Markforged Sets New Standards in Antweight Combat Robotics

One of the most exciting niches for our printers is combat robotics. Over the past season we proudly supported Jamison Go and Charles Guan, who used our Markforged machines to produce everything from unibody one‑pound robots to shock‑absorbing electronic mounts for the 250‑lb BattleBots teams Overhaul and Sawblaze—both of whom we sponsored.

Our printers’ high strength‑to‑weight ratio—thanks to continuous‑strand carbon fiber that surpasses aluminum and Kevlar‑reinforced impact resistance—makes them ideal for crafting custom parts that can withstand heavy hits. Inspired by these capabilities, I entered the local Mass Destruction competition at Artisan’s Asylum, a tournament Markforged proudly sponsored.

Many combat robots have converged on a handful of core designs. A horizontal spinner, for example, spins a large toothed bar or disk at high speed, but when it contacts a wedge or incline, the energy can rebound back into the robot and launch it airborne. With the customization and strength that the Mark Two offers, I set out to build a novel antweight (one‑pound) robot—Foiled—to overcome this shortcoming.

Foiled’s two 3D‑printed components give it a decisive edge. The chassis is Onyx reinforced with Kevlar, delivering exceptional impact and abrasion resistance. The heart of the weapon is a steel toothed outer disk surrounding a carbon‑fiber insert printed in the center. The spokes of this insert are designed as upside‑down airfoils, so when the disk spins, aerodynamic forces help the robot stay grounded.

The first battle was against AmbiSinister, a full‑body spinner whose shell was also made from Markforged parts. After the initial hit, AmbiSinister flipped and spun like a top, and the match was over—illustrating the inherent vulnerability of horizontal spinners.

Examining the damage afterward revealed the top shell cut open, with shredded continuous fiberglass jutting out.

The next trial faced antweight wedge robot Rising Phoenix. While Foiled displayed promising behavior, a wheel ripped off before I could fully gauge its performance.

The true test came against Puppy, whom I fought three times—once in qualifying and twice in the elimination bracket. In the video, you can see that each time Foiled hit Puppy’s wedge, it would hop an inch or two and land face‑up, allowing for rapid recovery. During the quarterfinals I suffered a motor issue, which left the robot ineffective without its weapon. Fortunately, the double‑elimination format let me repair it and face Puppy again in the finals, where Foiled secured first place.

You can view all of my matches here.

The Mark Two gave me the freedom to prototype innovative 3D‑printed concepts that would have shattered with traditional materials, been too heavy, or difficult to prototype. I’m excited to explore future designs and develop a 3‑lb version, Foiled Again!

Request a demo to put Markforged parts to the test, and if you’re in the Boston area, keep an eye on the next local combat robot event.