3D Printing of Pure Copper Now Available to Artists
Markforged, a manufacturer of metal and carbon fiber printers, recently unveiled a three-dimensional (3D) printer that allows users to create and make an object out of pure copper. This new innovation allows artists, jewelry makers, and manufacturers to design and print any type of art piece or component out of copper.
Pure Copper 3D printing. Photograph courtesy of Markforged.
“Copper powers our world. It’s everywhere. It builds our cars, enables phones, and keeps electrical equipment running,” says Greg Mark, Markforged CEO and Founder of the new release. “Copper has traditionally been an expensive and challenging material to machine and incompatible for 3D printing in a pure form with other techniques. Now, we’ve made it easier and cheaper to produce.”
The new material is available for the Metal X system, Markforged’s patented platform that 3D prints metal. Copper is the latest metal to join the lineup of materials, which also includes aerospace superalloys like Inconel 625, 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, H13 Tool Steel, D2 Tool Steel, and A2 Tool Steel. With systems across six continents, the Metal X is used to deliver on applications such as functional prototypes, tooling and fixtures, and end-use production parts to help customers reduce manufacturing costs and improve supply chain efficiency.
Jewelry makers can now easily design and create pure copper earrings, necklaces, and keepsakes, printing these intricate pieces directly in their studios, opening up a new world of possibilities.
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Also in this Issue:
- Roger Casey: Copper From the Heart
- Reconsidering Trash: Artist Breathes New Life Into Discarded Copper
- Frick Museum Offers 360 Virtual Tours
- Adam Colangelo: Copper on Fire
- 3D Printing of Pure Copper Now Available to Artists