Feb.18, 2014
Be one of the first to 3D Print carbon fiber with the new Mark One. The Mark One 3D printer is now available for pre-order.
Designed to overcome the strength limitations of other 3D printed materials, the MarkForged Mark One 3D printer is the world's first 3D printer designed to print composite materials. Announced last month, the Mark One prints out objects using a far tougher material: carbon fiber. Carbon fiber has long been a material of choice for automotive and aerospace applications due to its light weight and extreme strength. But so far, there is no such a printer existing that can print in carbon fiber - until now.
The Mark One uses a new 3D printing process called Composite Filament Fabrication (CFF) in combination with traditional FFF. Parts made with CFF are reinforced by continuous strands of fibers embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. The parts printed on the Mark One are up to 20 times stiffer and 5 times stronger than similar parts 3D printed using ABS plastic. Their strength depends on the type, orientation, and volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers.
Now you can print parts, tooling, and fixtures with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than 6061-T6 Aluminum. According to the company, the Mark One can print to a maximum size of 305 x 160 x 160 mm (12 x 6.25 x 6.25 in).
The magic is in the print head, says MarkForged. CFF utilizes a thermoplastic matrix that solidifies immediately after extrusion. CFF parts are ready for use as soon as they have finished printing. No nasty chemicals, no post curing.
Aside from carbon fiber, the Mark One can also work with other composites, like fiberglass, nylon and PLA plastic.
The printer will be able to achieve a layer resolution of up to 100 microns for materials such as plastic and nylon. For composite materials such as carbon fiber, the resolution is 200 microns.
Those who have $5,000 to spare can now pre-order the Mark One, and it will begin shipping in the second half of 2014.
For $8,799, the company also offers a Mark One Developer Kit for pre-order. Your order will be moved to the front of the line, you will get twice the materials, 2 additional print beds, an extra 5 Composite Filament Fabrication (CFF) nozzles and 5 Fused Filament Fabrication nozzles.
Posted in 3D Printers
Maybe you also like:
- XFab 3D laser printer can print soft materials
- Magicfirm Europe launches open source mbot3D GRID II 3D printer
- UP! 3D printer driver now available on Windows 8.1
- New OWL NANO desktop SL 3D printer achieves 100 Nanometer resolution, says its creators
- $99 handheld 3Doodler announces retail plans and upcoming accessories
- 3D Systems announced full-color CubeJet & CeraJet 3D ceramic printer
- 3D printing gets sweeter with 3D Systems' ChefJet & full-color ChefJet Pro 3D printers
- MakerBot unveils three new 3D printers, new apps and an online store at CES 2014
- Giant Euclid 3D printing Robot
- 3D Systems revealed the third generation sub $1,000 Cube 3 3D printer
What is the max size of the printed parts?
rich wrote at 3/27/2014 3:33:25 PM:
also Not too sure its the first, knew a guy at uni who developed a composite printer some 10 years ago
rich wrote at 3/27/2014 3:24:29 PM:
also Not too sure its the first, knew a guy at uni who developed a composite printer some 10 years ago
Don Williams wrote at 2/21/2014 2:33:46 AM:
Boeing had 3D Carbon Fiber Printers for years. The 767, 777 and 787 have a composite leading edge and empennage also known as the tail or tail assembly. Also, current generation 737, 747 and 757 have Composite leading edge components. Granted their equipment was bit larger. Perhaps if you qualify the "Worlds First" claim with "commercially available" you might be right.
Ben wrote at 2/19/2014 6:39:22 PM:
@Jack.....there's a vase too! ;P btw you don't want to know the cost of that vase. their website says the Carbon fiber filament is $550/lb!!!! <--This should be the headline right there
boo wrote at 2/19/2014 6:10:12 PM:
Lol, no kiddin
Jack wrote at 2/19/2014 8:54:24 AM:
ok, but where ale the pictures of printed parts? I mean something more complicated that a flat plate :/
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
