Markforged next-generation fiber-reinforced 3D printer

Composites additive manufacturing specialist Markforged’s (Watertown, Mass., U.S.) FX20 printer is said to print flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic material with SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) ULTEM 9085 in combination with Markforged’s proprietary continuous fiber reinforcement printing technology for high-strength, heat-resistant and higher-performing parts to meet the needs of demanding aerospace, defense, automotive and oil/gas applications.

Markforged says the FX20 is the largest, fastest and smartest 3D printer it has produced. The printer is said to be precision-designed and sensor-driven to deliver high accuracy, quality and reliability to fabricate parts at the point of need.

The technology, alongside high-temperature printing capabilities, elevates Markforged’s Digital Forge platform from accessible industrial-strength composite manufacturing to robust production applications. The FX20 has a heated build chamber capable of maintaining up to a 200°C temperature and the capacity to print parts up to 525 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm in size. The FX20 is up to eight times faster than the default print settings on Markforged’s existing line of composite printers and prints nearly five times larger builds than its next largest printer, the X7.

In addition, the combinatin of ULTEM 9085 filament with Markforged’s proprietary continuous fiber reinforcement technology is said to help manufacturers move from the use of 3D printing just to augment existing manufacturing operations, to replacing entire segments of the supply chain.

The company says that Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Aarhus, Denmark) plans to use the FX20 with existing Markforged compostie materials and continuous fiber-reinforced ULTEM 9085 filament to print stronger, higher-volume parts.

Shai Terem, president and CEO of Markforged, says the FX20 enables robust production of lightweight, advanced composite parts that overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing.

The company originally announced in June its plans to debut its newest printer, the FX20, at Formnext in November 2021. The FX20 is expected to ship worldwide in the first half of 2022.