Plastic Jet Printing is one of the most popular 3D printing technologies available. This is a solid-based prototyping process that involves extrusion plastic material layer by layer until the model is built and complete. A PJP system is made up of a build platform, control system and extrusion nozzle. The technology creates 3d prototypes by heating and extruding plastic material filament. The extrusion nozzle will move over build a platform in Y and X directions, drawing a cross section of the object onto the platform. After cooling and hardening, the thin plastic later binds instantly layering beneath. The base then lowers allowing the addition of next plastic layers.
Because this technology uses engineering grade thermoplastics, it is the most widely used and also affordable printing technology. Parts built from the process are durable and stronger and most are functional in testing applications. Using the technology, you can create your parts directly into polycarbonate, nylon, ABS and other materials. The thermoplastics used in PJP technology are tried and tested and are best for applications that call for toughness, environmental stability, and tolerance.
How it works
Printers running on PJP technology will basically build parts layer for layer from the bottom up through the heating and extruding of thermoplastic filament. But how simple is this process really?
Pre-processing – This is the first stage in the 3d printing technology. In the pre-processing stage the build preparation software positions and slices the CAD file and then calculates path through which to extrude thermoplastic and any other supporting material necessary for the creation.
Production – Once the preparation is over, the printer heats the material into a semi-liquid state before then depositing it in beads that are ultra-fine along the calculated extrusion path. For areas where buffering or support is needed hen printer will deposit a material that is removable as scaffolding.
Post-processing – It is the final stage in the PJP technology where the support material is broken away so you are left only with a ready to use part or object. The supportive material can easily be eliminated by dissolving in water or detergent.
The benefits
There are a number of reasons why PJP is a popular 3d printing technology even among professionals. Some of the benefits you stand to enjoy when you choose this technology include the following.
· The technology is simple to use, clean and very friendly even for the office setting
· The production grade thermoplastics supported by the technology are environmentally and mechanically stable
· PJP makes practical complex geometries and cavities that would otherwise prove problematic
· The technology is cost effective and fast making it great for fit and function testing, fixtures and jigs, small production runs and proving designs
· It offers rapid delivery of functional and dimensionally accurate prototypes and the parts are resistant to high temperatures, chemical degradation and mechanical stresses
· The process allows part making directly from 3D CAD to the thermoplastics without the need for tooling making it a cost effective, fast and reliable technology in all kinds of settings