Study of the industrial potential of Markforged X7 3D printer

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is a 3D printing technique that can produce parts with complex shapes. Multiple types of 3D printers are available in the market, so it is essential to understand their potential to manufacture parts that meet industry standards. This study aims to evaluate the industrial potential of the Markforged X7 printer by assessing its performance based on the QS9000 quality standard. The quality indices, including the Cp index and the Cpk index, were determined for different dimensions, and admissible tolerances were identified for geometrical defects. The study shows that the quality indices, especially the Cp index, are within an acceptable range of 1.6 to 2 for the class 12 tolerance interval (IT12). The geometrical defects are predominantly categorized as fine according to the ISO 2768 standard, with deviations in geometrical features ranging from 0.06 to 0.08 mm. Additionally, the study investigated the impact of moisture and glass fiber reinforcement on the geometrical features. The analysis indicated that moisture increases deviations in the features. However, adding reinforcing fibers does not improve deviations but stabilizes them under the effect of moisture.