A new collaboration between developer of Multi-Jet Fusion HP and materials producer Legor will see the development of new applications in the fashion and jewelry industries.
Amid the wide range of solutions (alloys, powders, and plating solutions) that Legor provides, the company is acknowledged for its expertise in specialty precious metal materials for the jewelry and fashion accessories markets. As part of this collaboration, these precious metals will be processed by HP’s Metal Jet system.
As far back as we can recall, the Metal Jet 3D printer features a bed size of 430 x 320 x 200mm, 4x the nozzle redundancy and 2x the print bars, as well as significantly less binder by weight. It was meant to process stainless steel finished parts first, delivering isotropic properties that meet or exceed ASTM and MPIF Standards.
The collaboration will initially focus on enabling the production of functional stainless steel accessories for the jewelry and fashion markets. In parallel, the companies will implement a rigorous R&D program to parameterize and characterize bronze and silver powders and eventually gold powders, the core material in the precious sector. HP and Legor will work to optimize the printing and sintering parameters for these new materials and the surface finish results. Research will take place in the new Legor 3DMetalHub in Bressanvido, Italy, a center of excellence focused on accelerating additive manufacturing for the luxury industry, a press release explains.
Massimo Poliero, President & CEO of Legor Group SPA says, “producing metal powders and 3D metal objects is part of our DNA and we have always been collaborating with customers in the jewelry and fashion accessories world. The digital capabilities of HP Metal Jet provides an alternative method to the classic investment casting which requires the combustion of waxes or resins and the use of gypsum (calcium sulphate) as casting material, containing free breathable silica. It is our way to promote more robust and intentional sustainability into production processes.”
This collaboration will also open up new opportunities for Legor’s customers who will be able to explore the capabilities of HP’s Metal Jet systems.
“The combination of our breakthrough Metal Jet 3D printing platform with Legor’s materials expertise and customer-centric approach will disrupt the luxury jewelry and fashion industries. This is an exciting milestone as we prepare to make Metal Jet more broadly available to the market later this year”, Didier Deltort, President, HP Personalization & 3D Printing comments.
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