Print engine enables metal and composite additive manufacturing from one machine.
Markforged has unveiled the FX10 Metal Kit, a print engine that brings metal printing capability to the company’s FX10 3D printing. With this kit, the FX10 becomes the world’s first industrial 3D printer that can print both metal filaments and composites with continuous fiber reinforcement.
“Customers no longer have to choose between a metal and a composite printer,” said Shai Terem, CEO of Markforged in a press release. “Years of R&D investment and field experience have come together to provide an all-in-one solution for 3D printing to provide immediate return on investment once installed on a factory floor. The FX10 supercharges other equipment on the factory floor to be better utilized and run more efficiently, increasing productivity and reducing potential line down events.”
Released in November 2023 as a composite only printer, the FX10 was designed to be the most versatile tool on the factory floor. With its modular architecture, upgrades like the Metal Kit enable FX10 users to gain additional value from the machine after purchase.
Markforged also announced a new 316L stainless steel metal filament to be used with the FX10 Metal Kit. Users will also be able to print in 17-4PH, with additional support for other Markforged metal filaments in the future.
“We designed the FX10 to be a modular platform, so that we are able to release new innovations and upgrades without customers having to purchase a new printer every year,” said Terem. “Along with new software capabilities we release regularly, the FX10 Metal Kit is poised to provide continuously growing value on factory floors for years to come.”
The FX10 Metal Kit consists of a swappable print engine that includes a metal-specific print head, material feed tubes, routing back, and dual pre-extruders. An FX10 can be swapped between metal and composite as many times as needed, and the swap takes about 15 minutes.
Similar to the fifth-generation Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) print system in the FX10, the second-generation Metal FFF engine prints significantly faster than previous Markforged metal systems. FX10 combines faster print speed with a print volume twice as large as Markforged’s prior industrial metal printers.
Metal prints are built from the metal filament and a ceramic release filament. According to Markforged, the ceramic release is extruded as an interface between the part and supports for ease of separation and removal. Once metal prints are complete, they must be washed and sintered in Markforged’s Wash-1 and Sinter-2 solutions. Eiger, Markforged’s slicer and print management software, automates the process, including scaling parts to account for shrinkage during sinter.
Markforged will showcase the FX10 Metal Kit at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, Illinois from September 9-14 at booth 432305 where it will be printing in both continuous fiber reinforced composites and metal.
