3D printer for white parts

The 5420W printing system, available from Hawk Ridge Systems, makes production-grade white parts ready for end use, bringing Multi Jet Fusion technology to new applications. The traditional gray color Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers typically produce isn’t adequate for many end-use products from a cosmetic perspective. Post-processing techniques, such as painting or dyeing, are often required before a part can be sold directly to the consumer. Parts produced with the 5420W are ready for end-use applications with a white color.

The print system will be dedicated to white parts only, including the printer, post-processing station, and build units, so the system will no longer print gray parts.

Materials and consumables will also be slightly different. The only material available now is PA12W, which adds titanium dioxide to PA12 for the white color. PA12W will be sold in 300L packages of powder. Fusing agent and printhead design have also changed in this system.

White parts are easier to coat with brighter colors and dyeing parts is a common industry practice for Multi Jet Fusion. Post-processing techniques such as vapor smoothing are also effective with PA12W parts. The ability of HP white parts to resist change under sunlight is a major advantage.

HP

Hawk Ridge Systems

3D printing materials guide

3D Systems’ guide offers a general introduction to 3D printing plastics and their characteristics and applications. The guide takes a practical approach and groups plastic materials by their defining characteristic and conventional base of comparison. Property and use categories include casting, composites, full-color, general purpose, tough & durable, high temperature, transparent, and biocompatible. Different materials in each use category rely on different printing processes and can deliver different strengths and advantages for prototyping and production. Icons are used throughout the guide to denote suitable applications.

Download the guide

3D Systems Inc.

Stainless-steel in high-volume metal 3D printing

A fully austenitic, non-magnetic stainless steel, 316L (equivalent to UNS S31603) maintains excellent performance at room and moderately elevated temperatures, as well as excellent ductility and mechanical performance. This weldable material is extremely corrosion resistant, which makes it ideal for applications that will experience harsh environments.

Joining 17-4PH stainless steel, 316L marks the company’s latest expansion in the materials division, with a growing list of new materials undergoing testing currently and set to release in 2023 including pure copper launching in Q2.

3DEO

S-series 3D printer

The UltiMaker S7 series of S 3D printers introduces new features for ease of use and print reliability. A flexible build plate makes removing prints easier and the integrated Air Manager filters out up to 95% of ultrafine particles. The S7 also features improved automated bed leveling for reliable first-layer adhesion.

Advances in temperature regulation on the S7 allow users to capitalize on the 330mm x 240mm x 300mm build volume – with reliable accuracy from the first printed layer to the last.

The S7 will be compatible with the UltiMaker’s more than 200 materials and offers seamless integration with UltiMaker Cura software.

With the S7 ProBundle, users can also pair the S7 with the UltiMaker Material Station to print with up to six spools with automatic material switching and humidity control.