiber counterpart. (Image courtesy of HP.)

Also announced was an exclusive agreement between Materialise, HP and RSPrint to scale an end-to-end solution for the design and manufacture of personalized insoles. RSPrint will use HP’s FitStation and Materialise’s software to create custom insoles from individual biomechanical data and 3D print them with Materialise’s MJF 3D printers.

An engine manifold 3D printed by ZiggZagg, which allowed a racing team to finish in the top five thanks to better design. (Image courtesy of HP.)

Belgian 3D-printing provider ZiggZagg joined the list of digital production providers offering MJF. It purchased six Fusion 4210 3D printers. So far, the company has produced a single-piece engine manifold for a car racing in the Belcar Endurance Championship in Belgium and The Netherlands.

The component replaced what was previously a two-piece assembly made with injection molding and welded together. According to the company, the team had lost races because this part would break and destroy the manifold under extreme pressure. The 3D-printed replacement has a simpler structure with better air flow, allowing the team a Top 5 finish in its most recent race.

A helmet 3D printed for the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which provides security to The Vatican. (Image courtesy of HP.)

IAM 3D Hub, a consortium of private companies, public institutions, and research and development organizations, bought eight HP Jet Fusion 4200 systems. The group will supply education, training and business mentoring by relying on HP leadership.

“IAM 3D Hub shares HP’s vision to accelerate the adoption and development of 3D-printing technologies for industrial production, and provide expansive education and training opportunities to grow the market,” said Aintzane Arbide, general secretary of IAM 3D Hub. “HP’s leadership has already helped us move the needle across our various programs specific to technology innovation. The advanced capabilities of Multi Jet Fusion allows organizations to completely rethink their approach to product engineering and design complex workflows, and advance the future of their manufacturing processes.”

A 3D-printed bike helmet is 20 percent lighter than traditional models. It was printed for Syncro Innovation by Sculpteo. (Image courtesy of HP.)

The assortment of case studies demonstrates a growing applicability of MJF technology, while the partnerships may mean that supply is increasing in response to demand. In addition to the 3D printing displayed at the Spain summit, HP showcased new immersive computing technology. To read more, visit HP’s website.