HP Expands Multi Jet Fusion Lineup with New Jet Fusion 300/500 Series: Full-Color, Voxel-Level Innovation for Design & Manufacturing

Pioneering technology giant HP continues to solidify its position as a leader in the additive manufacturing space with the announcement of four groundbreaking new 3D printers. Building upon their highly successful Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology, these latest additions are specifically engineered to cater to the critical needs of small to medium-sized product development cycles, offering unprecedented capabilities in design, prototyping, and functional part production. This strategic expansion signals HP’s ongoing commitment to democratizing advanced 3D printing and making it accessible to a wider range of industries and innovators.

HP’s Evolving Footprint in 3D Printing Technology

Since its entry into the industrial 3D printing market, HP has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation. The company initially made waves with its robust Jet Fusion 3200, 4200, and 4210 3D printers, which quickly gained recognition for their speed, efficiency, and ability to produce high-quality functional parts. These early models established Multi Jet Fusion as a formidable technology, offering a compelling alternative to traditional manufacturing methods and other additive processes. Demonstrating a clear vision for the future, HP has also previously announced plans for a metal 3D printing solution, indicating a long-term commitment to expanding its portfolio across diverse material applications and industrial demands. Today’s announcement of four new models — the Jet Fusion 340, 380, 540, and 580 — is a testament to this unwavering pace of innovation, further diversifying their offerings and targeting specific market needs.

Introducing the HP Jet Fusion 300/500 Series: Precision and Versatility for Every Design

The newly launched Jet Fusion 300/500 series represents a significant leap forward, designed to empower engineers, designers, and small-to-medium manufacturing businesses with professional-grade 3D printing capabilities. This series is engineered to deliver high-quality, functional parts, reducing the barriers to entry for advanced additive manufacturing. The machines are optimized for quick iterations and efficient production, making them ideal for everything from concept validation and functional prototyping to the creation of short-run production parts. This targeted approach ensures that businesses of varying sizes can leverage HP’s proven MJF technology to accelerate their product development timelines and bring innovative ideas to life faster than ever before.

Full-Color & Voxel-Level 3D Printing: Unleashing Unprecedented Design Freedom

Beyond simply adding new models, the latest announcement from HP highlights substantial advancements in their core 3D printing technology. A pivotal feature of the new Jet Fusion 300/500 series is its enhanced capability to produce functional parts in a stunning full-color spectrum, alongside the traditional black or white options. This breakthrough is underpinned by what HP terms ‘voxel-level innovation’. A voxel, analogous to a 3D pixel, provides individual control over the material properties and color at an incredibly granular level within the printed object. This unprecedented control allows for intricate designs, textures, and precise color mapping, opening up a world of possibilities for product realism, branding, and functional differentiation. HP asserts that these advanced capabilities enable the new 3D printers to produce objects with superior speed and detail compared to many other printers on the market, setting a new standard for color fidelity and functional integration in additive manufacturing.

Stephen Nigro, President of 3D printing at HP, eloquently articulated the company’s overarching vision, stating, “HP is committed to democratizing 3D design and manufacturing, unleashing new possibilities for millions of innovators around the world. No matter your industry, no matter your design complexity, no matter what colors fit your business needs – black, white, or the full color spectrum – the new HP Jet Fusion 300 / 500 series gives you the freedom to create brilliant new parts liberated from the constraints of traditional production methods.” This statement underscores HP’s ambition to break down barriers to entry and empower a new generation of creators with the tools to innovate without compromise.

Model Specifications and Accessibility

The new series is intelligently segmented to meet diverse user requirements and budget considerations. The Jet Fusion 380 and 580 models are equipped with the advanced capabilities for full-color printing, allowing for highly realistic prototypes and aesthetically complex functional parts. In contrast, the Jet Fusion 340 and 540 models offer black and white printing, providing a cost-effective solution for rapid prototyping and functional part creation where color is not a primary requirement. This strategic differentiation ensures that businesses can choose the perfect tool for their specific application needs without over-investing in unnecessary features.

Regarding physical specifications, the Jet Fusion 340 and 380 boast a build volume of 190 x 254 x 248 mm, making them suitable for smaller to medium-sized components and iterative designs. The larger Jet Fusion 540 and 580 models provide an expanded build volume of 190 x 332 x 248 mm, accommodating larger parts or multiple components in a single build. Crucially, all models in the series maintain a consistent layer thickness of 0.08mm, ensuring high resolution and excellent surface finish across the board. Accessibility is also a key factor, with HP indicating that these professional-grade printers will retail starting at approximately $50,000, extending up to the low $100,000 range. This pricing strategy makes industrial-grade, full-color 3D printing a more viable investment for a broader spectrum of businesses than ever before, truly embodying HP’s vision of democratizing the technology.

HP & Dassault Systèmes Announce Strategic Collaboration for Enhanced Design Workflow

Further enhancing the utility and reach of its Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers, HP has also unveiled a significant collaboration with Dassault Systèmes. This strategic partnership is designed to profoundly expand the design applications available for HP’s advanced additive manufacturing solutions. The core of this alliance involves optimizing Dassault Systèmes’ industry-leading SOLIDWORKS 3D software specifically for HP’s 3D printers and their unique voxel-level technology. This integration promises a seamless workflow from design to print, allowing designers and engineers to fully leverage the capabilities of MJF technology.

According to HP, this powerful synergy will empower users to ‘completely reimagine products, leverage new materials, escape the limitations of traditional manufacturing, and produce new products more quickly and efficiently.’ By integrating SOLIDWORKS directly with the full-color capabilities of the Jet Fusion 380 and 580, alongside support for new materials, the collaboration facilitates a comprehensive ecosystem where designers can exploit voxel-level control not just during printing, but also directly within their CAD environment. This means that complex geometries, intricate color patterns, and varied material properties can be defined and refined with unparalleled precision in the design phase, streamlining the entire product development process and unlocking unprecedented levels of innovation in additive manufacturing.

The Broader Impact of HP’s Latest Innovations

The introduction of the Jet Fusion 300/500 series, with its emphasis on full-color and voxel-level control for small to medium-sized product development, marks a pivotal moment in the additive manufacturing industry. This move makes professional-grade 3D printing more accessible, not just in terms of price, but also in terms of design flexibility and material richness. Industries ranging from medical (as demonstrated by the heart model for surgical planning), automotive, consumer goods, and education stand to benefit immensely from the ability to produce highly detailed, functional, and visually accurate prototypes and end-use parts. The synergy with leading software providers like Dassault Systèmes further reinforces HP’s commitment to creating an integrated, efficient, and innovative ecosystem for 3D design and manufacturing. This strategic expansion is set to accelerate the adoption of additive manufacturing, enabling businesses to bring products to market faster, with greater design freedom and enhanced functional capabilities.

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Data/Image credits: Data courtesy of Phoenix Children’s Hospital; Heart of Jemma, Invent Medical and NACAR.