HP Adds Texture Library to 4D_Additive Software to Enable, Simplify Customized 3D Printing Surface Designs

3D printer manufacturer Hewlett Packard (HP) in cooperation with software provider CoreTechnologie has developed textures specifically for its 3D printer technology to enhance the look and feel of 3D printed components. With CoreTechnologie’s universal 3D printing software 4D_Additive, the HP texture library can be used directly after downloading the textures from the HP website. This enables CoreTechnologie’s tool to create appealing components with surface textures in just a few clicks.

The texture library is compliant with VDI 3400 guidelines for texture standards, offering optimized surface refinement for additive manufacturing (AM). With the enhanced textures module, the surfaces of 3D printed components can easily be visually and functionally enhanced.

Customized and Cost-Effective Surface Designs

The company says the textures module of 4D_Additive works with the exact surfaces of the CAD models to enable new design options for component surfaces as well as simple and cost-effective customization of products. HP printing technology enables the small series production of plastic parts with special surface patterns using the 3D printing process. Sophisticated components can be printed quickly and cost-effectively. The library has more than 100 surface patterns available for customization.

In the 3D printing software 4D_Additive, the desired surfaces of the CAD model are selected and a texture is chosen in order to project the pattern onto the component. Because of the exact description of the surfaces and boundary curves in the CAD model, this is much easier and more precise than with an STL model. The designer sets the size, alignment and height of the HP texture individually. The print model is created with a click of the mouse and sent seamlessly to the HP printer without having to use any other software. 

The interaction between the 4D_Additive software, HP textures and HP printing process creates 3D printed components with customized surface designs. The textures enable an appealing look and feel as well as technical advantages when generating certain coefficients of friction and other surface properties.

The HP textures and a guide to the suggested application of the pattern can be downloaded free of charge from the HP website and imported into the 4D_Additive textures module.