EXBuild Blog

In Fall 2023, we launched FX10 as a next generation composite printer. We promised modularity, but didn’t specify what modularity meant. Now, we can clarify. The modularity we were promising was Metal FFF capability – making FX10 the first industrial printer capable of printing composite and metal parts. FX10 was designed from the ground up to bring this dual capability to customers. In this blog post, we’ll talk about what it took to create the first industrial metal and composite 3D printer, and what it means for you as a potential user.

As a business invests in 3D printing, owning multiple types of printers provides a significant edge. The combination of a Photocentric resin printer and a Markforged carbon fiber printer creates a dynamic production environment, enabling you to take on various challenges. Here’s why you should consider having both in your shop:

An interesting project came to EXBuild when a good customer picked up an old wheeler. They wanted to utilize the accessory racks on the wheeler. They just could not find any mating accessories they liked. We looked it over, listened to what they wanted, took a few measurements and  quoted this project.

Mark Two and Onyx Pro Turbo Print is a new 250 µm layer height print mode for Gen 2 Mark Two and Onyx Pro printers that results in print speed increases of up to 2x compared to 200 µm print settings. Print speeds up to two times faster means parts are delivered quicker, printer throughput is increased, and design iterations are completed sooner, resulting in more value and increased ROI.

Built to be the ultimate machine on the production floor, the ALTRA 280 is the answer for the most demanding applications for industries ranging from aerospace, military, and defense to automotive. It features top-of-the-line specs such as a fully enclosed high-temperature printing environment, up to four state-of-the-art DSX extruders, an open material system compatible with BigRep and third-party filaments, and a massive build volume making it a mighty production beast.

Awhile back we had a customer reach out asking us to help create a failure point in a part for a robotic application. At their facility they manufacture custom robotic lines that are manually loaded with dissimilar parts by operators. Occasionally a part fixture is loaded incorrectly, it would then cause a collision between part and robot arm or EOT. When this happened, it could lead to major downtime dependent on what collided. The operators had to wait while maintenance determined what was broken.  Then if we have the necessary parts and a service technician to repair it.

A few years ago I started watching machinists on YouTube and became enamored with the trade.  I enjoyed watching the process of slowly carving away material to make a part, it was very satisfying.  I also liked the idea of being able to make metal parts, so late last year I decided to turn my fascination into a hobby and I bought myself a used mini lathe.  Since the lathe is so small, any stock sticking out of the chuck more than half an inch starts to wobble.  

Innovation in manufacturing has always been a dynamic field, continually pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible. One such breakthrough is the integration of fiber layups with BigRep 3D printed parts. This fusion of traditional composite manufacturing techniques with cutting-edge additive manufacturing opens up a world of possibilities, offering unparalleled design freedom, structural integrity, and efficiency.

The 3D printing industry is full of everything from delusional hype to realized productivity gains, and everything in between. BUT the recent advancements in both materials and hardware has made 3D printing less hype and more productive for industrial applications.

Reinforcing 3D-printed parts with continuous fibers — such as fiberglass or carbon fiber — is a valuable manufacturing capability. It allows users to easily print parts that are much stiffer and stronger than parts made from only plastic. When adding fiber to a part, users have a few decisions to make: the type of fiber fill (concentric or isotropic), how much fiber to use, and where in the part to put the fiber.