PolyJet 3D printing: jetting photopolymer

How PolyJet works

The print head works much like an inkjet printer's, except that instead of ink it jets clear and coloured photopolymers. A UV light source cures each layer straight away. The technology was developed by Objet, now part of Stratasys, and belongs to the family of methods known as material jetting. Supports are printed from a separate gel-like material, which is removed with pressurised water after printing.

How PolyJet differs from other methods

• Detail and surface. The layers are very thin and the surface is smooth, which is why PolyJet is used for samples, models and prototypes.
• Several materials in one part. You can mix hard and flexible material or several colours. In FDM, multicolour printing with a filament changer does this job, but without such a range of shades.
• Price. Both the machines and the materials are expensive, so it suits one-off parts where appearance matters.
• Durability. Photopolymers become brittle over time and change with exposure to light.

What this means for your order

We do not print PolyJet. We print with FDM in PLA and PETG. If you need something else, write to jakub.novak@boostello.com. We do not promise a print in advance, but we can advise.

Our parts have visible 0.2 mm layers and one colour, or at most four colours from the filament changer. If you need a photorealistic prototype with smooth colour transitions and a smooth surface, PolyJet is the better choice, and you should look for a specialist manufacturer. For functional parts and models where a perfect look is not the point, FDM in PLA or PETG is cheaper and faster.

When FDM can give you more colours too

We cannot replace the full-colour photorealism of PolyJet, but for simpler coloured models multicolour printing from a 3MF is enough. Send a 3MF with colours assigned for up to 4 materials. Colour changes add a wipe tower and time, so the print costs more than a single-colour one. You get clean blocks of colour, such as a logo or lettering in a different colour, not a smooth gradient like a photograph.