PolyJet 3D printing technology builds parts by jetting thousands of photopolymer droplets onto a build platform and solidifying them with a UV light. Currently, PolyJet 3D Printing is one of the fastest and most accurate 3D printing technologies.
Why PolyJet is a Unique 3D Printing Technology?
PolyJet 3D Printing utilizes dissolvable support material, usually made of polyethylene, propylene, and glycerin. After the printing process, parts made on a PolyJet machine are removed from the build platform and exposed to pressurized water. This process removes most of the support material without dissolving it. Later, the part is emerged in a chemical solution, where the remaining supports dissolve, leaving a clean part.
Additionally, the following are a few but crucial advantages of PolyJet 3D Printers.
1. Higher Accuracy
As the build platform is typically lowered after an iteration of layer, users can have more control and flexibility over accuracy. Typical high-quality PolyJet 3D Printers have an accuracy of 0.016 mm (16 microns).
Note: The average thickness of a human hair is 100 microns.
Such close accuracy enables excellent detailing while developing complex parts. Therefore, once a 3D printed part is complete, it does not require additional post-processing. As mentioned earlier, in most of cases, the support material is also easily removable with pressurized water.
2. Number of Jetting Heads
With PolyJet 3D Printing, the operator has the flexibility to use a number of jetting heads that allow different build materials to be ejected at the same time. This feature allows the 3D PolyJet printers to produce an object with high levels of flexibility in a single build. Thus, unlike other processes, PolyJet 3D printers are quick and useful to build complex objects with a smooth finish in a short span of time.
3. Multi-color objects
Another benefit of multiple jetting heads is that the manufacturers can use photopolymers with different colors in a single build. Similar to the working of the Inkjet Printer, the PolyJet printers can do tiny matrix mixtures of different materials with colors in one print job.
Therefore, unlike other 3D Printing processes, one can build multi-colored objects easily in a single pass of PolyJet 3D Printer.
4. Best for intricate objects
PolyJet 3D Printer can achieve very high resolution in the XY plane with its print heads that deposit Pico liter droplets to form the layer. Moreover, the ultra-thin thickness of walls allows the PolyJet printers to achieve remarkable details on all of the objects. Thus, Intricate things like embossed text to delicately detailed blood vessels, and miniature architecture models, etc. are easy to manufacture using PolyJet 3D Printers.
5. Multi-sector use
At present sectors like Healthcare, Automobile, Architecture, Industrial, and Educational sectors lead in the use of PolyJet 3D Printers. However, PolyJet 3D printers are highly used in the healthcare sector. PolyJet Printing enables surgeons to produce extremely complex replicas of the organs of the human body that need replacement. For instance, prosthetic limbs and joint replacement are a few key examples where PolyJet 3D Printing is used. Dentistry is another important sector that utilizes PolyJet 3D Printing to produce a range of orthodontic appliances, bridges, and accurate crowns.
Considering these powerful capabilities of PolyJet 3D Printing process, PolyJet 3D Printing has a huge scope across different industries. The market for PolyJet 3D printers is all set to expand due to its flexibility and reliability in manufacturing a vast range of parts. Therefore, 3D Printing bureaus should go for PolyJet 3D Printing if they want to expand their customer portfolio to the next level.