HP Develops New Digital Textile Printers Using Additive Manufacturing

Dyeing, Printing, Processing

HP Develops New Digital Textile Printers Using Additive Manufacturing

HP, an American multinational IT company behind the range of award-winning Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printers, has launched a portfolio of digital textile printers for fast and precise colour matching. The new products show how additive manufacturing is increasingly used for end-use production. This new range of large-format 2D printers, named the HP Stitch S series, incorporates 3D printed parts. Using additive manufacturing has saved the company an estimated US$ 145,000 in tooling, design prototype modifications and final parts production. The three new printers in the textile range include the HP Stitch S300, the HP Stitch S500, and the HP Stitch S1000. "Décor and fashion application trends, on-demand production and personalisation are boosting digital print growth," said Santi Morera, Head of Graphics Solutions Business at HP. The digitally printed textiles market is experiencing double-digit annual growth forecast to reach US$ 5.5 billion by 2023. 3D printing for 2D innovations HP Multi Jet fusion technology uses Nylon 12 (PA 12), fusing and detailing agents, to create high precision 3D printed parts with quality surface finishes. This process was utilized for several end-use and prototyped parts for the HP Stitch S Series printers. One of the 3D printed parts includes a sensor pixar. This is located on the flat platform of the printer (platen) and moves the media, detecting the progress of each print job. HP reported savings of approximately $15,000 in tooling with MJF as it eliminated the need for molds. Furthermore, according to the company, as a result of additive manufacturing, HP has reduced the cost of other parts to 93% while accelerating development cycles and iterations of design, reducing the time from weeks to days. Such 3D printed components are lighter and more space efficient which has also decreased material consumption in the overall production of the HP Stitch S printers. HP is currently reviewing 3D printed parts for future qualification in order to improve other conventional components on its printers. MJF technology was also used in the development of some of HP's latest Latex printers. A 3D printed part created using HP's Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer. The HP Stitch S series The HP Stitch S series are dye-sublimation printers which use heat to transfer dye onto both papers and fabrics. The HP Stitch S300 and S500 printers, which are both 64-inch wide, hold a user-replaceable printhead for reduced down-times and service costs. It is designed for new-to-dye sublimation professionals, prototyping departments, and growing print providers. The third and largest in this portfolio, the HP Stitch S1000, has a width of 126 inches. This printer will be debuted at the European printing exhibition, FESPA 2019, next month. The HP Stitch S300 and S500 printer and new dye-sublimation paper are currently on display at ISA Sign Expo 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.