{"id":3610,"date":"2026-10-29T18:30:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/?p=3610"},"modified":"2026-10-29T18:30:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:30:56","slug":"what-is-the-time-required-to-produce-a-small-simple-print-with-the-mjp-3d-printer-4a8c-0b6d09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.siskiyoucustommilling.net\/blog\/2026\/10\/29\/what-is-the-time-required-to-produce-a-small-simple-print-with-the-mjp-3d-printer-4a8c-0b6d09\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the time required to produce a small, simple print with the MJP 3D Printer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a supplier of industrial-grade Multi-Jet Printing (MJP) 3D printers, I get this question at least twice a week from small-scale manufacturers, prototypers, and even makers new to additive manufacturing: \u201cWhat is the time required to produce a small, simple print with the MJP 3D Printer?\u201d It\u2019s a fair question\u2014for anyone evaluating a 3D printer for low-volume, precision work, timelines directly tie to production schedules, prototype turnaround, and overall project viability. After four years of working with clients across automotive, medical device, and consumer goods sectors, I can break this down in terms that are both practical and rooted in how MJP technology actually works. MJP 3D Printer<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s clarify what \u201csmall, simple print\u201d means here, because that definition shapes every timeline. For our purposes, we\u2019re talking about a part no larger than a standard postcard (roughly 6 x 4 x 0.5 inches) with no complex internal features, overhangs steeper than 45 degrees, fine undercuts, or moving parts. A simple bracket, a test fit pin, a custom phone case insert, or a small gear for a prototype device all fit this description. These are the most common first jobs for new MJP users, so they\u2019re the best baseline.<\/p>\n

The biggest variable in that timeline isn\u2019t the part\u2019s physical size\u2014it\u2019s the layer thickness you choose for the print. MJP printers work by depositing tiny droplets of photopolymer resin, and layer thickness dictates how thin each slice of the part is. For small, simple parts, users almost always pick between two settings: 0.02 mm (800 microns, standard) and 0.01 mm (400 microns, high-resolution). The difference here is non-negotiable for speed. Standard layer thickness is the default for most routine jobs, as it balances speed and surface finish that\u2019s smooth enough for prototypes or functional parts. High-resolution is for jobs where tiny details matter, but it adds time\u2014lots of it.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s use a real example from a recent client to ground this. A small aerospace prototype shop reached out last month needing 10 lightweight mounting brackets for test fixtures. Each bracket was 3.2 x 2.1 x 0.3 inches, with a smooth outer surface and a few basic holes. They ran the job on our entry-level MJP 3D printer, the Maxen Pro 2, and we tracked every step. The first part, printed at 0.02 mm layer thickness, took 9 hours and 12 minutes. The second run, same exact file, same number of parts, just switched to 0.01 mm layer thickness, took 16 hours and 47 minutes. That\u2019s not just a minor increase\u2014doubling the resolution nearly doubles the print time for the same part.<\/p>\n

Wait, but what about the printer\u2019s build plate size? Our Maxen Pro 2 has a build volume of 10 x 8 x 8 inches, so the brackets can nest four to a plate easily. That\u2019s another key point: MJP technology lets you nest multiple small, simple parts on a single build plate, which cuts per-part time drastically. If the client had run each bracket one at a time at 0.02 mm, each would have taken 2 hours and 18 minutes, not 9 hours total for four. Nesting is where MJP shines for small jobs, because it doesn\u2019t require separating parts with support material for orientation the way FDM printers do. MJP\u2019s soluble support material is jetted directly with the part, so you can stack parts edge-to-edge on the plate without worrying about sticking, which maximizes build density.<\/p>\n

That brings me to support material, another often-overlooked factor that adds time. For a small, simple part, how much support do you actually need? For the mounting brackets, the only support required was a tiny ring around each of two 0.25 inch holes to keep resin from seeping through during printing. Total support material for four parts was 12 grams, which prints in about 45 minutes of the 9-hour total. For a part with overhangs, like a small hook protruding 0.5 inches from the main body, that support could add 1 to 2 hours to a 10-hour print. But for the definition of \u201csimple\u201d we\u2019re using, support is minimal.<\/p>\n

Now, what about post-processing? A lot of people confuse print time with total time to get a usable part, and that\u2019s where many new MJP users run into delays. For that same set of four brackets, after the print finished, the parts had to be washed to remove excess uncured resin, then cured in a UV chamber. Washing took 15 minutes per batch, and curing took 30 minutes per part. That adds about 2 hours of post-processing time\u2014so total time from starting the print to handing off finished parts was about 11 hours. If the job was one-off, not a batch of four, the post-processing time stays the same, so total time per part jumps to about 4 hours. That\u2019s a critical detail: print time is just the time the printer is actively building, not the time until the part is ready to use.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s put this into a clear baseline to avoid confusion. For a single small, simple part (6 x 4 x 0.5 inches, minimal support, no fine detail):<\/p>\n