Mark Two Unveiled at SolidWorks World 2016 – Faster, Stronger, Smarter 3D Printing

With the dust settled and the Mark Two officially announced, our team finally had the chance to reflect on our experience in Dallas during SolidWorks World 2016.

Dallas offered a mix of culinary delights, scenic runs, and a vibrant partner pavilion showcasing cutting‑edge 3D design, metrology, and scanning technologies. We witnessed demonstrations of the latest advancements in 3D design, metrology, 3D scanning, and new software/hardware solutions. Highlights included machining showcases from Haas, intricate metal‑bending displays, and a virtual cockpit helicopter simulator—Greg tried it out, but his strengths lie in steering the company, not flying.

The centerpiece of our booth was the MarkForged Mark Two printer, our second‑generation machine.

Since shipping the original Mark One, we have listened closely to customer feedback. While the first model earned widespread acclaim, we felt compelled to push further, delivering stronger parts at higher speed and in finer geometries.

• Prints fiber 40% faster on average
• Can reinforce parts 15× smaller than the original Mark One
• Incorporates additional sensors and software/hardware upgrades for a superior printing experience

The Mark Two received an enthusiastic response. Over the four days, our booth was consistently full, with visitors eager to see the “carbon‑fiber 3D printer” (and beyond). We showcased examples of prototyping and end‑use parts our customers are building.

Our star demonstration was a carbon‑fiber‑reinforced universal ball‑joint clamp stand, crafted by Bryan, our Director of Materials. Bryan began with a Thingiverse model, then adapted it in SolidWorks to accommodate stainless‑steel rod stock, replacing threaded linkages with a seamless surface finish. He then imported the parts into Eiger, reinforcing nearly every layer with continuous carbon‑fiber strands.

This demo underscores the Mark Two’s ability to reinforce components up to 15× smaller than those possible with the Mark One. In this case, we reinforced the large‑diameter threaded sections of the ball‑joint base and cap. An interesting side effect emerged: the nylon shell around the threads produced a subtle elastic deformation that locked the cap in place, requiring a breakaway torque to unscrew—an accidental yet valuable design feature.

Want to print your own? The original STL files—"Universal Ball Mount System" by Agger—are available, and we have optimized the models for maximum carbon‑fiber reinforcement. STL Files