Markforged Showcases Composite 3D Printing at Artisan’s Asylum – Expert Demo & Q&A

Event Recap – October 23, 2015

Last Thursday, the Markforged team brought a Mark One 3D printer and a selection of composite parts to Artisan’s Asylum, a members‑only maker space in Somerville, MA. The evening was well‑attended by seasoned makers who engaged deeply with the technology.

Before setting up the projector and printer, the crowd was drawn to the impressive carbon‑fiber bridge the team had printed.

Markforged’s marketer, Drew Wallace, introduced the event while standing on the bridge. The bridge, fabricated from a carbon‑fiber/nylon composite, demonstrates the printer’s ability to produce parts that can bear significant loads—Drew’s weight alone, 168 pounds, was supported without issue.

Following the introduction, Support Specialist Tony Nutile discussed the appropriate use cases for each composite material:

• Nylon: Ideal for prototypes that require form and fit verification without load.
• Nylon + Fiberglass: An entry‑level composite that balances strength, cost, and weight.
• Nylon + Kevlar®: Suited for parts needing flexibility or resistance to mechanical wear.
• Nylon + Carbon Fiber: Offers the highest strength‑to‑weight ratio for demanding applications.

To illustrate the performance, Tony stepped onto the bridge, applying roughly twice the force of Drew’s weight.

Applications Engineer Nick Sondej showcased the Markforged Eiger software, highlighting features that matter most to makers: automatic composite sandwich panel generation, support optimization, and granular fiber routing control.

The evening concluded with an in‑depth Q&A session and a “composite part petting zoo.” Makers at Artisan’s Asylum, many of whom have extensive 3D printing experience, asked insightful questions that were answered by Nick and Tony in real time.

Special thanks to Derek, Jess, and Tom from Artisan’s Asylum and to all members who attended. We appreciate your time and enthusiasm.