CHICAGO, IL, USA, Mar 16, 2024 – HP Inc. showcased parts using a new material qualified for its industrial 3D polymers solutions at the annual AMUG (Additive Manufacturing User Group) Conference. Developed with Arkema, the new PA 12 S material sets the standard for surface aesthetics, while reducing costs for customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solutions. The reach of this pioneering material will soon expand, as it is set to become available for the Jet Fusion 5600 Series later this spring, broadening its application across HP’s suite of polymer 3D printing solutions.
“From design to parts production and post processing, HP is committed to delivering a broad range of innovative materials and programs for more sustainable production,” said Francois Minec, Global Head of 3D Polymers, HP Inc. “We are thrilled to once again join our colleagues across the industry at AMUG as we collectively look to accelerate scale and adoption of additive manufacturing.”
Optimizing Production Costs and Efficiency with PA 12 S
The introduction of PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema, is set to revolutionize the industry by reducing variable costs per part and significantly lowering the total cost of ownership. This material, in conjunction with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, offers an optimized production process that streamlines post-processing steps, saving time and further reducing costs. These advancements enable manufacturers to produce parts more efficiently while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards.
Commitment to Sustainable Production
HP’s materials have industry leading reusability ratios, and in this case, the new PA 12 S material has the highest reusability ratio versus other PA 12 materials in the market. In fact, up to 85% reusability ratio, minimizing waste.
In addition to the new PA 12 S, HP has worked with leading materials companies to co-develop and deliver a variety of polymer materials including thermoplastics (HP 3D HR PA 11, HP 3D HR PA 12 S enabled by Arkema, HP 3D HR PA 12 W, HP 3D HR PA 12 GB and HP 3D HR PP enabled by BASF) and elastomers (BASF Ultrasint TPU01, ESTANE 3D TPU M95A, ESTANE 3D TPU M88A and HP 3D HR TPA enabled by Evonik). Customers are using these innovative materials along with HP’s expansive offering of professional services, design capabilities, software, hardware, automation, and post processing solutions for more sustainable production across industries including automotive, consumer, healthcare, and industrial.
The newly launched PA 12 S material is being used by customers including Accel Digital Solutions, Decathlon, Erpro Group, and Materialise for aesthetic parts with enhanced surface finishes and lower production costs.
Accel Digital Solutions, a burgeoning startup in the additive manufacturing sector, has embraced the new PA 12 S material. Brandon Teets, the founder, cites HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology’s cutting-edge capabilities. “HP’s Multi Jet Fusion equipment delivers unmatched precision, speed, and quality for both prototyping and production of parts and finished goods. This technology enables us to provide substantial value through time and cost savings, benefiting industries such as automotive, healthcare, sports, and more. After receiving test samples of the new HR PA 12 S material, we found the print quality and surface finish were markedly better.”
Grégoire Mercusor, Additive Manufacturing Materials Strategy Leader at French retail company Decathlon, highlighted the material’s impact on reducing part roughness, likening its effect to hours of tribofinishing on current materials. “The high refresh rate of up to 85% and the attractive price point of PA 12 S are poised to unlock new project opportunities,” he said.
Quentin Bertucchi, Applications Engineer at Erpro Group, praised PA 12 S, stating, “This PA 12 S material offers an unprecedented combination of surface finish and productivity, giving us new production opportunities when it comes to aesthetic parts. The smooth surface is an ideal base for further post-processing steps, sublimating the final result, and lowering the cost of providing complex smooth parts.”
“Working with HP, as a beta customer for PA 12 S, is an important element in our strategy to make additive manufacturing more accessible through an extended industrial grade materials offering,” said Pieter Vos, Marketing & Product Director, Materialise. “PA 12 S has proven its processability, delivering consistent parts with a great surface quality. We look forward to exploring application opportunities with our customers.”
About HP
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com.
