Unusual Machines adopts MJF for additive manufacturing of drone components.
Unusual Machines, a manufacturer of drone components, has adopted HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MFJ) technology for production applications, particularly first-person view (FPV) drones, which have high performance and durability requirements.
Unusual Machines partnered with HP 3D Printing to determine the best components for the introduction of the MJF process. The first commercial product using this technology at scale is Rotor Riot’s SkyLite platform. According to the company, the adoption of HP’s MJF technology will support domestic manufacturing efforts, with all MJF parts being produced by Forecast3D in the United States.
“In order for our products to remain competitively priced while moving production to the U.S., we have to use innovative production processes,” said Allan Evans, CEO of Unusual Machines in a press release. “The implementation of HP’s advanced 3D printing technology is not only helping us control costs, but allows us to create higher quality products capable of meeting the performance demands of FPV drones.”
Unusual Machines reportedly selected HP’s MJF because of its ability to manufacture multiple parts with high quality surface finishes simultaneously in one build. The company claims that extensive testing confirmed that thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials, available via HP’s 3D printing technology, are the optimal choice for drone production due to their resilience.
“At HP, we believe 3D printing is a catalyst for innovation, which is why we are excited to partner with Unusual Machines and bring Multi Jet Fusion technology to shape the future of drone manufacturing”, said Brian Ingold, Head of Go-to-Market Solutions, HP Personalization & 3D Printing in the same release. “Together, we are setting a new standard in drone production, performance, and quality assurance, which we are eager to see evolve and grow.”
Parts manufactured using HP’s MJF technology for the SkyLite drone are already available for purchase and all future SkyLite drones will be produced using these 3D printed components.
