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.