Markforged, a startup manufacturer of metal and carbon fiber 3D printers, announced earlier this month what it calls the only reliable, affordable, and safe way to 3D print copper. For the company’s Metal X system — a patented platform that rapidly prints 3D metal — pure copper has been added as the latest metal to join its lineup of materials that include aerospace superalloys like Inconel 625, 17-4 PH stainless steel, H13 tool steel, D2 tool steel, and A2 tool steel.
Founded in 2013 in Watertown, Massachusetts, Markforged said 3D printing copper parts on-demand will drive new manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies for customers — leading to reduced lead times and part costs, as well as eliminating the need for costly inventory. Now with copper capabilities, the company said using the Metal X provides an easy and fast way to produce geometrically complex copper with high electrical and thermal conductivity.
"Copper powers our world. It’s everywhere. It builds our cars, enables phones, and keeps electrical equipment running,” said Greg Mark, Markforged CEO and founder. "Copper has traditionally been an expensive and challenging material to machine and incompatible for 3D printing in a pure form with other techniques. Now, we’ve made it easier and cheaper to produce. Markforged 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.”
Mark elaborated on how every automotive factory used copper for welding, and that expensive complex production parts are required to weld tight spots of the car body — often requiring months-long lead times. But with the ability to 3D print copper automotive parts, manufacturers can print what they need on-demand instead of holding significant inventory.
Markforge said hundreds of its Metal X printers are currently deployed at nine of the 10 highest-valued auto manufacturers in the world.
