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PRODUCT NEWS
Markforged: Expanding the possibilities for 3D printing Markforged has unveiled the new FX20 production-ready 3D printer, as well as its ULTEM 9085 filament, increasing the potential applications for 3D printing in demanding industries like aerospace and automotive. The new hardware prints the flame-retardant, high-performance thermoplastic material with ULTEM 9085 filament in combination with Markforged’s proprietary Continuous Fiber Reinforcement printing technology for high-strength, heat-resistant, and higherperformance parts that can meet the needs of the most demanding industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, and oil & gas. The FX20 is precision-designed and sensor-driven to deliver accuracy, quality and reliability to fabricate parts directly with the click of a button. Markforged’s biggest, fastest and smartest printer, the FX20 pairs size and throughput to make larger parts at incredible speeds. This new technology, alongside high-temperature printing capabilities, elevates the Digital Forge platform from accessible industrial-strength composite manufacturing to robust production applications. The FX20 has a heated build chamber capable of maintaining a temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius and the capacity for parts up to 525mm by 400mm by 400mm in size. The FX20 is up to eight times faster than the default settings on Markforged’s existing composite printers and prints nearly five times larger builds than its next largest printer, the X7. Bringing together ULTEM 9085 filament with Markforged’s proprietary Continuous Fiber Reinforcement technology will help manufacturers move from augmenting manufacturing operations with composite 3D printing to replacing entire segments of the supply chain by bringing strong, accurate parts that solve demanding, end-use applications right where needed. Vestas Wind Systems, a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, plans to use the FX20 with existing Markforged composite materials and the new ULTEM 9085 filament with continuous fiber reinforcement to print stronger, higher volume parts.
“The Digital Forge has given Vestas a powerful platform to circumvent expensive, multi-step, and time-consuming conventional manufacturing methodology,” says Jeremy Haight, Principal Engineer at Vestas. “When you factor in design iterations, these conventional parts are obsolete in a year or two. With the FX20 and ULTEM 9085 [filament], we will be able to design and manufacture larger, stronger parts, press a button and take that part right off the print bed to use it immediately with the confidence that it is very durable and robust.” Printing the ULTEM 9085 filament with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement expands the advantages manufacturers can realise through additive technology. Adding the FX20 to the Digital Forge platform addresses a broader set of needs and applications. The FX20 and ULTEM 9085 filament are expected to ship worldwide in the first half of 2022. www.markforged.com
Hypertherm: Revolutionary single-piece cartridge consumable for new plasma systems Hypertherm has announced three new air plasma systems called Powermax SYNC. This next generation of Powermax65/85/105 systems feature built-in intelligence and a revolutionary single-piece cartridge consumable. Powermax SYNC and its SmartSYNC torch replaces the traditional five-piece consumable stack-up with a single colour-coded cartridge. Technology embedded in each cartridge automatically sets the correct amperage, air pressure, and operating mode and lets operators know when a new cartridge is needed. Additionally, controls on the SmartSYNC torch allow operators to adjust the amperage and change the cartridge without returning to the power supply. The cartridge is manufactured as a single piece so everything within it is perfectly aligned and optimised. As a result, the Hypertherm cartridge for Powermax systems will last up to twice as long and deliver cleaner cuts versus traditional consumables. The cartridge can even track data, like starts and arc-on time, to identify trends and make a user’s operation more efficient. “The Powermax SYNC series delivers incredible ease of use, a lower operating cost, and better performance than any other air plasma before it,” said Erik Brine, General Manager of Hypertherm’s Powermax team. “We are excited to introduce what is truly a groundbreaking new product to the fabrication industry. This simplified operation serves to help fabricators address many of
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the toughest challenges they face today by eliminating operator errors, downtime, troubleshooting, waste, and training time, while offering the same industry leading reliability all Powermax systems are known for.” In keeping with Hypertherm’s commitment to offer technology updates to owners of its older plasma systems, Hypertherm engineers have developed an adapter for Duramax and Duramax Lock torches. This will enable owners of the Powermax45 XP and Powermax65/85/105 to enjoy some benefits of the cartridge consumable platform, such as faster change-outs, easier ordering and inventory tracking, longer life, and improved cut quality. www.hypertherm.com
