HP to present polymer, metal and software innovations at Formnext | VoxelMatters - The heart of additive manufacturing

The HP 3D printing division is set to introduce a suite of technologies and partnerships at the upcoming Formnext 2024 conference, highlighting the company’s commitment to advancing 3D printing with innovations in polymer materials, metal solutions, and software applications. These new developments focus on streamlining production, enhancing sustainability, and fostering large-scale adoption across industries.

At Formnext 2024, HP continues to drive the expansion of cost-effective and sustainable polymer solutions in 3D printing, addressing the growing demand for high-quality, affordable parts across various industries. Among HP’s latest offerings is the HP 3D HR PA12 FR, developed in collaboration with Evonik.

This halogen-free, flame-retardant polymer exhibits a unique blend of durability and cost efficiency, with a reusability rate of 50%. Designed for smooth surface finishes, this material enables substantial cost savings per part while lowering CO₂ emissions, aligning with HP’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Produced using renewable energy sources, HP 3D HR PA12 FR brings both durability and an environmentally conscious approach to polymer-based 3D printing.

In addition to advancements in polymer materials, at Formnext 2024, HP is introducing software innovations that streamline production processes, reduce costs, and improve part quality. One of these innovations, the HP 3D Build Optimizer, is an automated tool that re-nests parts within builds, lowering production costs without sacrificing quality. By leveraging HP’s proprietary insights, the 3D Build Optimizer automates efficiency adjustments, offering companies a smart solution for enhanced part management.

HP has also extended its collaboration with Autodesk, offering customers the Autodesk Fusion Bundle, an all-in-one CAD/CAM and 3D build preparation solution. Fully compatible with HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) and Metal Jet technologies, this bundle allows for seamless part preparation, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and high precision in 3D printing projects. In addition, HP’s work with Materialise grants users access to an advanced lattice library, providing the latest latticing techniques to help designers and engineers optimize part structures for reduced weight, lower material usage, and increased durability.

Further enhancing production efficiency, HP has partnered with Fabrex, an AI-driven platform for build preparation, order management, and tracking. Fabrex is fully integrated with HP’s 3D printers, allowing for streamlined workflows and providing businesses with powerful tools for managing production from start to finish.

HP’s commitment to advancing metal 3D printing is evident with the introduction of new configurations for the Metal Jet S100 Platform, which aim to extend the versatility and scalability of metal additive manufacturing. Designed to cater to a broad range of production needs, the S100 Platform configurations allow businesses to produce metal parts with consistent quality, repeatability, and speed on a single platform, supporting everything from research and development to full-scale production. These configurations empower a wide array of users, including research centers, national laboratories, OEM centers of excellence, and startups, to scale their metal 3D printing production effectively.

In a strategic partnership with ArcelorMittal, a leader in sustainable steel, HP is pushing the boundaries of steel additive manufacturing. Through this collaboration, ArcelorMittal will leverage HP’s Metal Jet S100 technology to reduce production costs and expand material options. This partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities across industries, particularly in automotive manufacturing, while promoting sustainable practices in metal production.

At Formnext 2024, HP will announce initiatives and host events to foster collaboration and innovation, advancing the widespread adoption of 3D printing technology. The Leading Minds Consortium, set to launch on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at an event in partnership with Materialise, represents one of HP’s new initiatives. Focused on addressing the challenges of 3D printing adoption—such as high costs, expertise requirements, and complex system integration—the consortium aims to make 3D printing technology more accessible to industrial users, supporting large-scale implementation across new sectors.

Another collaboration to be unveiled at Formnext 2024 is HP’s partnership with Something Added, which aims to transform the sporting goods industry by establishing an additive manufacturing hub for footwear production. Something Added will convert the recently acquired D-factory into a center for footwear production using HP’s 3D printing technology. This partnership seeks to enable large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing, promoting innovation in hardware, materials, and design for the sporting goods market.