Markforged Mark Two Production Line Adaptation

Posted by Jim Teuber on 6/11/19 11:28 AM
Jim Teuber
Find me on:

 

Markforged’s multi award winning Mark Two 3D printer has been at the center of a high profile case study at a leading global energy services company. By using the system to support and maintain parts of its production line, the company has successfully been able to shorten the turnaround time, and cut down on costs.

The particular focus of the project has been the production of tools and fixtures for a pick and place machine, and the development of a custom-made pad handling  system.

Phil M, Senior Mechanical Designer at Markforged’s customer, comments, “With the functional pad handling machine, we could easily increase the plant throughput by 15%,”

“WE HAD TWO CHOICES: FRONT THE TRADITIONAL COST FOR THE MACHINE OR MISS OUT ON INCREASED PLANT THROUGHPUT.”

Shawcor’s Mechanical Designers have utilized their Markforged composite printer to fabricate tools and fixtures for a pick and place machine. Photo via Markforged.
Mechanical designers at a leading global energy services company have utilized a Markforged composite 3D printer to fabricate tools and fixtures for a pick and place machine. Photo via Markforged.

Continuous carbon fiber 3D printing cuts costs

The project in question required the transfer of large tape pads weighing between 115 and 230 lbs. Too heavy for a single person so load and unload, the team were in need of a custom machine to take care of carrying the load.

Using the Mark Two, this company was able to produce the custom parts required to build the machine, saving $27,000 CAD in the process by swapping aluminum and sheet metal for 3D printed parts.

In total, 53 unique parts were 3D printed using Markforged technology, 45% of which were reinforced with Kevlar, HSHT fiberglass, or carbon fiber to improve stiffness and longevity. With the Markforged 3D printers, Phil added that:

“WE VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED THE THREE- TO-SIX-WEEK TURNAROUND TIME THAT EXISTED FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS.”

Following this initial project, the Mark Two is now being used by the team for prototyping, testing, and iterating new designs.

Several of the 3D printed parts were reinforced with Kevlar®, HSHT fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Photo via Markforged.
Several of the 3D printed parts were reinforced with Kevlar®, HSHT fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Photo via Markforged.

From robot battles to the public sector

In March 2019, Markforged closed a Series D funding round with a value of $82 million and subsequently expanded its operation to a European HQ in Dublin.

Following this, in May 2019, the company released a flame-retardant composite material designed to be used in the aerospace, automotive, and defense industries. And most recently, Markforged launched a new AI technology platform named Blacksmith, during RAPID + TCT 2019.

Markforged has also partnered with Carahsoft Technology Corp, a government IT solutions provider, tis year which has introduced the company’s systems into the public sector. Carahsoft will provide the OEM’s industrial additive manufacturing technologies to the U.S. Government, acting as Markforged’s master government aggregator and distributor.

Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also keep connected by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Looking for a career in additive manufacturing?

Featured image shows the pad handling machine, consisting of 53 unique 3D printed parts. Image via Markforged.

Topics: Industry News

LAYER3D Blog

The LAYER3D is a Blog that dives deep into everything 3D Printing

Join us as we peel back the layers of the 3D Printing industry, and explore all topics relating to Additive Manufacturing

  • Explore the amazing applications of 3D Printing
  • Get Industry Insight into the 3d Printing Industry
  • Analyze the new and emerging technologies, ad the impacts on the Industry as a whole 

Subscribe Here!

Recent Posts