HP Innovation Journal Issue 03: Summer 2016 | Page 7
Rapid medical orthotic design and print
Flexibility Light weight
Color Strength
Texture
Designers can create customized, flexible, strong
and light 3D-printed products; Images courtesy of
Invent Medical
• U
nleashing the imagination of de-
signers in ways never anticipated.
HP’s Blended Reality vision
for 3D printing
But the end to end journey doesn’t end with
the printed product. Longer term, by em-
bedding tracing marks and sensors into the
product, we’ll also be able to track every step
of a product lifecycle from initial 3D object
process s eamlessly from physical to digital
and back to physical, creating what we at HP
call Blended Reality.
Imagine the impact this continuous im-
provement cycle could have on industries
and our lives. Artificial knees, hearing aids,
and heart valve replacements would be im-
proved and fine-tuned based on actual usage.
Airplane and auto parts could be modified
based on travel patterns and weather condi-
tions. Sports apparel and equipment could be
customized based on performance and use.
This type of transformation will allow us
to return to the artisan roots of yesteryear,
while pioneering a new wave of custom
manufacturing around the globe.
scan, to design, through production, quality
measurement, delivery, and real-world use.
This will provide in-lifecycle information to
improve the design and fabrication of future
parts. This moves the entire manufacturing
The true potential of 3D is realized when
one can develop products which cannot
be fabricated today.
• M
oving production locally to where
it makes the most sense, making
better use of resources (good for
the environment) and transporting
goods over less terrain (also good
for the environment).
• Building intelligence into the manufac-
turing process that enables products to
continually improve.
The transformation will allow inventors to
imagine and print objects which cannot be
designed and manufactured today.
The possibilities are endless to keep
reinventing.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/IJ3_01
Edward Davis is Strategic Director for
3D Ecosystems for HP. He has been
involved in successfully starting up
several new businesses for HP, before
leading the invention of HP’s Multi Jet
Fusion technology.
Doug Warner is Vice President,
Global Head of Strategy & Incubation
at HP. He began his career at HP as
the Director of Strategic Development,
Digital Imaging.
New HP Jet Fusion 3D printer
Issue 3 · Summer 2016 · Innovation Journal 7