What is Polyjet 3d printing Technology used For Prototyping

What is Polyjet Technology used in 3d Printing Machines

Polymer Jetting ( PolyJet) has proved to be one of the most accurate additive manufacturing technologies, in order to manufacture rapid tools.

What is PolyJet?

PolyJet is a 3D printing/additive manufacturing technology used for modeling, prototyping, and production applications. The technology offers exceptional detail, surface smoothness, and precision.

PolyJet builds parts with photopolymer resins. Photopolymers or photocurable materials come in many different compositions, from flexible to rigid, transparent to opaque. PolyJet is one of two 3D printing technologies to print color directly into a part and it is the only technology capable of printing multiple materials simultaneously, offering gradations from stiff to flexible in one part. Polyjet also has the capability of creating over molded parts, moving assemblies, and multiple material property components from over 350,000 digital material options.

What file format is used to process a part on a PolyJet system?
3D printing processes typically begin with a 3D CAD model that is then exported as an STL file. Other data inputs are possible through CT and MRI scans. There are also a variety of 3D scanners that can capture data and output STL files. The STL file is uploaded to the printer’s software program. From there, the user can hit the print button to grow the part or can use more advanced features for specialized parts.

What is the minimum thickness Stratasys PolyJet machines can print? (Also known as resolution)
The minimum layer thickness varies from 0.0006 inches to 0.0012 inches depending on material and machine. The user can choose a desired thickness based on the printer, the application, part intent, and material capabilities.

PolyJet 3D printing technology and materials – Working

The first Polyjet 3D printing system was launched by Objet Geometries Ltd. in 2000. Stratasys has acquired Objet Geometries Ltd. in 2012. The Polyjet 3D printing technique consists in building of parts, layer by layer, combining inkjet technology with photopolymerization
process. The main steps are the following: pre-processing, processing and post-processing. In the pre-processing step, the part orientation on the build tray is optimized using Objet Studio software. In the next step, droplets of resin are deposited, in 16 micron
layers, onto a built tray via an inkjet print head (Fig. ), each layer being cured by UV light.

The building tray moves down and the process continues, layer by layer, until the part is complete. Two different photopolymer materials are used, model and support. In the last step, using a water jet recycling station the support material is removed. The accuracy of parts
obtained by PolyJet technique is 0,1mm .

Benefits of PolyJet :

Create smooth, detailed prototypes that convey final-product aesthetics.
Produce accurate molds, jigs, fixtures and other manufacturing tools.
Achieve complex shapes, intricate details and delicate features.
Incorporate the widest variety of colors and materials into a single model for unbeatable efficiency.