Next week, at the annual AM Forum Conference in Berlin, HP Inc. will be showcasing 3D printed parts using a new material called PA 12 S. This material, developed in collaboration with Arkema, is specifically designed for HP’s industrial 3D polymer solutions. Its main advantages are its excellent surface aesthetics and cost reduction for customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solutions. The PA 12 S material will soon be made available for the Jet Fusion 5600 Series, expanding its applications across HP’s range of polymer 3D printing solutions.
Francois Minec, the global head of 3D polymers at HP Inc., stated, “From design to parts production and post-processing, HP is committed to providing a wide range of innovative materials and programs for more sustainable production. We are thrilled to once again join our colleagues across the industry at AMUG as we collectively work towards accelerating the scale and adoption of additive manufacturing.”
With the introduction of PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema, HP can reduce variable costs per part and significantly lower the total cost of ownership. By combining this material with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, manufacturers can optimize the production process by streamlining post-processing steps. This saves time and further reduces costs while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards.
HP has a reputation for industry-leading material reusability ratios, and the new PA 12 S material is no exception. It delivers the highest reusability ratio among other PA 12 materials in the market, with up to 85% reusability. This minimizes waste and contributes to a more sustainable manufacturing process.
In addition to PA 12 S, HP has collaborated with leading materials companies to develop and deliver a range of polymer materials, including thermoplastics (such as HP 3D HR PA 11, HP 3D HR PA 12 S enabled by Arkema, HP 3D HR PA 12 W, HP 3D HR PA 12 GB, and HP 3D HR PP enabled by BASF) and elastomers (such as BASF Ultrasint TPU01, ESTANE 3D TPU M95A, ESTANE 3D TPU M88A, and HP 3D HR TPA enabled by Evonik). Customers from various industries, including automotive, consumer, healthcare, and industrial, are utilizing these innovative materials, along with HP’s comprehensive offering of professional services, design capabilities, software, hardware, automation, and post-processing solutions, to achieve more sustainable production.
Arkema already offers several powders for polymer PBF processes (including SLS, MJF, HSS and SAF) including Rilsan PA11, Kepstan PEKK, Pebax Elastomers, and Orgasol PA12. The Orgasol Invent PA12 powders are tailored for the specific demands of powder bed fusion technologies, to produce parts that not only have a high-quality look and feel but also exhibit color durability, making it a prime choice for applications where aesthetic appeal is crucial. A significant advantage of using Orgasol Invent PA12 in powder bed fusion processes is its very low refresh rate, which contributes to lowering printing costs through the high recyclability of the powder.
Accel Digital Solutions, a new startup providing services in the additive manufacturing sector, has embraced the new PA 12 S material. Brandon Teets, the founder, cites HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology’s cutting-edge capabilities. “HP’s Multi Jet Fusion equipment delivers unmatched precision, speed, and quality for both prototyping and production of parts and finished goods. This technology enables us to provide substantial value through time and cost savings, benefiting industries such as automotive, healthcare, sports, and more. After receiving test samples of the new HR PA 12 S material, we found the print quality and surface finish were markedly better.”
Grégoire Mercusor, Additive Manufacturing Materials Strategy Leader at French retail company Decathlon, highlighted the material’s impact on reducing part roughness, likening its effect to hours of tribofinishing on current materials. “The high refresh rate of up to 85% and the attractive price point of PA 12 S are poised to unlock new project opportunities,” he said.
Quentin Bertucchi, Applications Engineer at French 3D printing service provider Erpro Group, praised PA 12 S, stating, “This PA 12 S material offers an unprecedented combination of surface finish and productivity, giving us new production opportunities when it comes to aesthetic parts. The smooth surface is an ideal base for further post-processing steps, sublimating the final result, and lowering the cost of providing complex smooth parts.”
“Working with HP, as a beta customer for PA 12 S, is an important element in our strategy to make additive manufacturing more accessible through an extended industrial grade materials offering,” says Pieter Vos, Marketing & Product Director, the Belgium-based and gobally leading 3D printing service provider Materialise. “PA 12 S has proven its processability, delivering consistent parts with a great surface quality. We look forward to exploring application opportunities with our customers.
