How to Choose the Best Polyjet 3D Printing Services for High-Precision Prototyping 

Selecting the right polyjet 3d printing services for high-precision prototyping is not only about comparing the speed or price of the service. A qualified service must be able to provide dimensional precision, correct photopolymer materials, good feature resolution, good surface finish, reasonable delivery time, and technical expertise according to your prototype needs. All these can greatly influence the quality of your prototype, its verification and the time of development of the product.

Polyjet 3d printing is popular for making complex designs of various products, especially those requiring good quality prototypes. Nevertheless, the quality and utility of the prototype highly depends on the expertise of the company providing the services. If you are looking for the right polyjet printing service, then the following seven factors may help you make a decision.

What Should You Look for in Polyjet 3D Printing Services?

In reviewing polyjet 3d printing services, consider the following seven considerations: dimensional accuracy, material availability, surface quality, polyjet rapid prototype expertise, turnaround times, CAD and design assistance, and quality control. By reviewing these capabilities, you can identify a service capable of providing you with prototypes that meet your validation and development needs.

1. Check Polyjet Printing Accuracy and Detail Resolution

High level of accuracy and good detail resolution is very important for a prototype with high accuracy. The best 3d polyjet printing service should be able to provide you with a prototype having good details, geometry, thin walls and good detail resolution. Some questions that you should consider asking before choosing a service include:

• Accuracy of dimensions

• Resolution of details

• Minimum wall thickness

• Tolerance capacity

• Prototype inspection process

A skilled polyjet service provider knows how part orientation, geometry, supports and printing parameters influence prototype accuracy.

2. Evaluate the Available Polyjet Materials

Material selection is yet another important criterion in deciding on a polyjet printing service provider. There are many kinds of photopolymer material available for polyjet printing. According to your needs, you may require:

• Rigid material for structural/visual prototypes

• Flexible material for rubber-like parts

• Transparent material for visual prototypes

• Multi-material prototypes for multiple materials

• Prototypes with various hardness levels

An informed service provider will advise you on which material you can use according to the criteria by which you will test your prototype. It might well be that the material used for a visual prototype cannot be used for flexible prototypes.

3. Review Surface Finish and Post-Processing Capabilities

Surface smoothness is among the most significant benefits of polyjet 3d printing. Therefore, the process is appropriate for creating visual prototypes, ergonomic models, and product development.

However, the end result will be influenced by the removal of supports and post-processing. While choosing polyjet printing services, one should consider the capabilities of the service provider in this area. Post-processing includes such steps as:

• Supports removal

• Cleaning

• Surface finishing

• Polishing where needed

• Visual inspection preparation

Good surface quality is an important characteristic of the prototype that can make it more appropriate for presentations to customers.

4. Consider the Provider's Polyjet Rapid Prototyping Experience

Your technical experience will make a big difference when it comes to your prototypes. It is likely that a firm just running 3d printers will not be as helpful as an experienced prototype manufacturer. You should look for technical experience in:

• Product Development

• Engineering Prototypes

• Complex Geometry Parts

• Design Verification

• Prototype Cycles

If you have access to a seasoned polyjet company, they will point out any possible issues during manufacture and suggest part orientation, supports, and materials.

5. Confirm Lead Times and Prototype Capacity

This may involve having tight deadlines for this process. Late delivery of the prototype will mean that the whole design validation process is delayed.

To find the best possible polyjet printing company, you have to find out how long it takes for the company to build your prototype and whether they can manage:

• One prototype only

• Variations of your design

• Batches of prototypes 

• Reorder of your prototype 

The company must be able to provide you with a realistic project timeline.

6. Look for CAD Review and Design Support

The best polyjet 3d printing services don’t confine their activities just to printing. Assistance from a technical standpoint before printing can be very helpful for improving the quality of your prototypes. Inquire whether the service provider can inspect your CAD file for:

• Wall thickness

• Part orientation

• Supports

• Fine details

• Materials

Design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) advice will help you raise the chances of successful manufacture of your prototype.

7. Compare Quality Control and Communication

Quality control should also be a factor that influences your decision. A good polyjet service provider should always have some mechanism by which the quality of the prototype is checked and any problems identified.

Some of the questions you should be asking are those on prototype inspection, communication during the project, and design modification. Communication becomes crucial especially when the prototype has to undergo numerous iterations.

Why the Right Polyjet Printing Service Matters

It is important to choose the right polyjet printing provider because it could have a direct impact on prototype precision, development time, and total costs of a project. A cheap provider might lack the skills, materials knowledge, and expertise to produce accurate prototypes. A professional polyjet 3d printing provider should provide the following services:

• High-precision polyjet 3d printing

• Material selection assistance

• Reviewing CAD files and designs

• Additive manufacturing design assistance

• Post processing and surface finishing of prototypes

• Prototype evaluation and inspection

• Rapid iterations of prototypes

Frequently Asked Questions About Polyjet 3D Printing Services

1. What are Polyjet 3D Printing Services?

Polyjet 3d printing services are those printing services that provide highly detailed prototypes using photopolymer materials. The smooth surfaces and complex shapes can be achieved through this process. They are usually applied in product design and prototype development purposes.

2. How can I select Polyjet printing services?

Such issues as printing accuracy, availability of materials, surface finish, technical support, delivery time, quality control, and previous experience in developing prototypes in your group should be considered.

3. Is Polyjet rapid prototyping a good choice for accurate parts?

Yes. The polyjet rapid prototyping process is ideal for accurate parts that require attention to surface finishes and geometries.

4. What are some applications of Polyjet printing service solutions?

Polyjet printing service solutions are employed for product development, design validation, visual prototypes, ergonomics modeling, and engineering prototypes.

Choose the Right Polyjet 3D Printing Services for Your Prototype

A good polyjet 3D printing service should incorporate precision, right materials, detailed resolution, surface finishing, knowledge, and quick turnaround time. Through an assessment of these criteria, one will be able to choose a polyjet partner that will help achieve precise prototype making and design verification.

Are you looking for highly precise polyjet prototypes for product development or design verification? Connect with us today for more information about your CAD designs, prototypes, material needs, and deadlines.