Markforged introduces new Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing technique
January 9, 2017
Markforged, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, has introduced its Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) process which it claims is a breakthrough technology in metal manufacturing. The company, known for its successful development of carbon fibre printing technology introduced in 2014, also announced its Metal X system, the first ADAM 3D printer.
The Metal X system has a build volume of 250 x 220 x 200 mm
“Until today, the story of metal 3D printing has been million-dollar machines that fill a room,” stated CEO Greg Mark. “With the introduction of the Metal X, metal production is easier and more available than ever. Manufacturers and machine shops looking to augment CNC machining or find alternatives now have an answer.”
“This revolution is not just about making metal parts – it’s also about making plastic parts from a 3D printed metal mold created in days, instead of months. Our mission is to help companies make better products, and get them to market faster.”
The ADAM technique is said to produce robust, accurate parts across a wide range of engineering metals. Parts are printed layer-by-layer using a metal powder contained in a plastic binder. After printing, plastic binders are removed and the part sintered.
At launch, the Metal X will print high-end stainless steels such as 17-4 and 303. With a build volume of 250mm x 220mm x 200mm the Metal X starts at $99,500, with first orders being shipped in September 2017.
