Expert Answers to Your Top 3D Printing Questions

We receive a lot of questions from people looking to get into 3D printing. Here are the five most common questions we hear, answered in detail.

Which 3D‑printing materials does Markforged offer?

Markforged desktop and industrial printers support the following high‑performance materials:

• Onyx – a nylon‑based thermoplastic infused with chopped carbon fiber for a smooth finish and excellent heat resistance.
• Continuous carbon fiber – the strongest composite, ideal for replacing aluminum while cutting weight.
• Continuous fiberglass – 4× stronger and 11× stiffer than ABS, perfect for beginners building robust parts.
• High‑strength, high‑temperature (HSHT) fiberglass – engineered for maximum impact resistance and heat deflection.
• Continuous Kevlar® – lightweight, highly flexible, and ideal for soft‑jaw tools and end effectors.

Markforged’s Metal X platform currently prints:

• 17‑4 PH stainless steel – a high‑strength, high‑hardness alloy widely used in aerospace and manufacturing.
• H13 tool steel – a hard, heat‑treatable steel that reaches up to ~50 HRC, suitable for molds, dies, and punches.

Additional metals are in development:

• 316L stainless steel
• A2 tool steel
• D2 tool steel
• Titanium 6‑4
• Inconel 625
• Copper

Free sample part

Onyx is available on all desktop and industrial printers. For extra reinforcement, users can choose from the four continuous fibers listed above. Fiberglass is available on the Onyx Pro, Mark Two, X5, and X7. HSHT fiberglass, Kevlar®, and continuous carbon fiber are exclusive to the X7 and Mark Two.

What is the largest part you can 3D print?

Desktop printers (Onyx One, Onyx Pro, Mark Two) have a build volume of 320 mm × 132 mm × 154 mm. Industrial printers (X3, X5, X7) reach 330 mm × 270 mm × 200 mm. Metal X can produce parts up to 250 mm × 220 mm × 200 mm (9.8 in × 8.6 in × 7.9 in). After sintering, the usable part shrinks to 235 mm × 68.3 mm × 69.3 mm (9.25 in × 2.69 in × 2.73 in), automatically scaled by our Eiger software.

Request a Metal X quote

All Markforged printers allow multiple parts per build. Customers often create larger components by printing several pieces and assembling them afterward.

What 3D‑printing process does Markforged use?

Onyx One and X3 use FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) – the most common 3D‑printing technology that extrudes heated thermoplastic layer by layer.

The Onyx Pro, Mark Two, X5, and X7 use CFF (Continuous Filament Fabrication). A second nozzle deposits continuous composite fibers inside the thermoplastic, dramatically increasing strength and stiffness.

Metal X employs ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing), a safe, FFF‑based process that prints metal powder in a plastic binder. The part is then washed, sintered, and the binder melted away, leaving a solid metal component without the need for hazmat suits or specialized facilities.

Read our 3D Printer Buyer’s Guide

What are some cool things to 3D print?

Markforged users have printed everything from drones and robots to tooling and fixtures. Continuous carbon fiber parts withstand extreme environments and are ideal for functional prototypes, end‑of‑arm tooling, assembly fixtures, and production components. If you have a part in mind, contact a product specialist to discuss feasibility.

Talk to a product specialist

Can this part be 3D printed?

There are many ways to explore printability: use a 3D‑printing service, buy a printer, or test the model in our free Eiger software. We’re happy to review your design and advise on feasibility. For a Markforged‑specific assessment, reach out to a product specialist.