Perhaps you have tried your hand at 3D printing and were disappointed by the quality. Or maybe you are looking for something stronger and more reliable than the MakerBot that came with your computer.
Markforged causes a stir in the industry with their innovative approach to composite additive manufacturing. They use continuous fiber reinforcing stands (Kevlar, HSHT fiberglass or carbon fiber) alongside nylon to produce strong, durable parts.
The Mark Two
The Mark Two is a workhorse that’s designed to take you from CAD to ready-to-use print in hours. It’s the only printer that offers composite printing with the option of adding fiber reinforcement to deliver unparalleled strength, stiffness and durability.
This works by ironing in continuous carbon or Kevlar stands with the Onyx filament – and it’s this unique capability that sets the Mark Two apart from other 3D printers. It allows you to go beyond functional prototyping with your choice of strong base and reinforcement materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass and HSHT fiberglass that give the part the strength it needs to do what it’s meant to do.
The printer is easy to use with a 4.3” color touchscreen interface that walks you through the different settings that will impact your printed part (layer height, infill use and the ability to add reinforcement). The printer also has a heated print bed to ensure strong first-layer adhesion.
The X7
It’s 2021 and you’ve outgrown your MakerBot Replicator or Stratasys machine, looking for something bigger, faster and stronger. Perhaps you saw a strong Onyx part at a tradeshow, or you’re just frustrated with the limitations of your current 3D printer and want to make a significant investment.
With the Markforged X7 you’ll get an industrial-grade printing system that uses the Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) process to print parts and functional prototypes that are as strong as machined aluminum. The X7’s unique range of materials includes Onyx, Onyx FR and Nylon with a few more base materials coming soon, including carbon fiber, Kevlar and HSHT fiberglass.
Like the Mark Two, this printer also uses the FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology where thermoplastic material is melted and extruded layer by layer until your print is complete. This is one of the most popular and well-known 3D printing technologies and provides a wide range of material options.
The Metal X
The Metal X is Markforged’s most powerful printer yet. It uses atomic diffusion additive manufacturing, or ADAM, to create parts out of powdered metal surrounded by plastic that is then sintered externally to solidify the part. This allows for geometries and details that cannot be produced with subtractive manufacturing methods.
Markforged has engineered their entire ecosystem of printers, materials and software to ensure your parts perform at a high level right out of the machine. The 4.3” touchscreen, cloud-connected Eiger software and automatic version control provide a seamless user experience. Features like material usage tracking, out-of-material detection and fleet management allow for better workflows and reduced waste.
The Markforged industrial series prints in a variety of metals, including Onyx FR, a self-extinguishing and flame-retardant nylon embedded with carbon fiber for exceptional strength, and Inconel 625, a high-temperature alloy for aerospace applications. With a large construction volume, excellent resolution and low build cost, the X is perfect for producing key components, prototyping, end-use parts and tooling for industrial use.
The FX20
The FX20 is the largest printer in Markforged’s fleet, offering a build volume that can accommodate multiple parts simultaneously. It prints high-temperature thermoplastics and continuous carbon fiber, allowing for parts that are strong and lightweight.
The ability to use carbon fiber makes this machine suitable for aerospace applications, where every gram counts. It can also print parts with finer details than the X7, which could lead to more precise products.
This model can also be used to replace traditional production parts, saving manufacturers time and money. It can also print a variety of materials, including ULTEM 9085. This material is certified for aerospace use, which makes the FX20 an ideal choice for manufacturing critical parts.
Like all Markforged machines, the FX20 uses Eiger, a cloud-based digital library and online job preparation system. This system features 2FA security, team administration and encryption, which should make it amenable to use in sensitive or critical environments. Combined with the ability to print continuously reinforced composites, this system can deliver the strength and reliability required in life-critical applications.
