Markforged FX20 3D printer and ULTEM 9085 filament

The FX20 3D printer, from Markforged, can be used to produce industrial-strength end-use parts. The production-ready hardware prints the flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic material with ULTEM 9085 filament in combination with Markforged’s Continuous Fiber Reinforcement printing technology for high-strength, heat-resistant parts that can meet the needs of demanding industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, and oil and gas.

The company says the printer is precision-designed and sensor-driven to fabricate parts directly at the point of need with the simple click of a button. Large, fast and smart, the 3D printer pairs size and throughput to make large parts at high speeds. With high-temperature printing capabilities, the technology is useful for robust production applications.

The printer has a heated build chamber capable of maintaining up to a 200°C temperature and the capacity to print parts up to 525 x 400 x 400 mm in size. It 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.

Bringing together ULTEM 9085 filament with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement technology should help manufacturers move from augmenting manufacturing operations with composite 3D printing to replacing entire segments of the supply chain, by bringing in strong parts that solve demanding, end-use applications where needed. The combination should thus expand the advantages that manufacturers can realise through additive technology.