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Markforged, creator of the Digital Forge platform, has released the FX20, a new point-of-need 3D printer that produces industrial-strength end use parts.
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The new production-ready hardware prints the flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic material with ULTEM 9085 filament in combination with Markforged’s proprietary Continuous Fiber Reinforcement printing technology to produce high-strength, heat resistant, and higher performance parts, designed to meet the needs of the aerospace, defence, automotive, and oil and gas industries.
Built to scale distributed global production, the FX20 is precision-designed and sensor-driven to deliver breakthrough accuracy, quality, and reliability to fabricate parts directly at the point-of-need.
As the biggest, fastest and smartest 3D printer in the Markforged line-up, the FX20 pairs size and throughput to make larger parts quickly. The new technology, alongside high-temperature printing capabilities, elevates the 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-degree temperature and the capacity to print parts up to 525mm x 400mm x 400mm in size.
Bringing together ULTEM 9085 filament with Markforged’s proprietary Continuous Fiber Reinforcement technology will help manufacturers move from augmenting manufacturing operations with composite 3D printing to replacing entire segments of the supply chain by bringing strong, accurate parts that solve demanding, end-use applications right where needed.
Sustainable energy solutions provider, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, plans to use the FX20 with existing Markforged composite materials and the new ULTEM 9085 filament with continuous fibre reinforcement to print stronger, higher volume parts according to Jeremy Haight, principal Engineer at Vestas.
“The Digital Forge has given Vestas a powerful platform to circumvent expensive, multi-step, and time-consuming conventional manufacturing methodology,” Haight said.
“When you factor in design iterations, these conventional parts are obsolete in a year or two. With the FX20 and ULTEM 9085, we will be able to design and manufacture larger, stronger parts, press a button and take that part right off the print bed to use it immediately with the confidence that it is very durable and robust.”
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.
Printing the ULTEM 9085 filament with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement expands the advantages manufacturers can realise through additive technology. Adding the FX20 to the Digital Forge platform addresses a broader set of needs and applications.
Moving composites toward robust production will unlock more functional parts, made of stronger materials of even more impressive size, with applications from the factory floor to flight, according to Shai Terem, president and CEO of Markforged.
"With the releases of the FX20 and Continuous Fiber Reinforced ULTEM 9085 filament, we’re now fulfilling that promise to manufacturers who previously, in the most demanding environments, were unable to experience the benefits of the Digital Forge and our unique materials,” Terem said.
“Markforged continues to build on our innovative legacy and lead the way in composite 3D printing — the future of manufacturing."
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