FDM
Fast & affordable prototyping
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Dimensional accuracy of ± 0.5% with a lower limit: ± 0.5 mm
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Lead times from 1 business day
MJF 3D printing service
Source 3D-printed parts using our advanced Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) capabilities. We offer functional prototyping services and capacity for production at scale with several high-quality finishing options available. Lead times from 3 days.
What is Multi Jet Fusion?
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is an advanced 3D printing process that can speedily produce accurate, complex and detailed parts from powdered thermoplastics. MJF parts have high tensile strength and fine feature resolution, making them perfect for complex industrial parts. Developed by HP, this relatively new 3D printing technology is perfect for creating functional prototyping and production parts with isotropic mechanical properties, making it a go-to for any application requiring geometric complexity and impressive cosmetic and mechanical properties.
Learn more about MJF 3D printing
MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) capabilities
| Maximum build size | Standard lead time | Dimensional accuracy | Layer height | Minimum feature size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 380 × 284 × 380 mm | From 3 business days | ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012 in) | 80μm | 0.5 mm |
MJF 3D printing uses strong, versatile materials
Leading companies across many industries use MJF for its industrial-grade materials
| Material | Color | Resolution | Tensile strength | Elongation at break | Heat deflection temperature | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP PA 12 (Nylon 12) | Gray, dyed black | 80μm | 48 MPa | 15-20 % | 95-175 °C | Functional prototypes, complex assemblies, watertight applications |
| Glass-filled HP PA 12 (US only) | Gray | 80μm | 30 MPa | 6.5 % | 121-173 °C | Enclosures, housings, cases, fixtures, structural parts, tooling |
Surface finishes for MJF 3D printing
One of the benefits of MJF 3D printing is how well part surfaces come out, especially after post-processing. Here are the surface finishes available for MJF.
As printed (gray)
Gray color, smooth surface, without visible layers, powder texture
Dyed (black)
Dyed black by immersion in a warm color bath. The color reaches a depth of about 0.5 mm on all surfaces.
Tumble smoothing
The parts are placed in a tumbler of ceramic chips, creating a polished finish similar to injection molding.
Vapor Smoothing
Creates an even glossy finish across the outer layer of a part by exposing it to a solvent.
How MJF stacks up against other 3D printing technologies
| Materials | Price | Dimensional accuracy | Strengths | Build volume | Layer thickness | Min. feature size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDM | 5 | $ | ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.5 mm | Low cost, wide range of materials | 500 x 500 x 500 mm (19.68" x 19.68" x 19.68") | 100-300μm | 2.0 mm (0.0787’') |
| Industrial FDM | 6 | $$$$ | ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012") | High level of repeatability, engineering grade materials | 406 x 355 x 406 mm (15.98” x 13.97” x 15.98") | 100-330μm | 2.0 mm (0.0787’') |
| Prototyping SLA | 8 | $$ | ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012") | Smooth surface finish, fine feature details | 145 × 145 × 175 mm (5.7" x 5.7" x 6.8") | 50-100μm | 0.2 mm (0.00787’') |
| Industrial SLA | 3 | $$$ | ± 0.2% with a lower limit of ± 0.13 mm (± 0.005") | Smooth surface finish, fine feature details, big print area | 500 x 500 x 500 mm (19.68" x 19.68" x 19.68") | 50-100μm | 0.2 mm (0.00787’') |
| SLS | 2 | $$ | ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012”) | Design flexibility, supports not required | 395 x 500 x 395 mm (15.53" x 19.68" x 15.53") | 100μm | 0.5 mm (0.0196”) |
| MJF | 2 | $$ | ± 0.3% with a lower limit on ± 0.3 mm (0.012’') | Design flexibility, supports not required | 380 x 285 x 380 mm (14.9’’ x 11.2’’ x 14.9’') | 80μm | 0.5 mm (0.0196”) |
Why should you choose MJF 3D printing?
We have high standards for MJF 3D printing
We manufacture your custom parts according to strict manufacturing standards and ensure all parts and processes adhere to The Protolabs Network Standard. A thorough verification of these requirements is included in our inspection report that we ship with every order.
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Bead blasting and air blasting are used to remove any remaining unfused powder.
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To improve cosmetic appearance, additional post-processing can be applied, including dyeing, vapor smoothing and tumbling.
Advantages and drawbacks of MJF 3D printing
Advantages
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MJF is excellent for building strong parts, with maximum tensile strengths of XY and Z 48 MPa/6,960 psi with the ASTM D638 method.
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MJF is ideal for producing parts with complex mechanical properties across all geometries.
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MJF’s more robust automation capabilities reduce the need for most post-processing.
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MJF provides quicker build speeds in comparison to other technologies, even with larger quantities of parts.
Drawbacks
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Printing with MJF will yield high-quality parts, though the cost may be considerably higher than with other technologies.
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Limited materials available. HP may expand the range in the future.
Design guidelines for MJF
This table summarizes the recommended and technically feasible values for the most common features of MJF 3D printed parts.
Learn more about how to design parts for MJF 3D printing
| Feature | Recommended size |
|---|---|
| Unsupported walls | 1.0 mm (0.040 in) |
| Supported walls | 0.7 mm (0.030 in) |
| Minimum detail size | 0.25 mm (0.010 in) |
| Minimum hole size | 1.0 mm (0.040 in) |
| Moving parts | 0.5 mm (0.020 in) |
| Assembly clearance | 0.4 mm (0.016 in) |
| Maximum wall thickness | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
More resources for MJF
3D printing
Learn more about how MJF 3D printing works and how to design the best parts for this groundbreaking additive manufacturing technology.
Our other 3D printing processes
FDM
SLS
SLS
Functional prototyping & low-run production
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Dimensional accuracy of ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012")
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Lead times from 3 business days
SLA
SLA
Visual prototyping
Dimensional accuracy of ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012")
See our SLA services