Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is a 3D printing technology in which powder is built up layer by layer using fusion agents and detailing agents, followed by infrared heating. 3iD deliberately chose MJF because this technology offers more consistent results, better material recovery (80–85%), and more accurate edge sharpness than alternatives such as SLS or FDM.
Twenty years ago, Dave Vanhove was experimenting at home with polyjet technology and Fused Deposition Modeling. Later, Selective Laser Sintering was added. The garage filled up with machines and projects. At a certain point, a choice had to be made: keep doing everything, or focus on one technology and become truly good at it.
3iD chose the latter. Today, Multi Jet Fusion is the preferred method of 3D printing. No more FDM. No SLS. Just MJF. That focus is in no way a limitation. It is a deliberate strategy to deliver excellence, instead of being a little good at everything.
What Are SLS and FDM?
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a 3D printing technique in which a laser sinters powder point by point into an object. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) builds objects by depositing molten plastic layer by layer.
How Does Multi Jet Fusion Work Technically and What Makes It Unique?
Multi Jet Fusion is a 3D printing technology in which powder is applied layer by layer in the print bed. A print head applies two agents: the fusion agent determines where the material must melt, the detailing agent ensures sharper edges and more precise contours on the outer surfaces. Infrared lamps then heat the whole. The powder sinters where the agents have been applied. Layer by layer, the end result emerges in this way.
The technical distinction from alternatives lies in three key points:
- Voxel control: The difference from SLS lies mainly in that detailing agent. Where SLS sinters point by point with a laser, MJF works linearly and controls each voxel (the 3D equivalent of a pixel) individually. This delivers better edge sharpness and more precision. For industrial applications where dimensional stability is important, this makes the difference.
- Isotropic properties: the strength of MJF parts is identical in all directions. With SLS, mechanical properties can vary slightly depending on the direction of loading. For parts that must withstand forces from multiple angles, that isotropy is crucial.
Why Does MJF Score Better on Speed and Material Efficiency Than SLS?
The printing speed itself does not differ dramatically between MJF and SLS. Both build parts layer by layer. MJF wins, however, on post-processing: cooling and powder removal go somewhat faster, which ultimately yields an extra print cycle.
Material recovery also plays a role. With MJF, 80 to 85% of the unused powder can be recovered for a next print. With SLS, that percentage is between 30 and 50%. That higher recovery makes operators less hesitant to start with an incompletely filled print bed. Flexibility increases and waste decreases.
For series production, those differences are decisive. Two print cycles per day remain feasible. Material loss remains limited. Quality remains consistent, batch after batch after batch. That reliability is essential for clients who order hundreds or thousands of units.
Why Does 3iD Deliberately Not Choose FDM, Metal Printing, or Other Techniques?
3iD works exclusively with MJF, not because other techniques are bad, but because focus is more valuable than diversity. Building expertise in one technology yields better results than superficial knowledge of multiple methods. That choice demands discipline, and sometimes means saying 'no.'
The reasoning per alternative:
- FDM: accessible as a starting point, but unsuitable for industrial volumes. It requires a lot of post-processing work. Support structures must be removed, and the surface quality is less suited for parts under mechanical load.
- SLS: a good technology, but for 3iD's industrial target group, MJF offers more certainty — faster post-processing, better material recovery, and more consistent results.
- Metal printing and other techniques: if a project calls for titanium or aluminum parts, 3iD refers to partners who do print in metal. Honesty about what does and does not fit prevents disappointment.
Why Does 3ID Choose HP Machines?
The choice of HP is a choice for the technology that sits behind and inside those machines. MJF was developed by HP. The machines are reliable, and for series production that is essential. Downtime costs money and causes delays. HP's MJF printers deliver the consistency needed to produce week after week without surprises.
The material portfolio also plays a role. PA12 and PA11 are strong nylons that combine toughness with flexibility. TPU offers the shock absorption and pliability needed for other applications. That material choice covers the needs of most industrial clients.
What Does a Deliberate Focus Deliver for Industrial Clients?
Technology is not an end in itself. It is a means to solve problems. 3iD chose MJF because that technology offers the best answers to the questions our industrial clients ask: speed, reliability, scalable volumes, and consistent quality.
That focus means that 3iD cannot do everything. And that is fine. Better to be excellent in one technology than mediocre in five. That choice demands discipline. It means refusing projects that do not fit. It means investing in knowledge and expertise within one domain.
Twenty years ago it started with experimenting. Today everything runs on MJF. That evolution illustrates what focus delivers: in-depth knowledge, reliable processes, and satisfied clients who know what they can expect.
Wondering whether rapid prototyping via 3D printing is worthwhile for your project?
Contact 3iD at info@3idprinting.be or visit www.3idprinting.be
Frequently Asked Questions about MJF Technology
What is the difference between MJF and SLS?
The difference lies mainly in the detailing agent. Where SLS sinters point by point with a laser, MJF works linearly and controls each voxel individually. This delivers better edge sharpness and more precision.
How much material can be recovered with MJF?
With MJF, 80 to 85% of the unused powder can be recovered for a next print. With SLS, that percentage is between 30 and 50%.
Why no metal printing or other techniques?
Focus is more valuable than diversity. Building expertise in one technology yields better results than superficial knowledge of ten different methods.
What are the advantages of HP machines?
MJF was developed by HP. The machines are reliable, and for series production that is essential. Downtime costs money and causes delays.
Which materials can be printed?
PA12 and PA11 are strong nylons that combine toughness with flexibility. TPU offers the shock absorption and pliability needed for other applications.
