Markforged, the designer and manufacturer of the world’s only continuous carbon fiber 3D printer, has announced the creation of a new material; Onyx nylon.
Available for use in the ruggedized Mark Two Enterprise system, the new material delivers high-performance, finished parts. The material’s embedded carbon enhances performance thanks to dispersed micro-fibers within the material giving excellent rigidity, dimensional stability, and environmental resistance in parts for rugged use.
Onyx’s dispersed micro-fiber is fully compatible with Markforged’s suite of continuous carbon, Kevlar, and glass fibers – both Onyx nylon and Markforged Standard nylon can achieve part strength comparable with metal.
“After hundreds of broken beams and countless reformulations, we’ve created a new material that raises the standard for strength and accuracy,” remarked Markforged’s chief scientist Tony Gozdz. “Onyx has more than three times the stiffness of ordinary nylons, and with a heat deflection temperature of 145C, Onyx is perfectly suited for vehicles, machinery, and automation equipment.”
“Now, all of a sudden, you can get great engineering materials, with the properties that you would want in finished products, and that’s really going to be a game changer,” added Carl Bass, Autodesk chief executive (and well-known workshop addict). Mr. Bass was the first person to get his hands on Onyx, and immediately put it to use developing parts for his autonomous go-kart.
Onyx has also been tested by a number of other users. This includes Dixon Valve, a couplings and fittings specialist, who used Onyx components as robotic grippers to pick up different threaded pipes.
