HP Multi Jet Fusion powers deep-sea neutrino telescope with 3D printed parts

The KM3NeT (Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope) project, operating off the coasts of France and Italy, relies on hundreds of deep-sea detectors to observe elusive neutrinos via the Cherenkov radiation they emit in seawater. Anchored to the seabed and held vertically by buoys, each detector line consists of pressure-resistant glass spheres linked by cables—some descending as deep as 3,400 meters.

Building and maintaining such infrastructure in the deep sea presents significant engineering challenges, particularly in securing and guiding sensitive electro-optical cables that are exposed to extreme pressure and ocean currents. To meet these demands, KM3NeT has incorporated over 16,000 3D-printed components manufactured using HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology, with approximately 200 parts per detection line currently deployed.

These printed elements—such as clips, guiders, and internal fiber supports—are designed to manage cable positioning while withstanding decades of pressure and chemical exposure, some submerged in transformer oil, others exposed directly to seawater. Components often feature wall thicknesses of less than one millimeter and are expected to operate without maintenance for 15 to 20 years. After nearly a decade in service, the project reports no failures among the MJF-printed parts.

HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology enables the production of isotropic, high-precision polymer parts through selective agent application across a powder bed, followed by thermal fusion. Unlike earlier generations of 3D printing focused primarily on prototyping, MJF supports functional end-use parts with predictable mechanical performance and high reproducibility, qualities critical for KM3NeT’s operational needs.

Additive manufacturing offered KM3NeT design flexibility to build custom geometries for complex routing and strain relief tasks, as well as a low-volume production pathway for one-off or location-specific components. With plans to expand the infrastructure to over 300 detection lines, the ability to quickly produce reliable, application-specific parts has proven essential.