MJF 3D Printing
Functional nylon parts without support structures: covers, ducts, snap-fit housings and fixtures in HP PA12. Upload a model, get the price in seconds. From one part to a few hundred.
±0.3 mm
Typical accuracy, or ±0.3 % above 100 mm
2 mm
Recommended wall for shells
380 × 284 × 380
Build volume, mm (HP Jet Fusion 5200)
From 1 pc
No minimum order
What we print with MJF
Nylon parts that need to work, not just look right: thin walls, living hinges, internal channels and batches of ten to a few hundred.
Enclosures and covers
2 mm shells with bosses, clips and cable cut-outs; no support marks on the inside.
Ducts and manifolds
Curved air and fluid paths printed hollow, with escape holes for powder.
Snap-fit housings
PA12 flexes without cracking, so clips, latches and living hinges survive assembly.
Jigs and fixtures
Nests, drill guides and assembly aids that hold parts without marking them.
Brackets and clips
Cable guides, sensor mounts and clips, printed by the hundred in one build.
Small-batch end-use parts
Ten to a few hundred pieces of a finished nylon part, before tooling pays off.
MJF, SLS, FDM or CNC
MJF is the finest-grained nylon printing process. It is not a substitute for machined tolerances or billet properties.
| Process | Accuracy | Surface | Strength | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MJFHP PA12 | ±0.3 mmor ±0.3 % | Fine matte grain, 80 µm layers; gray, dyes black. | Tough nylonnear-isotropic | Functional nylon parts, thin walls, batches. |
| SLSPA12 | ±0.3 mmor ±0.3 % | Slightly rougher, white; dyes any color. | Tough nylon | White or colored nylon parts, larger single builds. |
| FDMABS · PETG · PA | ±0.5 mmvisible layers | Layer lines; support scars on overhangs. | Weak between layers | Fast, cheap form studies and large low-detail parts. |
| CNC machiningaluminum · plastics | ±0.025 mmmachined fits | Machined, Ra 0.8–1.6 µm as milled. | Full billet properties | Functional prototypes with fits, threads and specified stock. |
CNC remains the default for functional prototypes that need tight fits or certified material properties. MJF wins when the part is nylon anyway, has internal geometry a tool cannot reach, or is needed by the hundred.
Material
One powder, quoted instantly. PA12 covers most functional nylon parts; other MJF powders are quoted on request.
| Material | As printed | Finishes | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA12 nylonHP 3D High Reusability PA 12 | Natural graymatte, fine grain | Bead blast Dye black Vapor smoothingon request | Enclosures, ducts, snap fits, fixtures, small-batch end-use parts. |
PA12 is tough, chemically resistant and stable up to about 80 °C in service; the datasheet holds tensile, elongation and thermal values. Glass-bead-filled PA12, PA11 and TPU are available for MJF on request — ask in the quote notes. Full library: materials.
MJF cost against other processes
A single MJF part costs about 2.0× an FDM print of the same geometry; at 50 pieces it is the cheapest technology per part (0.9× FDM). Price follows powder volume and build height, not part complexity, and the whole bed prints in one job.
Cost per part by quantity — each technology against its own single part
100 % = one part on that technology. MJF and SLS fall to 32 % at 50 pieces and 22 % at 1,000 because a whole bed of parts prints in one job; FDM flattens at 55 % because each nozzle prints one part at a time.
| Technology | Quantity 1 | Quantity 50 | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDM | 1.0 | 1.0 | Cheapest material, one part per nozzle at a time — poor scaling past ~20 |
| SLA | 1.5 | 1.2 | Resin is dear, but a vat prints many parts per layer; wash + cure labour |
| MJFthis page | 2.0 | 0.9 | Full-bed nesting; the cheapest technology per part above ~30 pieces |
| SLS | 2.2 | 1.0 | Same nesting logic as MJF; slightly slower cool-down, similar per-part |
| PolyJet | 3.5 | 2.5 | Expensive resins and support material; priced for looks, not economy |
| DMLS / SLM (Al, SS) | 6.5 | 9.5 | Metal powder, slow builds, supports cut off by machining, stress relief; the per-part work barely amortises, so the gap to polymers widens at volume |
Index 1.0 = FDM at the same quantity. Quantity curves in the chart are per technology, relative to its own single part: MJF / SLS 1.00 → 0.55 → 0.32 → 0.25 → 0.22 at 1 / 10 / 50 / 250 / 1,000 pieces.
Not a quote. Relative figures for planning, shared with the 3D printing cost guide; your part gets its own number from the quote in seconds. Two schedules are shown side by side — the best-price schedule ships in about four weeks, the faster one sooner at a premium. Batches are priced per order, so upload the file at your quantity.
Tolerances and design limits
What an MJF order holds, and the limits to design to before uploading.
| Feature | Standard | Design note |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional accuracy | ±0.3 mm±0.3 % above 100 mm | Tight fits: print with 0.4 mm clearance or ream the hole after printing. |
| Layer thickness | 80 µm | Curved surfaces show a fine stepping; bead blasting evens it out. |
| Wall thickness | 2 mm shells0.5 mm minimum for short features | Long, thin walls warp during cooling; add ribs rather than thickness. |
| Holes and gaps | Ø1 mm holes0.5 mm gap between moving parts | Print assemblies in place when the gap clears 0.5 mm. |
| Hollow parts | Escape holes requiredtwo, Ø5 mm or larger | Trapped powder adds weight and cost; DFM flags closed volumes. |
| Embossed text | 0.5 mm high1 mm stroke | Recessed text reads better than raised on dyed parts. |
| Build volume | 380 × 284 × 380 mmHP Jet Fusion 5200 | Larger parts are split and bonded; the quote shows the joint. |
| Finishes | Bead blaststandard Dye black Vapor smoothingon request | Dye penetrates the surface only; it does not change dimensions. Finishing guide. |
When to choose something else
MJF is one of four ways we make a nylon part. Pick by tolerance, quantity and surface.
How to order
- Upload an STL or STEP file. Choose MJF, PA12, quantity and finish. The price appears in seconds.
- Check the DFM flags. Thin walls, closed volumes and undersized holes are marked on the model before you order.
- Order online. Parts are bead blasted, inspected and shipped tracked to your door.
Questions about MJF
How much does MJF 3D printing cost?
Price follows powder volume and build height, not complexity. A single MJF part costs about 2.0× the same part on FDM, but a batch of 50 falls to roughly 32 % of the single-part price, which makes MJF the cheapest technology per part at that quantity. Upload your file for the exact price at your quantity.
Can I order just one part?
Yes. There is no minimum order. Single parts and small batches ship on the best-price schedule or a faster one; both are shown in the quote.
How accurate are MJF parts?
±0.3 mm on dimensions up to 100 mm and ±0.3 % beyond, in the as-printed state. Holes print slightly undersized; design a 0.4 mm clearance for fits or ream after printing. For ±0.025 mm, machine the part instead.
How strong is MJF PA12?
PA12 is a tough engineering nylon with near-isotropic strength because the whole layer fuses at once. It survives snap fits and living hinges. It is not a replacement for machined aluminum or molded glass-filled nylon under sustained load or above about 80 °C.
What color are MJF parts?
Natural MJF PA12 is gray. Dyed black is the standard finish for a uniform color; the dye penetrates the surface without changing dimensions. White or bright colors are an SLS job.
What is the minimum wall thickness?
0.5 mm for short features and 2 mm for shells and structural walls. Long thin walls warp as the build cools; ribs stiffen a wall more cheaply than thickness.
How long does an MJF order take?
The best-price schedule delivers in about four weeks. The quote shows a faster schedule beside it for the same part; pick the one your timeline needs.
MJF or SLS?
Same PA12 family, same accuracy. MJF gives a finer gray surface and dyes black; SLS prints white powder that takes any color and suits larger single parts. Our SLS vs MJF guide covers the differences feature by feature.
Price your MJF part now
Upload the model, pick PA12 and the finish, and the price is on screen in seconds. No minimum order.
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