A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON

Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W vs. HP Jet Fusion 3D Series

Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W vs. HP Jet Fusion 4200
Looking for a versatile, professional 3D printer for producing strong, long-lasting parts? See why the Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W is the leading industrial-grade SLS 3D printing platform, chosen by more than half the SLS users in the world.
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Compare the Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W vs. HP Jet Fusion 3D Series

Printer

Formlabs

Fuse 1+ 30W

HP

Jet Fusion 3D Series

Price

Starting at $24,999

Complete automated setup starting from $59,083, service included. Build your quote in our online store and buy directly from Formlabs via sales or locally from a worldwide partner network.

Price Range is $270,000-$430,000 for the 4200 Series and $350,000-$500,000+ for the 5200 Series.
Complicated and opaque pricing, requires multiple quote requests and negotiation.

Technology

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
The Fuse 1+ 30W is the first benchtop industrial SLS 3D printer that offers high quality, compact footprint, and a complete, simplified workflow at a fraction of the cost of traditional industrial SLS systems.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
HP MJF 3D printers use an inkjet array that first deposits fusing, detailing, and coloring agents, and during another pass, exposes the powder bed to infrared energy which fuses the part’s layers together. While the process is different, the end result is similar to SLS.

Build Volume (W × D × H)

Fuse 1+ 30W: 
16.5 x 16.5 x 30 cm
6.5 x 6.5 x 11.8 in

Jet Fusion 5210/5200/4200:
38 x 28.4 x 38 cm
15 x 11.2 x 15 in

Materials

Six Validated Materials, Switching Possible

The Fuse 1+ 30W currently enables six high-performance materials with fine-tuned settings that are undergoing constant testing and improving through software updates to ensure peak performance. Formlabs not only meticulously tunes settings, but also updates the printing process to enable new materials. Switching materials is also possible without a few hours in most cases.

 

Available now: Nylon 12, Glass-Filled Nylon 12, Nylon 11, Carbon Fiber-Filled Nylon 11, TPU 90A and Polypropylene Powders. More materials in development.

 

Learn More About SLS Powders

Five Materials, Availability Dependent on the Printer
HP 5210/5200/4200 MJF printers can print with Nylon 12, Nylon 11, glass-filled Nylon 12, and TPU. The 5210/5200 series can also print with PP, while the 4200 series can print with TPA.

Requirements

Compact format and no special requirements
The Fuse 1+ 30W has a compact form and a low footprint. Inert gas environment is optional. The lower energy consumption means that it can run on standard AC power without requiring specialized infrastructure.

Large space and specialized infrastructure
HP MJF 3D printers are substantially larger and their ecosystem comes with a larger operating footprint. They require specialized power infrastructure and a dedicated computer for print setup. These represent additional costs and time to the customer that are not captured in the quote.

Ease of Use

Plug and print
From print setup to powder recovery, our easy-to-use hardware and software are designed to maximize your efficiency at every step of the process. Easy workflow empowers anyone at your company to use the system independently after a quick online or in-person training.

Highly complex
Multi-day setup and training with on-site installation required. The complex workflow and the steep learning curve mean that the system requires a skilled technician in-house to operate and maintain. 

Efficiency

Minimal waste
Parts in the Fuse 1+ 30W’s build chamber can be packed tightly together to maximize density. Thanks to the 30% powder refresh rate for all materials, you can print with up to 70% recycled powder for unlimited cycles. This means that you can print with minimal waste for tightly packed production builds.

Wasteful
The MJF process requires you to space parts widely apart to reduce the potential for thermal buildup. Recommended pack density is limited to roughly 8-10%, which means that you’ll need to throw away as much material as the amount that goes into the printed parts.

Print Speed

Same-Day Parts

The Fuse 1+ 30W is designed for nonstop throughput. It comes with a high-power laser, removable build chamber, and industry-leading cooldown times, allowing you to start new prints within 1-2 hours after the previous print has finished and minimize downtime. Enable same-day delivery for small prints or deliver a full build within 24 hours.

Optimized for Large Builds
The 5210/5200/4200 models offer high throughput, but the recommended cooldown time for MJF is 2x the print time, which means that the total time until parts are ready for post-processing is often substantially longer than with the Fuse 1+ 30W.

Post-processing

Fast and Automated

Go from printed to finished parts in as little as 15 minutes with the streamlined Fuse post-processing ecosystem. Fuse Sift is a safe, efficient powder recovery system that filters, measures, mixes, and stores powder, while Fuse Blast, a fully automated media blaster, delivers 100% hands-free part cleaning and polishing, for professional parts with minimal manual labor.

 

Learn More About Post-Processing

Expensive
HP’s post-processing station offers similar functionality, but at an 8x higher price. HP doesn't offer a media blasting solution, but MJF users can purchase a Fuse Blast to streamline their post-processing workflow.

Maintenance

Efficient
The Fuse 1+ 30W is designed for minimal upkeep. The system offers proactive maintenance alerts and a full-color touchscreen interface guides you through every step of printing and maintenance. The hopper-based powder delivery system enables completely contained powder loading. The self-regulating dosing system paired with adaptive dosing algorithms minimizes wasted powder in the print process.

Labor-Intensive
A less user-friendly workflow means that the operator has to carry out a long list of manual maintenance steps between each print.

Software

Free and Easy to Use
Formlabs' free print preparation software, PreForm®, makes it easy to set up a print in minutes and offers the industry-leading packing algorithm to maximize efficiency. Try it now. You can also use the online Dashboard to manage printers, materials, and teams. Available for Windows and Mac.

Paid and Complicated
HP software solutions offer similar features, but using 3rd party software is also recommended, for an additional $12,000. Print setup requires intensive fine tuning, which results in a steep learning curve and the need for a skilled operator to prepare prints.

Service

Premium Service

Up to five years of premier support service with direct phone and email support, customized remote training, on-site visits and repairs from local certified SLS experts, annual preventative checkups, and worry-free warranty — worldwide.

Expensive
HP offers multiple service tiers that offer similar benefits, but cost $35,000-$53,000 annually—enough to buy up to two complete Fuse 1 setup each year. 

Do you have more questions about the differences between these solutions? Download our white paper that compares traditional Formlabs Fuse Series and traditional large footprint powder bed fusion systems or talk to our experts directly.

Download the White Paper

Request a Free Sample 3D Print

See and feel Formlabs quality firsthand. We’ll ship a free sample part to your office.

Fuse 1 Sample Part

Build an Entire Factory for the Price of a Single HP 3D Printer

Build a factory with 10+ Fuse 1+ 30W printers for the price of a single HP 5210/5200/4200 system to scale your throughput, be able to print different materials simultaneously, and have peace of mind to avoid downtime.

Download the White Paper
Fuse 1 farm

Meet the Fuse 1+ 30W SLS Printer

FROM DESIGN TO FINISHED PART

An Innovative Workflow, Intuitive From Start To Finish

Fuse Ecosystem

PreForm

Efficient Print Packing for Optimal Part Density

Use our free print preparation software, PreForm, to import STL, OBJ, or 3MF files, orient models, estimate print times, and pack parts for optimized density, reducing print time and limiting waste.

Learn More

Fast, Simple

Optimize Prints in One Click

Use our free print preparation software, PreForm, to import 3MF, STL, or OBJ files, orient models, estimate print times and material usage, and monitor prints.

PreForm’s powerful 3D packing algorithm automatically arranges models to increase throughput and reduce material waste by optimizing the packing density.

Try PreForm

Manageable

Monitor and Manage Your Printer From Anywhere

Take control of your production across multiple locations and machines. Monitor the live video feed from the comfort of your desk and track print jobs and material flow with our cloud-based tools to ensure minimum downtime and maximum output.

Learn More About Dashboard

Powder Recovery

Consistent Results and Complete Design Freedom

Unsintered powder supports your parts during  printing so you can create complex, interconnecting designs with no need for support structures.

Fine-tuned settings and Formlabs’ patent-pending Surface Armor technology enable mechanical properties and surface quality and ensure professional, consistent results every time.

Read the Engineer's Report by 3DPI
Fuse 1 sample part

Consistent

Ready-to-Use Parts in 15 Minutes

Go from printed to professionally finished parts in as little as 15 minutes with a fully automated workflow.

Extract your parts from the unsintered powder in only 5 minutes with Fuse Sift, our all-in-one SLS powder management station, and reuse up to 80% used powder in your next print to minimize cost and eliminate waste.

Fuse Blast, our fully automated cleaning and polishing solution, delivers consumer-grade parts in as little as 10 minutes thanks to the pre-programmed routines.

Learn More About Post-Processing
post-processed SLS parts

Nonstop Throughput

Designed for 24/7 Uptime

Achieve faster-than-ever printing speeds to deliver prototypes and small series of end-use parts in under 24 hours.

Industry-leading rapid cooldown times allow you to start a new print within 75 minutes of your previous print job.

Enable continuous throughput by adding a second, removable build chamber and relying on the streamlined, automated post-processing workflow.

Man carrying a Fuse Series 3D printer build chamber
Part 3D printed in Nylon 12 Powder
Nylon 12 Powder

A Material That Does It All

Balancing strength and detail, Nylon 12 Powder is a highly capable material for both functional prototyping and end-use production of complex assemblies and durable parts with high environmental stability.

Part 3D printed in Nylon 11 Powder
Nylon 11 Powder

Ductile, Impact-Resistant

For highly ductile, robust parts, Nylon 11 Powder is our higher-performance nylon material for functional prototyping and small batch production. Compared to Nylon 12 Powder, our Nylon 11 Powder is more flexible, less brittle, and better at printing thin walls.

Part 3D printed in TPU 90A Powder
TPU 90A Powder

Tough Elastomer for Resilient, Skin-Safe Products

Balancing high elongation at break and superior tear strength, TPU 90A Powder enables you to 3D print flexible, skin-safe prototypes and end-use parts that withstand the demands of everyday use – all at a low cost per part thanks to a 20% refresh rate.

Part 3D printed in Nylon 12 GF Powder
Nylon 12 GF Powder

Stiff, Stable, Functional Parts

A glass-filled material with enhanced stiffness and thermal stability for demanding industrial environments. Choose Nylon 12 GF Powder to produce stiff functional prototypes or end-use parts for applications where structural rigidity and thermal stability are critical.

Part 3D printed in Nylon 11 CF Powder
Nylon 11 CF Powder

Carbon Fiber SLS, for Strong and Lightweight Parts

Get the best of nylon and carbon fiber with this highly stable, high-performance material, perfect for end-use applications that require both high stiffness and superior strength. Choose Nylon 11 CF Powder to produce lightweight rigid parts that can withstand repeated impact and remain stable over time, even at high temperatures.

Polypropylene Powder 3D Printed Part
Polypropylene Powder

Ductile, Lightweight, and Chemically Resistant

Use genuine polypropylene to produce works-like prototypes and durable end-use parts that are chemically resistant, weldable, and watertight. Polypropylene Powder offers high ductility without a nitrogen environment, enabling durable parts that allow for repeated bending and flexing.

Blurred out SLS powder cartridges
Stay Tuned

More Exciting New Materials Currently in Development

High Quality Parts, Quickly and Affordably

Reduce costs, iterate faster, and bring better experiences to market with our advanced 3D printing materials designed to deliver beautiful final parts for a wide range of applications.

Print Cost

$16

Print Time

22 hours

Capacity

3 bindings

Weekly Throughput

10 bindings

binding

100,000,000 Parts Printed With Formlabs Technology

Google
Sony
Tesla
Ford
Gilette
Harvard University

Compare Fuse Series Printers

Fuse 1+ 30W

Fuse 1+ 30W SLS 3D printer

High-Performance Benchtop SLS 3D Printer

Laser Type

30 Watt Fiber Laser

Unlocks Same-Day, In-House 3D Printing

Material Compatability

Complete Powder Range

Nylon 12, Nylon 11, Nylon 12 GF, Nylon 11 CF, Polypropylene, and TPU 90A Powders

Print Environment Options

Inert Gas and Air

Inert Gas Enhances Material Properties and Recyclability

Efficiency

Zero Waste Printing

Enabled by High Print Density and Material Recyclability

Fuse 1

Fuse 1 SLS 3D printer

Accessible Benchtop SLS 3D Printer

Laser Type

10 Watt Fiber Laser

Unlocks Reliable, In-House 3D Printing

Material Compatibility

Core Powder Range

Nylon 12, Nylon 11, Nylon 12 GF, and TPU 90A Powders

Print Environment Options

Air

One Option. Easy Setup.

Efficiency

Low Waste Printing

Enabled by High Print Density

Powder 3D Printer: Fuse 1+ 30W

A New Wave of Independent Manufacturing Starts Now

Rethink product development and take control of your own manufacturing. Configure your Fuse Series setup today.