Alex Crease from Markforged explains this question impressively in this video.

Carbon fibers are highly valued in engineering for their strength-to-weight ratio, especially in tension applications.
When you combine the fibers with a matrix material to allow them to be shaped, they form incredibly lightweight, strong structures because the optimal arrangement of the fibers takes advantage of their tensile properties.

However, when short carbon fibers are blended with a thermoplastic such as ABS, PLA, or nylon, the continuous strength of these fibers is not utilized. A continuous fiber, however, forms a continuous bond across the component's load-bearing surfaces, evenly distributing the load and thus withstanding it.

This concept makes the continuous fiber so much more efficient than the short fibers!

👉 Do you have any questions about continuous fiber or would you like advice?
Write it in the comments or contact us! ⤵