PolyJet printing jets tiny droplets of photopolymer from a print head and cures them immediately with ultraviolet light, in the manner of an inkjet printer building upward. Because the head can jet more than one material at once, it can produce a single part that is rigid in one region and rubbery in another, which no other accessible process does as directly.
How it works and what that gives
Multiple jetting heads lay down droplets of different photopolymers in the same layer, with a soluble or gel support material filling anything overhanging. Layers are extremely thin, so surfaces are smooth and fine detail resolves well. Digital blending of two base resins produces a spectrum of intermediate hardnesses, which is what makes graded stiffness possible in one part.
Multi material and colour
Overmoulded grips, gaskets moulded into a housing, flexible hinges within a rigid frame and anatomical models with different tissue stiffnesses are the classic uses. Colour capable machines add pigment jetting, producing full colour parts straight from the file, which is used heavily for surgical planning models, packaging concepts and design review.
Support removal is the practical constraint
Overhangs are supported by a gel or soluble material that has to be washed, water jetted or dissolved away. Fine internal channels and deep narrow features are difficult to clear, and delicate features can be damaged during removal. Design so support can escape, and expect the labour of support removal to appear in the quote.
Material limits
The photopolymers are not engineering thermoplastics. They are less tough, they creep, and many degrade in ultraviolet light over months. The rubbery materials are not silicone and have poorer compression set. So the process is best understood as a communication and validation tool of remarkable range, rather than a route to functional end use parts.
Questions people ask about polyjet 3d printing service
What is PolyJet printing?
Jetting droplets of photopolymer from a print head and curing them with ultraviolet light as they land, layer by layer, with multiple materials possible in one build.
Can it really print rigid and flexible together?
Yes, and blends between them, which is why it is used for overmoulded grips, integrated seals and anatomical models with graded stiffness.
Are PolyJet parts durable?
Not for long term functional use. The photopolymers creep, are less tough than moulded thermoplastics, and many degrade in ultraviolet light.
What is the main practical limitation?
Support removal. Gel or soluble support must be cleared from every overhang and internal feature, which is labour and can damage delicate details.