While it’s popular to view 3D printing as just a form of 2D printing (i.e., your ink-jet printer), the two are totally different technologies. Yes, ink-jet printers and printing is a large part of HP business.  But an ink-jet paper printer is not the same thing as a 3D printer / additive manufacturing printer with a Z axis tacked on. The idea that Hewlett-Packard is re-entering  the 3D printing business, or a term I like better–on-demand manufacturing business, is exciting, but I wonder just what the company will deliver.  (Remember, a couple of years ago, HP sold 3D printers made by Stratasys into the European market, with, at best, mixed results.)

These news stories are touting how CEO Meg Whitman is claiming that HP has solved two “problems” with today’s 3D printing technology–build speed and quality.  It will be interesting to see what they really have developed.

Build speed is a function of a number of variables, including motion-control components, material viscosity, and so on.  A question is just what additive manufacturing technology are they working with–extrusion, powder bed fusion, jetting, energy deposition, a new one?  I’m curious because the technology will affect the build speed.

As for quality, that is affected by the build material, among the above listed factors.  So have they come up with a new material?  Is it ink based? Will built parts be for form, fit, or function or some combination?

Or will HP’s new entrant be more like the former Z Corp. printers that used ink to color a powder bed material fused with a binder?

The media is excited, but there are too many questions to get too hyped up about this news.  Come June, we will see what answers Hewlett Packard can deliver.

Leslie Langnau
llangnau@wtwhmedia.com