Markforged, Watertown, Mass., announces the release of pure copper for its Metal X 3D system, making it easy to consistently create complex parts with high electrical and thermal conductivity. According to the company, it is a reliable, affordable, and safe way to 3D print copper, and will drive new manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies.
“Copper has traditionally been an expensive and challenging material to machine, and was incompatible for 3D printing in a pure form with other techniques,” says Greg Mark, Markforged CEO and Founder. “Now, we’ve made it easier and cheaper to produce. As a result, 3D printed copper will be a game-changer for the automotive and electronics industries, and it will open the door to innovation across many more. With our 3D printed copper parts, automotive manufacturers will be able to design new kinds of welding shanks that were never before possible.”
Partnering with a well-known automotive manufacturer, Markforged was able to conduct in-depth weld testing using copper, to determine the benefits of 3D printing with the metal. Results showed that copper production on the Metal X reduced the automotive client’s part lead times by a factor of twelve and costs by a factor of six, while still retaining the same resistance as traditionally manufactured spot welding shanks.
