What Is Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing and How Does It Work?

Introduction

Imagine a 3D printer that works like an inkjet printer—but instead of depositing ink on paper, it deposits liquid resin in precise patterns, curing each layer instantly with UV light. That is Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing (MJAM) . This technology produces parts with exceptional detail, smooth surfaces, and the ability to combine multiple materials in a single print. From highly detailed prototypes to custom medical devices, material jetting delivers precision that other additive methods struggle to match. This article explains what material jetting is, how it works, its key advantages and limitations, and where it fits in the manufacturing landscape.

What Is Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing?

Definition and Overview

Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing (MJAM) , also called Material Jetting 3D printing, builds objects by depositing liquid photopolymer resins through tiny nozzles onto a build platform. Each layer is immediately cured using ultraviolet (UV) light, solidifying the material before the next layer is applied.

Think of it as a high-precision inkjet printer for 3D objects. Where an inkjet printer moves back and forth depositing colored ink on paper, a material jetting printer moves in three dimensions, depositing liquid plastic that hardens instantly.

This process enables:

• Exceptional detail: Layer thickness as low as 16 microns
• Smooth surfaces: Minimal visible layering
• Multi-material printing: Different materials in the same part
• Color printing: Full-color prototypes possible

How It Differs from Other Additive Technologies

Material Jetting vs. FDM: FDM extrudes thermoplastic filament, leaving visible layer lines. Material Jetting produces smoother surfaces and finer details with less post-processing.

Material Jetting vs. SLA: Both use photopolymers cured by UV light. SLA cures with a laser in a vat of resin. Material Jetting jets resin through nozzles, enabling multiple materials and faster printing for some geometries.

Material Jetting vs. SLS: SLS produces strong functional parts from powder but has rougher surfaces. Material Jetting excels where appearance and detail matter more than raw strength.

How Does Material Jetting Work?

Step 1: Digital Model Preparation

The process starts with a digital 3D model created in CAD software. The model is then sliced into thin layers—typically 16 to 50 microns thick—using specialized slicing software. Each layer becomes a set of instructions for the printer: where to deposit material, how much, and what type.

For multi-material or color prints, the model includes information about which materials go where. A single part might combine rigid and flexible materials, or include colored sections.

Step 2: Material Deposition and Curing

The printer contains multiple print heads, similar to an inkjet printer, with dozens or hundreds of tiny nozzles. These nozzles jet liquid photopolymer resin onto the build platform in the pattern defined by the current layer.

Key characteristics of deposition:

• Drop size: Microscopic—typically 10–30 picoliters
• Placement accuracy: Within microns
• Multiple materials: Different resins can be jetted simultaneously
• Support material: A separate, removable material is jetted for overhangs

As soon as the resin is deposited, UV lamps mounted on the print head cure it instantly. This immediate curing prevents the material from flowing or mixing, preserving precise details.

Step 3: Layer-by-Layer Construction

After one layer is deposited and cured:

1. The build platform lowers by exactly one layer thickness
2. The print head passes again, depositing the next layer
3. New material bonds to the previously cured layer
4. The process repeats until the part is complete

Support structures are printed simultaneously from a different material—typically a wax-like or gel-like substance that can be removed later without damaging the part.

Step 4: Post-Processing

After printing, the part requires:

• Support removal: Supports are washed away with water or dissolved in a solution
• Cleaning: Any residual support material is removed
• Curing: Some parts may receive additional UV exposure for full properties
• Finishing: For most applications, no sanding or polishing is needed—the surface is already smooth

What Materials Can Be Used in Material Jetting?

Material Jetting supports a wide range of photopolymer resins with different properties:

Multi-Material Capability

One of Material Jetting's unique strengths is printing multiple materials in a single build. A single part can include:

• Rigid and flexible sections
• Opaque and transparent areas
• Different colors
• Materials with different Shore hardness values

Real-world example: A medical simulator might include rigid bone-like structures surrounded by soft, tissue-like material—all printed in one operation.

What Are the Key Advantages of Material Jetting?

Exceptional Precision and Detail

Material Jetting achieves layer thicknesses as low as 16 microns—finer than a human hair (about 70 microns). This enables:

• Smooth surfaces straight from the printer
• Sharp edges and fine features
• Text and logos readable without magnification
• Complex internal geometries

Surface finish: Parts often require no post-processing. The as-printed surface is ready for use or painting.

Multi-Material Printing

No other 3D printing technology offers the same multi-material capability. You can:

• Print rigid and flexible materials together
• Create living hinges and soft-grip areas in one part
• Produce color prototypes that look like production parts
• Combine transparent and opaque sections

Real-world example: A consumer electronics prototype might have a rigid body with soft, grippy buttons—printed in a single operation.

Smooth Surface Finish

Unlike FDM with visible layer lines or SLS with grainy surfaces, Material Jetting produces parts that look and feel injection-molded. This matters for:

• Visual prototypes presented to clients
• Parts where surface texture affects function
• Applications requiring hygiene (smooth surfaces clean easier)

Rapid Prototyping

For complex, detailed parts, Material Jetting is fast. Multiple parts can be arranged across the build platform and printed simultaneously. Turnaround from design to physical part can be hours rather than days.

Wide Material Range

With dozens of available resins, Material Jetting serves diverse applications:

• Engineering prototypes in rigid materials
• Medical models in biocompatible resins
• Jewelry patterns in castable resins
• Consumer goods in full color

What Are the Limitations?

Speed for Large Production Runs

Material Jetting is excellent for prototypes and small batches but slower than traditional methods for high volumes. For thousands of identical parts, injection molding remains faster and cheaper.

Material Limitations

While the material range is broad, it is still limited compared to the full spectrum of engineering materials. High-performance thermoplastics (PEEK, PEKK) and metals are not available in material jetting.

Cost

• Equipment: Industrial material jetting printers cost $50,000–$500,000+
• Materials: Resins are more expensive than FDM filaments—typically $100–$400 per liter
• Per-part cost: For complex, detailed parts, cost may be justified; for simple parts, it may be excessive

Support Structures

Overhangs require support material, which must be removed after printing. While removal is easier than with FDM (supports dissolve or wash away), it still adds post-processing time.

Build Size

Most material jetting printers have limited build volumes—typically under 500 mm in any dimension. Large parts may need to be printed in sections and assembled.

Where Is Material Jetting Used?

Prototyping and Design Verification

Material Jetting is ideal for rapid prototyping when detail and appearance matter:

• Consumer products: Prototypes that look and feel like production parts
• Electronics enclosures: Fit testing with accurate details
• Medical devices: Anatomical models for surgical planning
• Automotive: Detailed interior components for design review

Real-world example: A product design firm uses Material Jetting to create full-color prototypes of new consumer electronics. Clients see exactly what the final product will look like—colors, textures, and all.

Direct Digital Manufacturing

For low-volume, high-complexity parts, Material Jetting serves as a production technology:

• Custom medical devices: Patient-specific surgical guides, dental appliances
• Industrial components: Custom tooling, fixtures with complex geometries
• Aerospace: Ducting, brackets for specialized applications

Customization and Personalization

Material Jetting excels at creating unique, one-of-a-kind items:

• Custom hearing aids: Printed to fit individual ear canals
• Personalized eyewear: Frames matched to facial scans
• Bespoke jewelry: Intricate designs in castable resins
• Medical implants: Patient-specific, biocompatible devices

Real-world example: A hearing aid manufacturer uses Material Jetting to produce custom shells for each patient. The process is fast, accurate, and cost-effective for single units.

Dental and Medical Applications

Dentistry has embraced Material Jetting for its precision and biocompatible materials:

• Dental models: High-accuracy replicas for crown and bridge work
• Surgical guides: Patient-specific tools for implant placement
• Orthodontic appliances: Clear aligners and retainers
• Prosthetics: Custom devices for maxillofacial reconstruction

Jewelry and Art

Jewelry designers use castable resins to create intricate patterns for investment casting:

• Detailed wax patterns that capture every design element
• Complex geometries impossible to carve by hand
• One-of-a-kind pieces with unique features

How Does Material Jetting Compare to Other Technologies?

What Post-Processing Does Material Jetting Require?

Support Removal

Unlike SLS (which needs no supports) or FDM (supports break away), Material Jetting uses a separate support material that must be removed:

• Water jetting: Supports wash away with pressurized water
• Dissolving: Parts placed in solution dissolve supports
• Manual removal: For some geometries, supports are peeled away

Cleaning

After support removal, parts may need:

• Rinsing to remove any residue
• Drying thoroughly
• Inspecting for complete support removal

Curing

Some material jetting systems produce "green" parts that require additional UV curing to achieve full mechanical properties. This is typically done in a post-curing station for 10–30 minutes.

Finishing

For most applications, as-printed surfaces are ready to use. For special requirements:

• Painting: Adheres well to printed surfaces
• Coating: Clear coats for protection or appearance
• Light sanding: Rarely needed, but possible for critical surfaces

How Does Yigu Technology View Material Jetting?

As a non-standard plastic and metal products custom supplier, Yigu Technology offers Material Jetting as part of our advanced manufacturing capabilities. We use it where its unique strengths—detail, surface finish, multi-material capability—provide the most value.

Our Experience in Action

Medical device company: Needed patient-specific surgical guides with color-coded regions for different steps. Material Jetting produced them in biocompatible resin with clear color differentiation. Surgeons reported perfect fit and easier procedures.

Consumer electronics: A client required prototypes that looked exactly like production parts—colors, textures, and all. Material Jetting delivered full-color models that passed for injection-molded in client presentations.

Research institution: Needed anatomical models with different tissue types—rigid bone, flexible cartilage, soft organ tissue. Material Jetting printed them all in one build, with materials matched to each tissue's properties.

Our Capabilities

We maintain material jetting systems capable of:

• High-detail prints (16–50 micron layers)
• Multi-material and full-color printing
• Biocompatible materials for medical applications
• Castable resins for jewelry patterns

Quality Commitment

• Material traceability
• Process validation
• Inspection protocols
• Documentation for regulated industries

Conclusion

Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing occupies a unique space in the 3D printing landscape. It offers:

• Exceptional precision: Layers as thin as 16 microns
• Superior surface finish: Parts ready to use as-printed
• Multi-material capability: Rigid and flexible, opaque and transparent, all in one part
• Full-color printing: Prototypes that look like production parts
• Wide material range: From rigid engineering resins to biocompatible medical materials

Limitations exist—cost, build size, speed for high volumes. But for applications where detail, appearance, and material variety matter most, Material Jetting is unmatched.

Industries from medical to consumer goods rely on it for prototypes that look like production parts, custom devices that fit perfectly, and complex geometries that other methods cannot achieve.

For designers and engineers, understanding Material Jetting means adding a powerful tool to your manufacturing toolkit. When you need precision, smooth surfaces, and multi-material capability, Material Jetting delivers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What types of materials can be used in Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing?

Material Jetting supports various photopolymer resins with different properties:

• Rigid resins for durable parts
• Flexible resins for bending and stretching
• Biocompatible resins for medical applications
• High-temperature resins for heat exposure
• Transparent resins for clear parts
• Castable resins for investment casting
• Full-color resins for visual prototypes

Q2: How does Material Jetting compare to Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)?

Material Jetting and FDM differ fundamentally:

FDM extrudes thermoplastic filament through a heated nozzle. Parts have visible layer lines and may need post-processing. Materials are strong engineering thermoplastics. Lower cost.

Material Jetting jets liquid resin and cures it instantly with UV light. Parts have smooth surfaces and fine details straight from the printer. Multi-material and color possible. Higher cost.

Choose Material Jetting when detail and appearance matter. Choose FDM for larger parts, lower cost, or specific engineering materials.

Q3: What are the main applications of Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing?

Main applications include:

• Prototyping: High-detail visual prototypes, design verification
• Low-volume production: End-use parts with complex geometries
• Customization: Personalized medical devices, consumer goods
• Dental: Models, surgical guides, appliances
• Jewelry: Castable patterns for investment casting
• Medical: Anatomical models, surgical guides

Q4: How accurate is Material Jetting?

Material Jetting achieves dimensional accuracy of ±0.05–0.1 mm for most parts. Layer thickness as low as 16 microns captures extremely fine details. Accuracy depends on part geometry, material, and printer calibration.

Q5: Is Material Jetting suitable for functional parts?

Yes, with the right material choice. Engineering-grade resins provide good strength and durability. However, for high-stress applications requiring specific engineering thermoplastics or metals, other technologies may be more appropriate.

Q6: How much does Material Jetting cost?

Equipment: $50,000–$500,000+ for industrial systems. Materials: $100–$400 per liter. Per-part cost varies by size, complexity, and material. For complex, detailed parts, cost is often justified by quality and speed.

Q7: What post-processing do Material Jetting parts need?

Primary post-processing is support removal—supports are washed away with water or dissolved. Some parts may need additional UV curing for full properties. Surface finishing is rarely needed—parts come out smooth.

Contact Yigu Technology for Custom Manufacturing

Ready to explore Material Jetting Additive Manufacturing for your next project? At Yigu Technology, we combine material jetting expertise with broader manufacturing capabilities. Our team helps you select the right materials, optimize designs for printability, and deliver quality parts on schedule.

Visit our website to see our capabilities. Contact us today for a free consultation and quote. Let's bring your high-detail designs to life.