If you're interested in metal 3D printing but don't have enough space or budget, Markforged's ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing) is the right choice for you.
Today's metal 3D printers are very expensive (€500,000 to €1 million) and can take up a lot of space. With the more revolutionary ADAM technology developed by Markforged, you can manufacture in-house and at a significantly lower cost!
In 2014, the world was amazed by Markforged's 3D printers, which created products with the strength of metal. The parts are so tough that this chain link withstood 22,000 pounds of force before breaking! Now, in 2017, they're at it again. This time, it's with metal.
What is ADAM?
With the ADAM process, you reduce the time from design to a stable, 3D-printed metal part.
With the Metal X and ADAM technology, it is possible to produce parts overnight, whether industrial spare parts, injection molds or functional prototypes, thus accelerating innovation and reducing development time.
The process begins with selecting various metal powders. Next, the powder is molded into shape layer by layer in a plastic binder. After printing, your part is sintered in a furnace, which burns off the binder and solidifies the powder into your final, fully dense metal part.
ADAM also enables the creation of unique geometries, such as closed-cell honeycomb structures, that cannot be manufactured traditionally. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities while producing incredibly precise parts.
Which metals can I print with?
Key components, special pieces and spare parts can be created with these strong materials:
- stainless steel
- tool steel
- Inconel
- titanium
stainless steel
1.4542 stainless steel is corrosion-resistant up to 800°C and ideal for post-processing in CNC milling and turning operations. It is used on the drive rollers of the Markforged fiber system on the Mark X.
1.4305 stainless steel is widely used in the aerospace, medical, and petroleum industries, where it combines high strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness. It is used for assembly fixtures and tools in Markforged's Mark X.
tool steel
1.2363 tool steel, air-hardened, exhibits excellent impact toughness. It is used in the Mark X for punches, stamping dies, and forming tools.
With its high carbon and chromium content, 1.2379 tool steel is often used for cutting tools. It offers great hardness and abrasion resistance, but is not as hard as A-2.
Inconel
Inconel is ideal for thermal and pressure protection applications. This nickel-based superalloy is often used in high-temperature environments such as jet engines and for medical applications. It is very difficult to machine but also highly resistant to chemicals.
titanium
With the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal, titanium TI-6AL-4V is ideal for lightweight applications. It exhibits both high tensile strength and fatigue resistance. This biocompatible material is widely used in medical applications, for example, in orthopedic joint replacements.
CEO and founder of Markforged, Gregory Mark, said in an interview with TechCrunch:
"People have been pouring metal into molds for 5,000 years... the digital age has transformed every other industry known to man—music, photography, writing, telecommunications, email, the internet. But Ford makes cars largely the same way they did in the 1950s. It's time for engineering to enter the digital age."
The Metal X from Markforged will be delivered starting in September 2017.
Request more information today!
Leave A Comment