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Montreal-based medical services innovator uses 3D printing technology to develop custom form-fitted and breathable back braces to improve patient comfort and outcomes. 3D Printed Medical Back Brace Montreal-based medical services innovator uses 3D printing technology to develop custom form-fitted and breathable back braces to improve patient comfort and outcomes. A medical services innovator based in Montreal, Quebec approached Tempus 3D with a back brace design to manufacture for them. They were looking for a company with the capacity to build the extra-large piece with material that had the strength, flexibility and resilience to be worn for long periods of time. The team at Tempus collaborated with HP and Hawkridge to provide a solution that suited their manufacturing requirements, while keeping cost and production time to a minimum. Key benefits Mass low-cost customization Complex geometries that result in reduced part cost Photo courtesy of Airforce Velocity Stacks Organization Montreal, Quebec based medical services innovator Industry Medical Prosthetics and Braces Partners HP , Hawkridge Systems , STAC Technology HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 , with build dimensions of 380 x 284 x 380 mm Material HP Nylon PA12 Software Solidworks Post Processing Bead blasted and dyed black Challenge The biggest challenge with this project was the large size of the brace. When large, flat parts are 3D printed there is a risk of the piece warping because of the uneven cooling that can occur as the part is being built. Also, there are not many commercial 3D printers which can manufacture such large pieces. The secondary challenge was to ensure the material had the strength, durability and flexibility to provide comfortable support and was suitable to be used as a medical device. Solution The team at Tempus 3D was able to leverage HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology, which provides the class-leading build volume and part quality required to successfully manufacture this design. With this printer all of the parts for the brace could all be fit into one print run, which saves manufacturing time and cost. The greatest risk in the production of the brace was the potential for the pieces to warp, because the difference in temperatures across large, flat pieces can bend them as they cool. Tempus 3D drew on support from experts at HP and Hawkridge Systems, who worked with the team at Tempus to ensure the part orientation and print settings were optimized for the best result. The template for this build can now be used to print the same or similar pieces for the supplier on-demand with precise repeatability between prints. The other consideration in building the brace was to select a material that was suitable for a medical device used on or near the skin. Nylon 12 was the material of choice because it has a high tensile strength, is water proof and certified biocompatible. It also has enough flexibility to accomodate the patient's movement without losing it’s support. Result Tempus collaborated with their partners at HP, Hawkridge systems, and the client to produce a part that exceeded their expectations in terms of finish, colour, accuracy, and cost. We look forward to continue building these parts that have the potential to positively impact patient outcomes and lead to further advancement in the Canadian medical sector. Tempus 3D is one of only a handful of HP certified 3D printing service bureaus located in Canada. As part of the HP digital manufacturing network, our team has an established track record of working collaboratively with partners across Canada in the prototyping and development of innovative products. Head quartered in British Columbia, Tempus serves customers across North America with expertise in the digital manufacturing revolution. We at Tempus feel this is just the beginning of what manufacturing will look like in the future; it will be more responsive, more collaborative, and more local allowing innovators across sectors to bring products to market quicker and in a more environmentally friendly way. Learn more about designing for 3D printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology Learn more about prototyping and manufacturing solutions with Tempus 3D Explore industrial plastics available through Tempus 3D Learn more about the advantages of industrial 3D printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology Explore more case studies and articles

Explore our latest news, case studies and articles to learn how to maximize the benefits of industrial 3D printing with Tempus 3D. 3D Printing Resources Explore our latest news, case studies and articles to learn how to maximize the benefits of industrial 3D printing with Tempus 3D. High performance racing applications of 3D printing and 3D scanning Lawn mower racing enthusiast Kierra Cates needed an edge for an upcoming race, and approached Tempus 3D for a solution. The team at Tempus used 3D scanning and 3D printing to design a high-performance air intake able to withstand the abuse of the racing environment, and look good in the process. Read More Extending the useful life of commercial products with additive manufacturing A commercial property owner was faced with the prospect of spending thousands of dollars to upgrade broken paper towel dispensers if he could not find replacements for a failing fastening clip. With the support of Tempus 3D, the parts were reverse-engineered to improve the design and manufactured with industrial 3D printing, saving time and money while extending the useful life of the existing equipment. Read More Using digital scanning and 3D printing to repair consumer goods. A student in the Selkirk College Digital Manufacturing Program needed to replace a broken part on a treadmill. He was able to use digital scanning and 3D printing to re-build the hard-to-find part. In the process he was able to improve the design of the original part, save money, and extend the useful life of the original equipment. Read More Creating replacement parts for marine applications with 3D scanning and 3D printing. A boat owner in Trail BC broke a critical part in the throttle mechanism in his boat and was unable to source an affordable replacement. The owner was able to improve the part design and manufacture a replacement quickly and affordably, with the help of Tempus 3D's 3D scanning and additive manufacturing technology. Read More RV owner re-designs and replaces a hard-to-find part for their recreational vehicle with additive manufacturing. An RV owner had a broken exterior door handle for their RV which had become brittle over time due to exposure to the elements and extended use, and they were unable to find a replacement. They also wanted to upgrade the design to strengthen the areas that had failed. They approached Tempus 3D for a solution. Read More Spark Laser reduces time to market and development costs with industrial 3D printing. Spark Laser was able to transition seamlessly from product development to lon-demand manufacturing when releasing their new commercial laser cutter, with the help of Tempus 3D's industrial 3D printing service. Read More Airforce Velocity Stacks uses industry 4.0 to super charge product development. Airforce Velocity Stacks needed to design and test a throttle body and was looking for a local manufacturer to collaborate with on the project. With the help of Tempus 3D and their design and production partners, Airforce was able to create a prototype robust enough to test in real-world conditions and achieve their development goals, quickly and affordably. Read More DustRam optimizes it's manufacturing of dustless tile removal tools with PA12 and Multi Jet Fusion technology. Learn how DustRam uses Multi Jet Fusion technolgy to reduce production time, lower costs, build lighter parts and get ahead of the competition with their dustless tile chipping hammers. Read More 3D printed medical back brace A medical services innovator based in Montreal, Quebec approached Tempus 3D with a back brace design to build. They were looking for a manufacturer with the capacity to build the large pieces with material suitable for medical devices. Tempus delivered a custom solution in collaboration with experts at HP and Hawkridge Systems. Read More How strong are 3D printed parts? HP put industrial 3D printing to the test by lifting a 1995 Avalon with a 3D printed chain link produced using HP’s new Multi Jet Fusion™ technology. The chain was printed in under an hour and weighs just 0.25 pounds. Check out this video to see how it performed. Read More Ledcor ball valve replacement Ledcor was facing a 6-month delay when sourcing a ball valve needed for their road surfacing operations, and approached Tempus 3D to help manufacture a replacement. Ledcore required design upgrades to improve part performance and a quick delivery time. Tempus 3D collaborated with their development network to deliver a solution, on-time and on-spec. Read More Dri-Cities uses industry-leading 3D printing technology to bring their innovative waterproofing solution to market. Dri Cities was looking for a manufacturing option that could produce prototypes and low-volume production runs of their innovative waterproofing product. Tempus 3D was able to provide an affordable, high-quality product with quick turnaround and on-demand manufacturing with HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology. Read More The Haf-Clip gets their product to market in record time with HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology The Haf-Clip was looking for a manufacturing partner to help bring their product idea to reality. Learn how Tempus 3D was able to help them meet their production goals, quickly and affordably. Read More CGX uses Multi Jet Fusion technology to create innovative designs, simplify supply chain, and reduce time to market. Learn how CGX Systems used HP MJF technology to design, develop and manufacture it's electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets. Read More Transforming prosthetics and orthotics production with digital manufacturing and industrial 3D printing Digital manufacturing had revolutionized the production of custom orthotics and prosthetics, resulting in increased innovation, production speed, fit and function while lowering overall cost and material waste. Learn more about how industrial 3D printing has transformed the manufacturing of medical devices. Read More The value of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry The automotive industry has been transformed by additive manufacturing over the past decade. 3D printers are aiding in design and development, accelerating the assembly process, creating complex parts, enhancing measurement and testing, and providing customization solutions across the range of the development process. Read More IBC Technologies enables innovation in collaboration with BC 3D printing service bureau. IBC Technologies was designing a jig to help assemble fan parts for a commercial boiler. They were looking for a local manufacturer which was able to quickly build low-cost, functional prototypes and manufacture the final design. Learn how Tempus 3D was able to support IBC through the design and manufacturing process with industrial 3D printing technology and expertise. Read More The advantages of part consolidation with additive manufacturing One of the many benefits of additive manufacturing is the ability to build forms not possible with traditional manufacturing. Learn how the freedom of design inherent in additive manufacturing has enabled HP and Aerosport to consolidate multi-part assemblies to lower production time to 24 hours, lower costs up to 95% in costs and reduce weight up to 90% while improving part functionality. Read More Kalesnikoff Lumber leverages 3D printing to alleviate supply chain challenges, reduce down time, and improve productivity. Kalesnikoff Lumber was looking for a local manufacturer to re-design and build affordable lumber guides that were robust enough for industrial use. Learn how Selkirk Technology Access Center and Tempus 3D were able to help them produce an improved design with industrial plastics and commercial 3D printing technology. Read More Symbolic copper-plated eagle skull shows the potential of digital manufacturing to make the impossible possible. A First Nations group wanted to create a copper replica of a delicate eagle skull and approached Tempus 3D for a solution. The team at Tempus collaborated with a network of professionals with advanced digital manufacturing capability produce a beautiful result. Read More Benefits of industrial 3D printing for manufacturing and design. Learn about the benefits of 3D printing for manufacturing and design, and how Tempus can support your team to leverage industrial 3D printing to gain a competitive advantage. Read More Ultrasint TPU - a robust, flexible material designed for the real world. TPU is a versatile thermoplastic made by BASF with rubber-like properties, which is ideal for the production of parts requiring shock absorption, energy return or flexibility. Read More How does Multi Jet Fusion compare to other 3D printing processes? The HP Multi Jet Fusion printing process has several distinct advantages over comparable 3D printing processes including speed, affordability, and overall quality of the materials produced with this process. Read More Tempus 3D expands its Additive Manufacturing service with Selkirk Technology Access Centre (STAC) collaboration. Tempus 3D and Selkirk Technology Access Centre (STAC) collaborate to broaden the technology and expertise available to both Selkirk and Tempus for a stronger product and service offering. Read More

Tempus 3D leverages HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, which is designed for the production environment to produce high quality end-use parts with best-in-class isotropy, economics and productivity. HP Multi Jet Fusion Materials Design Guidelines 3D Printing in Action Get a Quote HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing Services Volume production of end-use parts Here at Tempus 3D we use HP's Multi Jet Fusion 5200 3D printer because of it's industry-leading capabilities that make it one of the most popular choices in the industrial sector for rapid prototyping and low-to-mid volume manufacturing of end-use parts. This equipment is designed specifically for the production environment to mass-produce engineering-grade plastic parts with excellent mechanical properties at a low cost per part. With printing speeds up to 10x faster than comparable technologies, Multi Jet Fusion is a popular choice for the transition between prototyping and mass production of end-use parts. This technology is also an economical alternative to injection molding with more design freedom, shorter lead times and greater adaptability. Tempus 3D is proud to be a qualified member of HP's Digital Manufacturing Network As an HP Digital Manufacturing Network Production Professional, Tempus 3D has been evaluated and qualified based on our end-to-end 3D printing capabilities for production at scale, as well as our manufacturing and quality processes. Learn More Applications for Multi Jet Fusion MJF is ideal for building prototypes that can be tested in real-world applications for form, fit and function. Functional prototyping Multi Jet Fusion is up to 10x faster than it's competition, making it an affordable alternative to injection molding. Manufacturing MJF is a popular choice for industries where customization is important, such as medical and consumer goods. Mass customization HP Multi Jet Fusion Materials HP Nylon PA12 Strong, detailed, low-cost quality parts suitable for a wide range of applications. Chemical resistance and biocompatible. HP's most popular 3D printing material. Learn More Ultrasint TPU TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a rubber-like polymer ideal for producing parts that require high elasticity, shock absorption, elasticity and energy return. Learn More Nylon PA12 GB HP Nylon 12 filled with 40% glass bead to give stiffness and stability while maintaining the excellent material qualities of HP Nylon PA12. Ideal for stiff, functional parts. Learn More Polypropylene This durable plastic has high elasticity, low moisture absorbtion, and high elongation at break. It is an excellent choice for light, water-tight, and durable parts. Learn More How does Multi Jet Fusion work? Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is a Powder Bed Fusion technology designed by HP for manufacturing end-use plastic parts. A thin layer of powder (0.08 mm thick) is laid in the build platform and fusing and detailing agent is laid on top. Each layer is fused ~10 layers deep with irradiant heat. With this process hundreds of parts can be built at once, compared to one at a time with most 3D printing technology such as SLS or FDM . This unique printing process produces parts with high density and low porosity, with excellent mechanical properties and an exceptionally smooth surface straight out of the printer. This process also means short lead times, ideal for rapid prototyping and small- to medium-production runs of engineering-grade end-use parts. Additional post-production treatment can enhance the surface finish and performance of the parts. Get your parts into production today Get a quote

Ultrasint TPU01 is a versatile thermoplastic polyurethane which has rubber-like elasticity and is designed to produce strong, flexible, durable parts for applications requiring high elasticity, shock absorption, and energy return. This material offers a balanced property profile and the ability to print very fine structures with a high level of detail. This material is suitable for a diversity of applications, including jigs & fixtures, footwear, industrial tubes and pipes, and sports. Rubber 3D printing service TPU (BASF Ultra sint TPU 01) Flexible, functional, rubber-like parts TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a rubber-like polymer which is ideal for producing parts that require high elasticity, shock absorption, and energy return. This material is 3D printed with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology , which produces durable, strong and consistent parts with excellent surface quality and high level of detail. 3D printing technology HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 Dimensional accuracy +/- 0.3% with a lower limit of +/- 0.3 mm Maximum build size 380 x 285 x 380 mm (14.9" x 11.2" x 14.9") Get an Instant Quote TPU: a rubber like polymer for robust, detailed, flexible parts Ultrasint TPU01 is a versatile thermoplastic polyurethane which has rubber-like elasticity and is designed to produce strong, flexible, durable parts for applications requiring high elasticity, shock absorption, and energy return. This material offers a balanced property profile and the ability to print very fine structures with a high level of detail. This material is suitable for a diversity of applications, including jigs & fixtures, footwear, industrial tubes and pipes, transportation Industry, and sports and leisure. TPU exhibits good UV and hydrolysis resistance. It passes skin sensitisation and cytotoxicity tests in accordance with ISO 10993-10 and ISO 10993-5, making it suitable for applications close to the human skin, such as in the medical industry. TPU parts are developed by BASF and 3D printed with HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology. Because MJF is a powder-bed fusion technology parts can be used immediately out of the printer, or can be dyed black and treated for a smoother, customer-facing finish. Key Benefits Functional parts with fine detail and dimensional accuracy. Enhanced rebound resilience and elongation-at-break with lighter parts Optimal mechanical resistance at low temperatures Good UV and hydrolysis resistance Flexible lattices Complex parts Applications Flexible lattice structures Sports equipment such as helmets, footwear, or safety gear. Automotive use, including car interiors, air filter covers, or bellows gimbal Industrial tools such as robotics or grippers Custom shock absorbers and springs Fluid systems such as flexible pipes Medical equipment such as face masks or orthopedics. Design guidelines Min wall thickness 0.5 mm Recommended wall thickness 2.0 mm Max wall thickness 7.0 mm Min hole diameter at 1 mm thickness 0.5 mm Min shaft diameter at 10 mm high 0.5 mm Min clearance at 1 mm depth 0.5 mm Min slit between walls 1 m thick 0.5 mm Min deboss depth 1 mm Min emboss height 1 mm Design considerations The best results are obtained with thin structures and lattices, so it is recommended to re-design dense parts by hollowing them, introducing internal lattices, and/or removing unnecessary material. This strategy also reduces the weight of the parts and lowers the cost of production. View full design guidelines for H P TPU01 Technical Specifications Accuracy +/- 0.3% (minimum of +/- 0.3 mm) Hardness (shore A) 88 Tensile modulus 75 MPa (xy) / 85 MPa (z) Tensile strength 9 MPa (xy), 7 MPa (z) Rebound resistance 63% Elongation at break >220% Tear resistance (Trouser) 20 KN/m (xy), 16 KN/m (z) Tear resistance (Graves) 36 KN/m (xy), 32 KN/m (z) Compression set 20% Abrasion loss 90 mm3 View technical data sheet for Ultrasint TPU01 Certificates & Data Sheets Ultrasint TPU01 technical data sheet Ultrasint TPU01 design guidelines Ultrasint TPU01 biocompatibility certification Available finishes Raw (gray) After the part has been printed and has been cleaned it has a powdery gray look and feel. This finish is best suited for functional prototypes and non-visible parts. Black Dye Parts are submerged in a hot dye bath containing dye pigment. This gives a smooth, consistent finish with no loss of dimensional accuracy. Vapor Smoothing This process uses a chemical vapor that smooths the surface of the part, giving a look and feel comparable to injection molding. Best for consumer-facing parts. Gallery Related Materials View all materials Material Selection Guide Not sure which material is the best fit for your project? Use our materials selection guide to compare the material properties and recommended uses for each. Learn More Get your parts into production today Request a quote

Ledcor was facing a 6-month delay when sourcing a ball valve needed to apply calcium chloride to road surfaces, and approached Tempus 3D for a solution. Their requirements included an upgrade to improve the performance of the part and a quick delivery time. Tempus 3D collaborated with their design and development network and delivered a functioning solution, on-time and on-spec. Ledcor Ball Valve Project Ledcor teams up with Tempus 3D printing to alleviate supply chain issues, improve part design and minimize manufacturing time. Ledcor is an integrated construction company with operations across North America. As part of their regular operations they treat roads with calcium chloride for dust control and various other purposes. This process involves the use of ball valves to control the flow of the solution. A number of their valves were damaged beyond repair and needed to be replaced. After making exhaustive attempts to source new valves through their traditional suppliers they were faced with a six month or greater lead-time for delivery. This put their operations in an untenable situation of potentially being shut down for a significant period of time due to a relatively inexpensive part. Ledcor approached Tempus 3D for a local manufacturing solution. Their requirements included upgrades to the performance of the part and a tight timeline for delivery. Key benefits Rapid manufacturing of end-use parts Improve part functionality in relation to the original injection-molded part Bypass supply chain restrictions with local manufacturing Minimize down time with local manufacturing Organization Ledcor Group Industry Diversified Construction and Industrial Services Hardware HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 3D Printer Technology Creaform Handyscan Material HP Nylon PA12 Software Solidworks, Fusion 360 Post Processing Bead blasted, dyed black, AMT Post Pro Vapor Smoothing Challenge Ledcor had two main deliverables for this project; to improve the design of the original ball valve to address historical weak points, and to deliver the final product as soon as possible. Ledcor wanted to have the part re-designed because of flaws that were causing damage to, and critical failure of, the original part. The main weak point in the original valve was the seam where the two injection molded parts were joined together. This seam was prone to holding water and then freezing during the cold Canadian winters, which resulted in the parts cracking and no longer holding a seal. The second major concern was to have the final part manufactured as quickly as possible, in order to minimize downtime of the affected vehicles. 3D printing was the manufacturing method of choice because of it's speed of manufactuing and low cost compared to injection molding or machining from metal. an added advantage is the ability to produce low-cost replacement parts within days of ordering. Solution The first step in re-designing the valve was to use the original valve as a template to upgrade the design to the Ledcor’s specifications. Tempus 3D collaborated with the Selkirk Innovates team at the Selkirk Technology Access Centre to reverse-engineer the internal mechanical parts and to design the exterior casing. A Creaform HandySCAN 3D scanner was used to image the original parts to ensure a proper fit was obtained. Parts were rendered in a 3D digital file using Fusion 360 design software, which was used to re-design the part to Ledcor's specifications. An initial prototype proof-of-concept was then 3D printed to ensure the design was complete and confirm fit and function. After the initial prototype was tested some minor enhancements were made to reduce complexity and strengthen the part. The final design was 3D printed by Tempus 3D using the HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 3D printer for it’s dimensional accuracy and quality. Nylon PA12 was selected as the material for its overall durability and resistance to water, chemicals and UV rays. The final part was sent to Cody Laursen and his team at Streamline for vapor smoothing using AMT Post Pro vapour smoothing technology. This process improves the overall material qualities of the part, including water- and chemical-resistance. The critical surfaces of the valve casings were machined to ensure an exact fit of the functional pieces, then the ball valve was assembled. The valves were tested both at room temperature as well as at freezing to ensure proper functionality. Once testing was complete the parts were shipped to Ledcor to be put through their paces in the real world. Result This whole process was completed in less than four weeks, and future parts can be delivered in less than two weeks. The overall cost to Ledcor was very affordable in relation to the cost of downtime, and was even comparable to purchasing from their original supplier. Conclusion Ledcor and Tempus continue to look for ways to integrate 3D printing into their operations to reduce their supply chain risk and improve part functionality and quality. With Tempus’ location in central British Columbia it is uniquely capable of serving markets across Canada with cost-effective overnight shipping and the ability to turn around rush orders in as little as 36 hours. We at Tempus feel this is just the beginning of what manufacturing will look like in the future; it will be more responsive, more custom and more local, allowing innovators across sectors to bring products to market quicker and in a more environmentally friendly way. Learn more about designing for 3D printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology Learn more about prototyping and manufacturing solutions with Tempus 3D Explore industrial plastics available through Tempus 3D Learn more about the advantages of industrial 3D printing with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology Explore more case studies and articles

Learn how CGX systems was able to simplify their supply chain, reduce time to market and improve their product design for their EEG headsets using MJF technology. Case study: CGX HEADSETS CGX uses Multi Jet Fusion technology to create innovative designs, simplify supply chain, and reduce time to market. "Over the past 2 years using HP MJF, we’ve noticed significant improvements in material stability, finishing techniques, and turnaround time. This explains why MJF is the focal point of our design process. We have several ground-breaking products in the R&D stage today that were simply unbuildable just 3 years ago.” Key bene fits Able to manufacture 95% of EEG headset parts with MJF technology. Labor hours cut from 30 hours to 15 hours. Significant savings in cost and lead times. Lighter, stronger, more robust parts. Able to quickly and easily modify and improve design of prototypes and end-use parts. The biocompatibility certification of the materials enables their use for medical devices. Organization CGX Systems Industry Medical Technology HP Multi Jet Fusion Materials HP PA12, HP PA11 Introduction CGX Systems is a medical innovation company which is a leader in designing and manufacturing dry electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets and dry electrodes. During the development and commercialization phase of the EEG technology their manufacturing processes were limiting the ability to design and manufacture high-quality products quickly and effectively. Challenge CGX designs and manufactures its own EEG devices which are used to monitor brain activity. As they transitioned from the design to the manufacturing process, the developers wanted a more efficient production method and better materials than the ones they were using at the time. Some of the parts were 3D printed with ABS filaments, but this resulted in quality control issues and the end result was not aesthetically pleasing. Other production methods they tried, including gravity casting and polyurethane, were too slow to keep up with demand. Injection molding was not an economical option as it was too expensive for the low-volume production runs and the highly specialized design. CGX needed a solution that could efficiently build low-volume, specialized systems using materials that were robust, biocompatible, and easy to manufacture. Solution CGX enlisted the help of a 3D printing service bureau with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology to provide a solution to their challenges. They started playing with multiple design iterations of functional prototypes to optimize their headset design, and were able to gain significant savings in cost and lead times over their previous prototyping and manufacturing processes. “We took all of our gravity cast parts and switched them to HP Multi Jet Fusion because there were a lot more possibilities with it... we even started making some of our molds out of HP MJF because it was consistent and it lasted longer than what we were using previously. We really tried to focus on using HP Multi Jet Fusion for all parts of our manufacturing." Result CGX now manufactures 95% of their headset parts with Multi Jet Fusion. Because the same technology is used for prototyping and manufacturing they can easily modify their products as they go. “We can... rapidly design because we’re not putting time and dollars into molds or tooling, so we’re able to modify our headset designs for continual improvement”. Another benefit is the robust and flexible nature of the materials, which can stand up to long-term wear and tear. “HP MJF has really helped. When you design correctly, it’s basically indestructible. That really helps us improve our overall design. Our first-generation EEG was heavier, less elegant, and could become uncomfortable for sensitive subjects. Our new designs are significantly more user friendly.” Other benefits CGX experienced with Multi Jet Fusion are speed and efficiency of production. Their labor hours were cut in half from 30 hours to 15 hours, while designing more sophisticated parts with more features than they could with other manufacturing technologies. “HP MJF changed our business. We are able to design and produce far more sophisticated devices while reducing design and manufacturing time by almost 50%. View the full case study by HP Learn more about HP Multi Jet Fusion https://www.tempus3d.com/hp-multi-jet-fusion Learn more about HP PA12 https://www.tempus3d.com/hp-nylon-pa12 How to design for Multi Jet Fusion https://www.tempus3d.com/hp-multi-jet-fusion-design-guide Data courtesy of HP and CGX. Photos courtesy of CGX.

Nylon PA12 is one of the most common plastics used in industrial 3D printing because of its balance of excellent material properties, fine detail, and low cost. Upload your CAD file for instant online quote and ordering. Nylon PA12 HP Multi Jet Fusion Nylon PA12 is a robust all-purpose 3D print material. It is popular for a wide range of applications because of it's balance of excellent material properties, fine detail and low cost. Minimum lead time 5 business days 3D printing technology HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 Dimensional accuracy +/- 0.3% with a lower limit of +/- 0.3 mm Maximum build size 380 x 285 x 380 mm (14.9" x 11.2" x 14.9") Get a quote HP Nylon PA12 Nylon PA12 is one of the most common plastics used in industrial 3D printing because of it's balance of excellent material properties, fine detail and low cost. This versatile plastic is flexible, has high impact resistance, is UV and water resistant, and is certified biocompatible. These qualities make it ideal for a wide range of uses in various industries including automotive, healthcare, consumer goods, and aerospace. This material is ideal for rapid prototyping and low-to-mid-range manufacturing. Key Benefits Produces strong, high-density parts with near-isometric properties on x-y and z axes. Designed to produce functional parts with fine detail and dimensional accuracy. Excellent chemical resistance to oils, greases, alphalitic hydrocarbons, and alkalies. Water- and air-tight without further treatment. UV resistant. Meets biocompatibility certifications including USP Class I-VI and US FDA guidance for Intact Skin Surface Devices. Applications Rapid prototyping and small- to medium-run manufacturing. Complex assemblies, housings, enclosures. Water- and air-tight applications. Snap fits and hinges. Industrial tooling and modeling. Bio-compatible parts. Plastic gears, screws, nuts, and bolts. Medical and dental devices, such as orthotics and dental molds. Design guidelines Max build volume 380 x 284 x 380 mm (15 x 11.2 x 15") Min wall thickness 0.6 mm (flexible), 2 mm (rigid) Connecting parts min 0.5 mm between part interface areas Moving parts min 0.7 mm between faces of printed assemblies Emboss / deboss min 0.5 mm Design considerations Thin and long parts, as well as large flat surfaces, may be prone to warping. Consider Nylon12 Glass Bead as an alternative material for these parts. Consider h ollowing or adding internal lattice structure to large solid pieces to improve accuracy and minimize cost. Hinges, sockets, and linked parts can be integrated into the design. View design guidelines Technical Specifications Accuracy +/- 0.3% (minimum of +/- 0.3 mm) Layer thickness 0.08 mm Density of part 1.01 g/cm3 Tensile modulus 1700 MPa (XY), 1800 MPa (Z) Tensile strength 48 MPa (XY), 48 MPa (Z) Elongation at break 20% (XY), 15% (Z) Heat deflection 175 C (@ 0.45 MPa), 95 C (@1.82 MPa) View full technical specifications Certificates & Data Sheets Multi Jet Fusion Nylon PA12 data sheet Biocompatibility Certificate Statement of Composition for Toy Applications UL 94 and UL 746A Certification PAHs Certificate RoHS/REACH Certificate Surface Finishes Raw (gray) After the part has been printed it has a powdery gray look and feel. This finish is best suited for functional prototypes and non-visible parts. Black Dye Parts are submerged in a hot dye bath containing dye pigment. This gives a smooth, consistent finish with no loss of dimensional accuracy. Cerakote Cerakote is a thin-film ceramic coating applied to 3D printed parts to improve looks and functionality. A variety of colors are available. Vapor Smoothing A chemical vapor is used to smooth the surface of the part. Vapor smoothing can also enhance material properties and water resistance. Explore Surface Finishes Photo Gallery Case Studies Spark Laser reduces time to market and development costs with Tempus 3D Read Case Study CGX uses Multi Jet Fusion technology to create innovative designs and reduce time to market Read Case Study Related Materials View all materials Material Selection Guide Not sure which material is the best fit for your project? Use our materials selection guide to compare the material properties and recommended uses for each. Learn More Get your parts into production today Request a quote

Learn why 3D printing in the manufacturing and design industry has seen an exceptional level of growth over the past several years, and how Tempus 3D can help join this manufacturing revolution. Benefits of Industrial 3D Printing with Tempus 3D 3D Printing for Manufacturing and Design The use of 3D printing in the manufacturing and design industry has seen an exceptional level of growth over the past several years. This is because of the rapid advancements in 3D printing processes and materials, resulting in the ability to cost-effectively manufacture end-use parts that meet or exceed the quality of parts produced by other manufacturing methods. 3D printing simplifies manufacturing services, allowing for a simple three step approach; design, print, install. In contrast, traditional manufacturing process, such as injection molding or CNC machining, require multiple steps to create a product or part, and are limited in their ability to manufacture parts with complex geometries. Because of these limitations traditional manufacturing processes can be costly, inefficient, and time-consuming, especially for prototyping or short-run manufacturing. The use of industrial 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) has proven to be an excellent complement to traditional manufacturing, with unique benefits and cost savings being realized by an increasing number of designers and manufacturers in Canada and across the world. The additive manufacturing process of 3D printing allows designers the ability to efficiently deliver an accurate and effective product using a sustainable process that mitigates risks, allows for creativity and freedom in design, and provides an opportunity for truly customizable product manufacturing. While industrial 3D printing services in Canada are still a small sector of the market, it is becoming increasingly accessible and has proven itself as a viable and effective manufacturing approach. Tempus 3D helps fill the manufacturing gap in Canada with advanced 3D printing technology specifically designed for small-to-medium run manufacturing of end-use parts. Our specialty is HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing which is specifically designed to manufacture affordable, high quality end-use plastic parts. Keep reading to learn more about how Tempus 3D can support your next affordable, custom 3D manufacturing design project for high-performance plastic parts, using industry-leading 3D print technology such as HP Multi Jet Fusion. 3D Printing Compared to Traditional Manufacturing Additive manufacturing has many advantages over traditional manufacturing methods, such as injection molding or subtractive manufacturing (such as CNC machining). Both of these manufacturing techniques include numerous steps and can limit the designer or manufacturer in terms of time, speed of manufacturing, design freedom, and/or cost. 3D printing eliminates these steps, leaving only design, printing, post-processing (if needed), and installing. The additive manufacturing process using 3D printing builds a product one layer at a time. This process typically fast, with low fixed setup costs, and can create more complex geometries than ‘traditional’ technologies, with an ever-expanding list of materials. It is used extensively in the engineering industry, particularly for prototyping and creating lightweight geometries. Injection molding has specific advantages and disadvantages compared to 3D printing, and manufacturers may choose one over the other depending on their needs. Injection moulding uses a mold that is filled with molten material that cools and hardens to produce parts and components. The initial mold is expensive to produce, and once the mold is made the design can not be changed. The requirement to be able to remove the part from the mold also means that the level of complexity is limited, often requiring multiple parts to be manufactured then assembled in a separate process. Compared to injection molding, 3D printing is best suited for quick turnaround times (1-2 weeks), low-to-mid-volume production runs (1000+ parts), designs with frequent changes, and complex part designs. They key difference between 3D printing and CNC machining is that 3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing, while CNC machining is subtractive. This means CNC machining starts with a block of material (called a blank), and cuts away material to create the finished part. To do this, cutters and spinning tools are used to shape the piece. CNC machining is popular for manufacturing small one-off jobs. It offers excellent repeatability, high accuracy and a wide range of materials and surface finishes. 3D printing is preferable in a number of circumstances, for example to manufacture highly complex parts, when fast turn-around times are needed, for low-volume production of end-use parts, and for materials which can not be easily machined, such as flexible TPU. The latest advancements in 3D printing technology have made additive manufacturing a viable alternative to traditional manufacturing methods, with significant advantages for many manufacturing applications in terms of speed of production, cost of manufacturing, ability to do rapid design changes, and freedom of design and innovation. For many years 3D printing has been considered an option best suited for prototype development, but not viable for large scale production, but as technology evolves the capability of 3D printing is continually expanding, positioning 3D printing as an innovative solution for functional prototyping and low-to-mid volume manufacturing of end-use plastic parts. Single Step Manufacturing Using 3D Printing When designing a product or a part, one of the biggest concerns for a designer is how to manufacture a part as efficiently as possible. Most parts require a large number of manufacturing steps to be produce by traditional technologies. Single-step manufacturing is important because it means a producer can eliminate the time consuming and expensive multistep processes used in traditional manufacturing. By using a single step additive manufacturing approach, the ability to create a prototype is drastically simplified, minimizing the investment, time, and risk required to prove a concept, part, or product. The single step manufacturing capability will also eliminate the costs associated with various trades required in traditional manufacturing and post-manufacturing assembly. Tempus 3D provides an alternative to traditional manufacturing by providing 3D printing technology that is specifically designed for the production environment. Our HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer uses powder-bed fusion technology to mass-produce affordable, high quality plastic parts comparable to injection molding, up to 10x faster than alternative 3D printing technologies. Tempus 3D provides and online quoting and ordering platform, where customers can get instant pricing for prototypes, custom parts, and small orders that need a rapid turnaround. Have a large order or special project? Upload your design and request a custom quote . 3D Printing with Multi Jet Fusion Technology At Tempus 3D we use an HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solution (MJF) to provide our customers with world-class additive manufacturing capability. This industry leading 3D printer allows Tempus 3D to produce custom parts, prototypes, and industrial-grade and end-use plastic components quickly and affordably. Developed by our partners at Hewlett Packard , the multi jet fusion printer uses powder-bed fusion 3D printing technology. This process uses an inkjet array to selectively apply fusing and detailing agents across a bed of nylon powder, which are then fused by heating elements into a solid layer. After each layer, powder is distributed on top of the bed and the process repeats until the parts are complete. This process efficiently produces functional parts with accurate and complex details, which can be used straight out of the printer or post-processed to improve appearance or functional qualities. HP Multi Jet Fusion has gained rapid traction and popularity in the manufacturing sector because it’s unique printing processes offer a combination of better quality, increased productivity, and economic advantages. 10 times faster: MJF technology prints entire surface areas, rather than one point at a time as with comparable technologies such as SLS or FDM . This means that it prints up to 10x faster than these technologies, making it a viable solution for low-to-mid-volume production of end-use parts. New Levels of Quality, Strength and Durability: Multi Jet Fusion allows for the printing of parts in ultra-thin layers (80 microns). This results in parts with low porosity, high density and, particularly, high resolution and dimensional accuracy. This also creates parts with excellent material properties including chemical resistance, water-and air-tightness, UV resistance, and biocompatibility. Break-through Economics: HP MJF technology unifies and integrates various steps of the 3D print process to reduce running time, cost, and waste to significantly improve 3D printing economics. One printer is capable of producing over 160,000 cubic cm per day for production environments. As with all 3D printing technologies, there is a set of recommendations to follow when designing for HP Multi Jet Fusion technology to ensure parts and features are printed to specification, as well as to leverage the full potential of the advanced printing processes. Reducing Manufacturing Risk with 3D Printing Part or product manufacturing has historically required a coordinated effort between multiple specialists to ensure that a product is accurately completed. With 3D printing we can eliminate the risks associated with hiring and managing numerous personnel and subject matter experts to design and create a single part. More than that, Tempus 3D can help you to build a proof of concept without the costs and time associated with creating molds and jigs. Our Canadian 3D printing services allow for freedom in design, by permitting designers to print a single prototype at a low cost without substantial overhead and time invested. Creating custom solutions is more practical than ever without having to recreate production tools. Additionally, using jet fusion 3D printing technology, Tempus 3D can ensure your prototype or product is particularly accurate, no matter the complexity of the product. There are numerous case studies that show the diverse benefits of using 3D printing from the prototyping-through-manufacturing process. The Environmental Benefits of 3D Printing As a 3D print company collaborating with other manufacturers in Canada and beyond, we have an important opportunity and responsibility towards the environment around us, as well as to the greater community we live in and collaborate with. We're helping move towards a sustainable future with our environmental policies and commitment to long-term sustainability. Tempus 3D is committed to protecting the environment by developing and implementing sustainable manufacturing approaches. Using jet fusion 3D printing, Tempus 3D is proud to provide our customers with a manufacturing approach that reduces waste, lowers carbon emissions and footprint, and that supports a circular economy. 3D printing reduces manufacturing waste through a paradigm shifting additive manufacturing approach. In contrast to the traditional subtractive manufacturing approach, this means that while the traditional approach to manufacturing requires beginning with a large piece of material and cutting away materials until you have your desired outcome, 3D printing starts with nothing and adds to the part layer by layer. This new approach results in far less waste reduce environmental impacts and as a bonus, saves money. Tempus 3D is pleased to help our customers lower their carbon footprint by eliminating convoluted manufacturing assembly lines and supply chains. By localizing our supply chain, we are reducing both the environmental impact and manufacturing risks associated with transportation and complex supply chains. Finally, Tempus 3D is hopeful that new technology will mean consumers will one day be able to print their parts, fix their products, and create longevity in products. 3D printing has the potential to dramatically decrease the number of products ending up in landfills. At Tempus, we take sustainability even further by investing in equipment that has minimal material waste even compared to other 3D printing technologies, such as the HP Multi Jet Fusion 5200 which has industry-leading material re-usability and have operator training and quality control processes that minimize the chance of parts rejected due to being out of specification. Design Freedom Using 3D Printing 3D printing frees designers and innovators from the realities and challenges of traditional manufacturing. In the past when a designer was making changes or innovations to a part or product, it would require high material and labour costs as jigs and moulds needed to be made or re-made based on the new specs. With 3D printing designers can efficiently make digital design changes, and with the push of a button, they can create a functional prototype without the creation of production tools. This freedom means that designers and innovators no longer must live in fear of the substantial start-up costs traditionally associated with manufacturing. No longer are designers held hostage by the necessity of welders or machinists to show proof of a concept. The advantages of 3D printing are visible in the early stages of development and custom products, including the ability to rapidly test and re-design prototypes, shorten the time to market for a new product, and save on material and labor costs. The subtractive manufacturing process places restrictions on designers and requires draft angles, undercuts, and tool accesses. With 3D printing, because a product is developed one layer at a time, these restrictions no longer apply. This means that designers can develop substantially more complex parts, without facing the costs and intricacies required through traditional manufacturing. Finally, 3D printing is the perfect fit for custom design and production. The current approach to additive design builds parts one at a time, meaning every part can be custom designed. The 3D printing approach provides designers with the freedom to design and produce single run products, that may otherwise be unfeasible because of the costs associated with manufacturing tools and labour. Applications for 3D Printing 3D printing has been welcomed across sectors including, automotive, aviation, industrial goods, consumer products, healthcare, and education. The automotive industry has embraced 3D printing for part production, jig-production, and spare parts and tools. In the product development phase, designers are able to cost-effectively go through several iterations before deciding on the final product and manufacture functional prototypes to test in real-world situations. Additionally, an increasing number of OEM’s have been using 3D printing to develop end-use parts in order to increase the performance of the parts, reduce part weight, create more complex part designs, and consolidate multiple parts into a single design. With 3D printing also allows manufacturers to personalize cars to meet customer requirements, or replace parts in older vehicles for which parts are no longer available. The aviation industry has seen significant cost savings with the adoption of additive manufacturing. By using 3D printing, they can create complex parts with a single design and 3D printing process. By saving materials through design and engineering, you can successfully produce lightweight structures with 40-60 % less weight. Additive manufacturing guarantees maximum flexibility in production planning. Modified components, upgrades and spare parts can be produced on demand, meaning that storage is not necessary. The industrial goods sector is increasingly turning to 3D printing to stay agile, responsive, and innovative. With increasing production costs and the digitisation of manufacturing, industrial OEMs must constantly evolve to maintain operational agility and keep costs down. With 3D printing, design changes that would have taken months using conventional manufacturing methods can be implemented much faster, oftentimes in under a week. Manufacturers can also reduce the time needed to produce parts, bypassing a time-consuming and costly tooling and assembly steps. Another advantage is that since 3D printing can produce physical parts from digital files in a matter of hours, companies can manufacturing parts on demand and eliminate the need to warehouse pre-manufactured parts. Consumer products that many use every day are already utilizing 3D printing technology. From sneakers to eyewear and jewelry, 3D printing is quickly shifting the traditional manufacturing approach for consumer goods. Additive manufacturing provides a cost-effective product development, testing and production. For example, during the product development stage 3D printing is used to develop and test multiple iterations and perform repetitive testing in a much shorter time frame. The ability to accelerate product development times also shortens the time-to-market for new products. Perhaps the biggest impact of 3D printing for consumer goods lies in the potential of creating personalised products, tailored to the requirements of consumers. The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing adopters of additive manufacturing. the adaptability of 3D printing makes it a logical choice. For example, medical device manufacturers have greater freedom in designing new products and can bring their products to market much faster. Patient specific devices such as prosthetics and orthotics can be quickly and affordably produced using a 3D scan of the patient’s body to create a digital template customized to the patient. Dental labs can use scans of the patient’s teeth to create dental products that perfectly match the patient’s anatomy. 3D printing is increasingly being integrated into education. Many elementary schools in Canada have incorporated 3D printing into their technology curriculum. Colleges and universities are integrating additive manufacturing and design into their curriculum to prepare students for a trades and technology sector that is experiencing rapid growth and demand. Tempus 3D is taking a role in supporting education in the additive manufacturing sector with it’s partnership with the Selkirk Technology Access Center . There are countless applications for 3D printing across sectors, as this technology catalyzes innovation, environmental progress, and custom solutions to complex challenges. Contact Tempus 3D Tempus 3D can help you join the manufacturing revolution enabled by industrial 3D printing. Tempus specializes in mass-producing high-quality, affordable prototypes and end-use plastic parts using cutting-edge technology designed for the production environment. With online quoting and a certified production team, we get your parts to you on time and spec. Contact us today to learn more about our custom and on demand 3D printing services near you.

Guaranteed quality plastic prototypes and production parts. Industry-leading commercial 3D printers. Upload a CAD file for online quote and ordering. 3D print service for British Columbia's innovators and manufacturers. HP Certified Multi Jet Fusion Digital Manufacturing Partner. Pause Guaranteed quality prototypes and production parts, using industry-leading additive manufacturing technology. Online quote and ordering. 3D Printing Services Get a Quote Success Stories MADE BY CANADIANS FOR CANADIANS Serving innovators across British Columbia Canada 3D printing Canadian additive manufacturing Vancouver Toronto Calgary 3D printed custom 3dprinting services 3D Printing Ontario Canada 3D printing canada 3D printer Canada Edmonton On-Demand Additive Manufacturing Tempus 3D delivers high-quality, precision 3D printing in Canada using cutting-edge technology designed for industrial production environments. From prototyping to mass production, we manufacture plastic and metal parts with complex geometries and high aesthetic demands. As a trusted provider of industrial 3D printing in Canada, our certified production team and streamlined online quoting system ensure your parts are delivered on-time and on-spec. Plastic 3D Printing High-performance industrial plastics suitable for rapid prototyping or low-to-mid volume production runs of end-use parts. Learn More Metal 3D Printing 3D print custom metal parts with excellent material properties and a high level of precision and durability. Learn More Proud to be a Certified HP Digital Manufacturing Partner Learn More Success Stories Learn how industrial 3D printing has helped Canada's innovators meet their product development goals. Vancouver-based Spark Laser was able to transition seamlessly from product development to on-demand manufacturing when releasing their new commercial laser cutter, with the help of Tempus 3D's industrial 3D printing service. Spark Laser - Commercial Laser Cutter Learn More Explore more success stories 3D Scanning Services Tempus 3D uses advanced 3D scanning technology and software to help you achieve precise results for your reverse engineering, metrology and computer aided inspection requirements. We can provide you with editable, feature-based CAD models, graphically-rich, communicative reports, or we can 3D print the final parts or prototypes for you once they are ready to build. Learn more Customer Care Here at Tempus we understand that taking care of our customers' unique needs is just as important as producing a quality product. That is why we back up our work with a quality assurance process, IP protection, and ongoing training and optimization. Guaranteed Quality Tempus 3D follows strict production processes and quality inspection procedures to ensure your parts always meet our tolerance and production standards. Certification Tempus 3D is certified by HP for Multi Jet Fusion to ensure parts are designed and produced optimally for this specific printing process. IP Protection Tempus 3D takes IP protection seriously, with data security protection measures and confidentiality agreements with staff and production partners. Join the Manufacturing Revolution with Tempus 3D Upload your CAD file for an online quote and start manufacturing today Get a quote

3D printing is often viewed as one of the key sustainable technologies, for a variety of reasons. The process facilitates more efficient designs and creates less waste. It can also reduce production costs and carbon dioxide emissions from the manuafcturing process, and lower the energy consumption over the lifecycle of a product. Sustainable 3D manufacturing - a new way of doing business and creating value. 3D printing as a sustainable manufacturing technology 3D printing is often viewed as one of the key sustainable technologies, for a variety of reasons ranging from lower waste, local production, and design optimization. Companies leveraging 3D printing are able to reduce their carbon footprint, use less energy, and create less waste and consume fewer raw materials. Design more efficiently 3D printing allows engineers to make parts that are unachievable with other manufacturing methods, allowing greater freedom of design. With new computer-aided design techniques such as topology or generative design, a part can be re-designed to be more lightweight, saving material costs. Multiple parts can be integrated into one design, which saves material costs plus the time and labor associated with assembly. In one case study completed at Northwestern University, researchers estimated that by replacing a number of routine components with topology optimized 3D-printed parts, overall aircraft weight could be reduced by 4 to 7 percent, with fuel consumption lowered by as much as 6.4 percent. another example is a redesign completed by GM on one of it's automotive components. GM consolidated eight different components of a seat belt bracket into one 3D printed part. This 3D printed seat bracket is 40% lighter and 20% stronger than the original part. GE estimates that the improvements made possible by 3D printing help to reduce overall weight by 5 percent and improve brake-specific fuel consumption by 1 percent. waste reduction Compared to traditional manufacturing technologies, 3D printing can reduce wasted materials, depending on which technology 3D printing is compared to. When compared to CNC machining , 3D printing has a significant advantage because of it's manufactuirng process. With a subtractive process like machining the material is cut away from a solid block to create a final part. In many cases, only a small percentage of the material goes into a final part, with the cut-away material often exceeding 50 percent. 3D printing builds parts layer-by-layer, which results in very little excess waste (depending on the process). 3D printing is also often compared to injection moulding. The molds used for injection molding can only be used for one specific design, meaning that each design change requires a new mold. For low-production manufacturing or prototyping this can lead to a great deal of material waste. Also, because injection molding is an expensive process to set up, manufacturers often mold more parts than necessary, keeping extra parts in inventory and eventually throwing away unused or obsolete parts. In contrast, 3D printing allows manufacturers to produce the exact amount of parts needed with a very short turnaround time (usually less than a week), which saves raw materials and storage space. Energy consumption Any industrial process requires energy to run, including 3D printing. From a sustainability standpoint, energy consumption rates directly correlate with environmental considerations, like CO2 emissions. 3D printing, particularly with metals, is by no means a low-energy technology. However, some studies show that it can be more energy-efficient than most conventional manufacturing processes. A study, conducted by metal 3D printer manufacturer, Digital Alloys, compared the energy consumption of different metal 3D printing technologies with CNC machining. At the manufacturing stage, energy consumption is indeed larger with metal 3D printing processes, particularly laser PBF. However, when considering different factors, like material waste, the possibility of material recycling and post-processing, it’s been shown that machining is the most energy-consuming process, due to the amount of material waste – (in Digital Alloys’ example it was more than 90 per cent). Manufacturing energy consumption of 1 kg of titanium aerospace part [Image credit: Digital Alloys] That said, not all agree that metal 3D printing is more energy-efficient than traditional technologies. Timothy Gutowski, head of MIT’s Environmentally Benign Manufacturing (EBM) research group, states that ‘additive processes tend to be more energy-intensive … because they’re slower. They use a lot of energy to produce the same amount of product. In fact, most 3D printing processes are something like seven orders of magnitude more energy-intensive than high-volume conventional manufacturing processes’, he explains in an interview with The Fabricator . The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. While 3D printing can be energy-intensive, choosing the application suitable for the technology and optimising its design will help to offset high energy consumption. It will also result in an overall energy-efficient system, where this part will be used. On the way towards sustainability With so many AM technologies out there, there’s no simple answer to the question of 3D printing’s sustainability. Some processes have the drawback of non-recyclable materials, while others are plagued by high energy consumption. What’s encouraging, however, is the fact that 3D printing tends to be more resource-saving, particularly compared to subtractive technologies. And it also opens the door for more efficient designs that contribute to lowering manufacturing and inventory requirements and, ultimately, help to reduce fuel consumption. Our verdict is that 3D printing is not entirely ‘green’ technology, but with the right approach, it can come closer to becoming an incredibly powerful sustainable manufacturing solution.

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Produce engineering-grade parts that combine excellent material properties of Nylon PA12 with full CMYK color. Ideal for functional prototypes or manufacturing end-use parts such as presentation models, consumer goods, jigs, fixtures, and medical devices. Manufactured with HP Multi Jet Fusion commercial 3D printing technology. Nylon PA12 Color HP Multi Jet Fusion HP 3D High Reusability CB PA12 Produce engineering-grade parts that combine excellent material properties of Nylon PA12 with full CMYK color. Ideal for functional prototypes or manufacturing end-use parts such as presentation models, consumer goods, jigs, fixtures, and medical devices. Full color Nylon 12 is 3D printed with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology and allows very complex geometries and thin features. Note: files must be in a .3mf format if full color is needed. Instant Quote Key Benefits Strong, high-density parts with near-isometric properties on x-y and z axes. Fine detail and dimensional accuracy. Excellent chemical resistance to oils, greases, alphalitic hydrocarbons, and alkalies. Meets biocompatibility certifications including ISO 10993 and US FDA guidance for Intact Skin Surface Devices. Applications Functional prototypes and end-use parts. Small- to medium-volume manufacturing. Complex assemblies and assembled parts. Sales, marketing and exhibition models. Bio-compatible and medical applications. Available Surface Finishes Natural (raw) finish After the part has been printed it is ready for end-use applications with no further processing. The part has a grainy look and feel. Vapor smoothing A chemical vapor is used to smooth the surface of the part. Smoothing will make the colors more vibrant and can also enhance material properties and water resistance. Learn more Design Guidelines Build volume Max build volume: Up to 332 x 190 x 248 mm (13.1" x 7.5" x 9.8") Min build volume: 4 x 4 x 1 m or x + y + z > 9mm (10 x 10 x 10 if vapor smoothed) The bounding box is based on the build volume of the 3D printer. Large parts may be re-oriented to fit the bounding box. For oversize parts, consider re-designing as a multi-part assembly. Wall thickness Supported wall thickness min: 0.4 mm (natural), 1.5 mm (smooth) Unsupported wall thickness min: 0.5 mm (natural), 1.5 mm (smooth) A supported wall is connected on at least 2 sides of the wall. Wires Supported wires min: 0.8 mm (natural), 1.5 mm (smooth) Unsupported wires min: 0.9 mm (natural), 1.5 mm (smooth) A wire is a feature that is thinner in its unconnected directions than its length. A supported wire is connected on at least 2 sides, and an unsupported wire is connected on only one side. Details Min embossed details: 0.2 mm high & wide (natural), 0.5 mm (smooth), 0.4 mm (text, logos, icons) Min engraved details: 0.2 mm deep & wide (natural), 0.4 mm (smooth), 0.4 mm (text, logos, icons) For text the ratio between width and depth should be 1:1. Sans-serif fonts provide better results. Escape holes Single escape hole diameter (min): 4.0 mm (natural), 10 mm (smooth) Multiple escape hole diameter (min): 2.0 mm (natural), 8.0 mm (smooth) Escape holes are used to empty support material from a hollow model. Having two escape holes at opposite ends of the model is optimal for removing the support material. For larger models or more complex geometries it is recommended and make the escape holes bigger or add more escape holes as needed. Clearance Min 0.6 mm (natural), 5.0 mm (smooth) Clearance is the space between two individual parts in a model. This is important to consider with moving parts, such as hinges and gears. Sprues 2 mm thick, attached on at least 2 places per part Sprues are wires that connect two or more parts. There should be at least two sprues connecting each part. You may need larger sprues for larger pieces. Interlocking and enclosed parts Natural: interlocking and enclosed parts are possible. Smooth: Interlocking and enclosed parts will most likely fuse together in the vapor smoothing process. Design considerations Save full-color files in .vmrl file format to capture both geometry and model color. Please note that .vmrl files are not currently recognized by our instant quoting system, these need to be provided as a separate file to the production team. Pleas e note that black and dark colors will not appear true to color due to limitations of the printing technology. Consider hollowing or adding internal lattice structure to large solid pieces to improve accuracy and minimize cost. Hinges, sockets, and linked parts can be integrated into the design. See our desig n guide for details. For guidance in creating a colorful 3D printed part in Solidworks showing a stress analysis, visit this article by our friends at Hawkridge Systems. View full desi gn guidelines Technical Specifications Accuracy Natural: +/- 0.38 mm (XY plane), +/- 0.5 mm in the z plane Smooth: +/- 0.45 mm (XY plane), +/- 0.52 mm in the z plane Layer thickness 0.08 mm Density 1.30 g/cm3 (0.016 lb/in3) Tensile modulus 1600 MPa (XY), 1700 MPa (Z) Tensile strength 46 MPa Elongation at break 20% (XY), 14% (Z) View full technical specifications Certifications & Data Sheets ISO 10993 and US FDA Intact Skin Surface Devices Statement Promotional Products Mass-produce fully customized promotional products, for yourself or your clients. Gallery Technology HP MJF Color 3D Printer Produce brilliant, full-color functional parts while maintaining optimal mechancial properties. Suitable for functional prototypes and end-use manufacturing. View PDF Related Materials View all materials Material Selection Guide Not sure which material is the best fit for your project? Use our materials selection guide to compare the material properties and recommended uses for each material. Learn More Get your parts into production today Request a quote