Material jetting is a process whereby a 3D structure can be manufactured using either a continuous jet or drop-on-demand jet. Material is transformed into a liquid state and actuated for a stream of material or droplets to be generated and ejected through a nozzle. A range of droplet sizes can be produced, depending on the nozzle’s shape and dimensions. The jetted material is then deposited in a
... [Show full abstract] controlled fashion onto target substrates, similar or dissimilar, to create 3D structures from computer-aided design (CAD) models. In this section, jetting mechanisms for both polymers and metals are explored, while shedding the light on their respective advantages and shortfalls. The characteristic properties of the parts fabricated using this family of techniques are discussed in view of the industrial context and the interest of the academic community. Examples for the applications that widely benefit from material jetting are provided with special attention to the prospect of using these technologies to achieve the ultimate goal of multi-material 3D printing for multi-functionality.