Telford-based Protolabs (www.protolabs.com), a leading supplier of rapid-manufacturing services, has added a Multi Jet Fusion machine to its suite of 3-D printing machines.

This production-grade 3-D printing technology, developed by HP, builds fully functional plastic prototypes and parts with accelerated speed, detailed precision, and consistent mechanical properties.

It uses an ink-jet array to apply fusing and detailing agents across a bed of nylon powder; they are then fused by heating elements into a solid layer.

Its unique approach to binding powder is said to result in better material properties, faster build speeds and lower costs than other powder-based 3-D printing processes.

Daniel Cohn, general manager of Protolabs’ German business, said: “We now have four advanced 3-D printing technologies available for our customers to take advantage of — with different advantages to each.

“We piloted Multi Jet Fusion with our US-based business in 2017. From this, we can verify the benefits of the technology for producing parts with consistent material properties and improved surface finishes — attributes considered difficult to achieve with powder-based 3-D printing.

"With this confidence, we look forward to supporting our European customers’ project requirements with this new technology.”

Multi Jet Fusion technology is suitable for producing functional prototypes, jigs and fixtures, production-ready parts and components that require high strength or temperature-resistance.