08-16-2017: Markforged introduced the X3 and X5 industrial 3D printers
The new 3D printers created the Industrial Series
On August 16, 2017, Markforged released two new 3D printers—the X3 and X5, strengthening its industrial offering. Along with the X7 model (formerly known as the Mark X), they created a new product line—the "Industrial Series." Markforged claimed at the time of release that the new X3 and X5 printers introduced price points that enabled customers to print stronger, larger, and lighter parts.
The X3 3D printer supported Onyx—a high-temperature resistant carbon fiber-filled nylon, which offered high material strength and stiffness. It was priced at $36,990, with a build area of 330 × 270 × 200 mm, and was dedicated to producing engineering-grade parts. The X5 also supported Onyx but had the ability to reinforce it with a strand of continuous fiberglass. It was available for $49,900.
These new platforms joined the X7, which was priced at $69,000. The X7 was at that time Markforged’s flagship Continuous Carbon Fibre (CCF) industrial 3D printer platform for producing fiber-reinforced polymers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.
The X3 was a model designed for 3D printing exclusively with carbon fiber-reinforced nylon (Onyx). It was the first model in the X series that allowed companies to produce durable industrial parts at an affordable price. Thanks to the use of Onyx, parts produced on the X3 were significantly stronger than those printed from traditional plastics.
The X5 was an evolution of the X3 model, which additionally allowed the printed parts to be reinforced with fiberglass. As a result, parts produced on the X5 were even more durable, while maintaining high precision and quality.
In 2020, the company introduced the FX20 model, a significantly larger and more advanced version of its 3D printers. The FX20 was capable of printing with fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials such as PEEK or ULTEM, allowing for the production of parts with very high chemical and temperature resistance.
Source: www.businesswire.com