HP launches new Steel Jet S100 3D printer at IMTS: technical specs and pricing

The HP Steel Jet 3D print has been launched by HP on the 2022 Worldwide Manufacturing Expertise Present (IMTS). 3D Printing Trade is in Chicago this week for the present.

HP’s efforts to develop into metallic 3D printing started to take form in 2017 when plans for a high-volume jetting system had been unveiled at its Safety Analyst Assembly. As recognized by 3D Printing Trade in 2017, HP’s metallic 3D printer was anticipated to make use of Steel Injection Molding powder. HP would affirm this a yr later.

Introduced in 2018, HP’s much-anticipated Steel Jet expertise is designed to work with Steel Injection Molding (MIM) supplies slightly than the spherical powders utilized in laser sintering metallic additive manufacturing techniques. In response to the International Head of the agency’s 3D Printing Metals enterprise, Ramon Pastor, that is “an enormous deal,” because it allows customers “to drive down cost-per-part” by 20% to 33%.

The Steel Jet S100 will launch with stainless-steel 316L and 17-4PH compatibility. Pastor says that its effectivity improves its ergonomics in a means that enables it “to drive scale,” and HP “sees big alternatives” for the system to deal with purchasers within the industrial, medical, shopper, and automotive industries. 

HP’s Steel Jet 3D printing journey 

Since unveiling its MJF idea again in 2014, HP has constructed a 3D printing providing in polymer-based machines and supplies. In that point, HP techniques have 3D printed over 130 million components, and MJF continues to deal with the wants of companies throughout sectors, with the likes of Toyota now 3D printing automotive spares through the expertise and Ocado 3D printing achievement bots. 

Desktop Steel, Markforged, and Digital Steel have all launched their MIM powder-based machines. With an extended historical past and broader buyer base, metallic injection molding powders are presently cheaper than the metallic powders required for additive manufacturing processes similar to Direct Steel Laser Sintering (DMLS) or Electron Beam Melting (EBM). Nevertheless, it has typically been identified that materials value shouldn’t be the one problem in relation to scaling metallic 3D printing; repeatability/reliability, cycle time, post-processing, and capital funding are simply among the different issues. Potential prospects will little question be glad to pay much less for supplies.

Talking forward of the Steel Jet S100’s launch, Pastor described the platform because the “first launched that’s ready to economically convey components at scale.” HP’s metallic 3D printing boss added that the system has been constructed with a “give attention to complete value of possession,” in a means that ensures “the variable value of a component is the purpose at which customers can scale manufacturing.”

Launching the Steel Jet S100 

So, how does HP’s first Steel Jet 3D printer work? As the corporate has now revealed, the Steel Jet S100 comes fitted with a 430 x 309 x 200 mm powder mattress onto which droplets of fabric are jetted by six HP Thermal Inkjet printheads hooked up to 2 print bars, geared up with a complete of 63,360 nozzles. 

Utilizing these printheads, the system is able to exactly putting as much as 630 million nanogram-sized drops of liquid binder per second layer-by-layer to kind components with a decision of 1,200 dots per inch (dpi). 

In observe, the Steel Jet S100 is designed to be modular, so a couple of might be put in to create a steady manufacturing line as a part of a four-step course of. After print preparation and manufacturing through HP’s powder administration station, customers can then debind components utilizing its curing station earlier than eradicating any extra powder with any third-party system of their selecting. 

To assist understand the potential of this automated course of, HP has begun working with companions GKN, Parmatech, Cobra Golf, the Legor Group, and Volkswagen. Consumer-wise, the expertise has additionally been adopted by preliminary purchasers like Domin Digital Movement, Lumenium, and Schneider Electrical, the latter of which has already harnessed it to optimize the manufacturing of business metallic air filters. 

“This metallic air filter is utilized in circuit breakers for when you have got an inspected electrical arc, and also you want this to not have an effect on the remainder of the set up,” defined Pastor. “Often, these filters are made by way of conventional measures, and it’s very, very costly. We’ve been in a position to minimize the time to supply it, and make weight discount enhancements, as they’re now 20% extra compact.”

Speculators have argued that the large hole between announcement in 2017, and launch in 2022 of the HP Steel Jet was a deliberate tactic. The announcement giving pause to potential prospects who may defer their capital investments realizing an HP metallic 3D printer was on the horizon. Will the success of HP’s efforts with Multi Jet Fusion translate into related ends in the metallic 3D printing house?

Moreover, it’s noteworthy that the variety of additive manufacturing firms producing MIM-based 3D printing techniques is comparatively small – with a component of cross-pollination.

Technical specs and pricing

Beneath are the technical specs for the HP Steel Jet S100 3D printer. Debuted at IMTS 2022, the system is out there to order now within the US, Western Europe and China, and is predicted to be made broadly accessible by H1 2023. Pricing data has been requested from HP and the article will probably be up to date.

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Featured picture exhibits a facility fitted with Steel Jet S100 3D printers. Picture through HP.