Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) of polymeric components: A review of process, properties and opportunities
M.R. Ashraf Khorasani, Eric MacDonald, David Downing, Amirhossein Ghasemi, Martin Leary, Jason Dash, Elmira Sharabian, Abduladheem Almalki, Milan Brandt, Stuart Bateman
Abstract
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is a high-speed Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) process that stands to revolutionize the production rate of polymeric Additive Manufacturing (AM). In this review, MJF operational concepts are explained and powder feedstock features including morphology, flowability, molecular weight and the selectively deposited liquid agents are discussed. The mechanical properties of MJF polymeric parts are compared with those from Partial-Liquid Powder Bed Fusion which has the trademark of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which shares common elements with MJF, namely powder bed fusion in the semi-solid state. The manufacturability of MJF with regards to surface quality and dimensional accuracy is presented, and finally, industrial applications are reported to demonstrate the capability of MJF for part production in diverse industrial applications. The discussion highlights the opportunity for MJF to fabricate polymeric components with mechanical properties comparable to SLS, with the additional benefit of one of the highest production rates and lowest energy requirements in the entire AM landscape.