Polyjet

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Overview: Polyjet provides the ability to print multi-material, highly accurate and tight tolerance parts. Parts can be black, white, transparent and have a range of softness from rubberlike to rigid in the same part.

Materials Used & Part Characteristics: A variety of UV curable polymers allow for simulation for a range of material substitutes. Polyjet has soft materials in Shore A hardness from 25 – 95, stiff but flexible materials similar in feel to polypropylene, and rigid materials with characteristics similar to ABS. Corners designed to be sharp may have a slight radius.

Where used: Polyjet is often used for manufacturing parts with gaskets, seals or need for soft grips combined with hard plastics. Combining colored and transparent resins also allow for illustration and creative design. Polyjet is also used for creating wax molds for investment castings.

The Polyjet Process

Watch the Polyjet Process

Manufacturing Process:
• Polyjet operates with a 3D print head suspended above the build platform
• Several nozzles are used to deposit tiny droplets of UV curable polymer as the printhead sweeps over the build platform and is followed by a UV curing lamp that cures and hardens the polymer almost instantly.
• The build platform is lowered and each layer of droplets is selectively deposited and cured by the print head and UV lamp.
• Where overhangs require support the Polyject deposits a wax substance to provide support during the build process that can be removed after build is completed.

Finishing: Polyjet parts are typically finished with a bead blast to provide a light matte texture and can be painted.

Tolerances: Approximately .005” + .001” per inch. Minimum free-standing wall is .030”. Tolerances for all processes are approximates as size, geometry, wall thickness, and material selection will impact manufacturing tolerances.