Summary of "Environmental Controls for Multi Jet Fusion at Uptive Manufacturing"

Environmental Controls in Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing at Uptive Manufacturing

The video highlights the critical role of environmental controls in achieving consistent, high-quality results in Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing at Uptive Manufacturing, a contract manufacturer based in Libertyville, Illinois. It provides key technological and operational insights into how controlled environments contribute to repeatable production-scale additive manufacturing.

Environmental Variables in Additive Manufacturing

Beyond selecting the right machines and materials, controlling the ambient environment is essential for consistent and repeatable 3D printing at scale.

Facility Overview

Uptive Manufacturing offers a diverse range of manufacturing processes, including:

Precision CNC machining
Injection molding
Additive manufacturing, with a focus on 3D printing

Their 3D printing fleet includes:

3 Stratasys Foris 3D printers
17 Markforged printers
13 HP Multi Jet Fusion printers (the primary production workhorse)

Environmental Controls in the MJF Printer Room

To ensure optimal and consistent printing conditions, Uptive Manufacturing employs several environmental controls:

Temperature Control Maintained strictly between 70°F and 74°F year-round to avoid thermal fluctuations that could affect machines and materials.
Humidity Control Kept between 30% and 70% relative humidity using humidifiers and dehumidifiers. This ensures consistent material behavior despite seasonal changes in Illinois.
Air Distribution Perforated air diverters on the ceiling evenly distribute conditioned air, preventing hot or cold spots and ensuring uniform conditions across all printers.
Fume Extraction Implemented to protect operator health and prevent contamination of the controlled environment from process off-gassing.
Positive Air Pressure The room is maintained at positive air pressure to prevent infiltration of unconditioned air, protecting the quality and consistency of the build environment.

Additional Consistency Measures

In addition to environmental controls, Uptive Manufacturing maintains part quality year-round through:

Regular calibration of printers
Automation of certain processes
Continuous employee training

Further Resources

For deeper insights into Uptive Manufacturing’s approach to enterprise-scale 3D printing solutions, a full-length feature article is available on Additive Manufacturing Media’s website.

Main Speaker/Source: Stephanie Hendrickson, Additive Manufacturing Media, reporting from Uptive Manufacturing.