{"id":1467,"date":"2020-03-10T16:56:34","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T16:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3.126.155.61\/?p=1467"},"modified":"2025-06-04T13:36:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T05:36:21","slug":"mjf-vs-sls-3d-printing-technologies-compared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-wp.xometry.hk\/en\/mjf-vs-sls-3d-printing-technologies-compared\/","title":{"rendered":"MJF vs SLS: 3D Printing Technologies Compared"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Selective Laser Sintering<\/a> (SLS) and Multi Jet Fusion<\/a> (MJF) are the two most ubiquitous 3D printing technologies for polymers and elastomers. While they share some similarities, there are some differences between these technologies that make each one more suitable than the other in different situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3D Printing technologies description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Selective Laser Sintering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In SLS technology, a printer, using cross-sections of a 3D CAD model as a guide, deposits a layer of material powder on a building platform. A high-power CO2 laser sinters this layer according to the required shape from the CAD model. Another layer of material is deposited on the previous layer and sintered again. This process of layering and sintering is repeated until the part is formed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SLS
SLS 3D Printing process<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Multi Jet Fusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

MJF (Multi Jet Fusion), also known as HP MJF, is similar to SLS. However, in MJF, after each layer of powder is deposited and heated to a near sintering temperature, an inkjet array jets a liquid fusing agent on the layer. This fusing agent promotes the absorption of infrared rays. A detailing agent is also deposited along the exterior edges of the part. An infrared source then sinters everything together before a fresh layer of powder is deposited on the previous layer. These processes are repeated until the part is created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"MJF
HP Multi Jet Fusion (source: www.hp.com)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Similarities between SLS and HP MJF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The major similarities between the technologies are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • They are both powder fusion technologies involving the use of powdered material<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • They both require a heat source for sintering<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Neither of them requires object support during printing, thus allowing the construction of complex geometries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • They both work by layering<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • They work mainly with thermoplastics and elastomers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Differences between SLS and HP MJF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    SLS has been around for a much longer period, having been originally patented in 1997. This technology has gone through several advancements that enable it to cater for several materials such as PA 11, PA 12, PA 12 Glass-filled, PEBA 2301 3D, Alumide, TPU, etc. This offers the flexibility of choice for the SLS process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    MJF, on the other hand, is relatively new as it was made commercially available as recently as 2017. Therefore, this technology can work with only a few materials such as PA 12, PA 11, and TPU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n