Markforged Metal X

$160,000 - $200,000 (printer + Wash-1 + Sinter-1) Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

build volume

250 x 220 x 200 mm (9.8 x 8.7 x 7.9 in)

technology

Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM)

feedstock form

Metal filament on spool

layer thickness

50 - 125 µm

max part density

96 - 99.8% (material dependent)

materials

17-4 PH Stainless, 316L Stainless, H13 Tool Steel, A2 Tool Steel, D2 Tool Steel, Inconel 625, Copper, Ti-6Al-4V

Overview

The Markforged Metal X is the company's industrial metal 3D printer using Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM), a bound metal deposition process where metal filament embedded in a plastic binder is printed, washed to remove primary binder, and sintered to achieve near-full density. The Metal X competes directly with Desktop Metal's Studio System+ for the office-friendly metal AM market, with a build volume of 250 x 220 x 200 mm and a workflow that pairs with the separate Wash-1 debinder and Sinter-1 furnace sold alongside the printer.

ADAM shares its fundamental physics with Desktop Metal's BMD and traditional metal injection molding — metal powder bound in polymer is shaped near-net, then sintered to drive out the binder and fuse the metal particles. Markforged's implementation uses spooled filament rather than rods, which enables longer continuous print sessions without material changeover. The Eiger cloud-based slicer handles shrinkage compensation automatically and integrates with the Markforged Digital Forge platform, which provides fleet management, part revision control, and print analytics across multiple printers.

The Metal X supports 17-4 PH stainless steel, 316L stainless, H13 tool steel, A2 tool steel, D2 tool steel, Inconel 625, copper, and titanium Ti-6Al-4V — one of the broader ADAM alloy libraries available. Titanium capability in particular sets the Metal X apart from many BMD competitors, opening applications in aerospace and medical implants where ADAM-produced Ti-6Al-4V can reach sufficient density for prototyping and some end-use applications. Achieved density is 96-99.8% depending on alloy and geometry.

The Metal X printer is priced around $99,500, with the complete system including Wash-1 and Sinter-1 running $160,000-$200,000 — comparable to the Desktop Metal Studio System+. Markforged's Digital Forge ecosystem is a differentiator for organizations managing multiple printers across distributed manufacturing sites, providing centralized part libraries and print queue management that Desktop Metal's Fabricate software does not match at scale.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Build Volume	250 x 220 x 200 mm (9.8 x 8.7 x 7.9 in)
Technology	Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM)
Feedstock Form	Metal filament on spool
Layer Thickness	50 - 125 µm
Max Part Density	96 - 99.8% (material dependent)
Materials	17-4 PH Stainless, 316L Stainless, H13 Tool Steel, A2 Tool Steel, D2 Tool Steel, Inconel 625, Copper, Ti-6Al-4V
Debinder	Wash-1 (separate station)
Furnace	Sinter-1 (separate station, up to 1,400°C)
Software	Eiger (cloud-based slicer) + Markforged Digital Forge platform
Connectivity	Cloud-connected, fleet management capable
Power Requirements	110/220V — no 3-phase or inert gas required
Printer Dimensions	575 x 467 x 581 mm

Specifications sourced from markforged.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Ti-6Al-4V capability opens aerospace and medical applications unavailable on most other office-class metal AM platforms
Filament-on-spool feedstock enables longer uninterrupted print sessions vs. rod-based BMD systems, improving overnight and unattended throughput
Markforged Digital Forge platform provides cloud-based fleet management, part revision control, and print analytics for distributed manufacturing operations
Broad tool steel library (H13, A2, D2) enables in-house production of injection mold inserts and stamping tooling with same-day turnaround

Limitations

Build volume (250x220x200mm) is smaller than Desktop Metal Shop System (350x220x220mm) and limits part size for larger tooling or structural components
Three separate stations (printer + Wash-1 + Sinter-1) require more floor space than Studio System+ and coordination of three separate maintenance schedules
Cloud-dependent Eiger software requires consistent internet connectivity — air-gapped facilities may face workflow limitations

Best For

Aerospace and defense suppliers needing Ti-6Al-4V prototypes and low-volume end-use parts without LPBF infrastructure investment Injection mold toolmakers producing H13 inserts and D2 tool steel components in-house with same-day capability Organizations operating distributed manufacturing sites that benefit from Markforged Digital Forge's centralized part library and fleet management Engineering teams requiring a broad tool steel and superalloy portfolio from a single office-safe metal AM installation

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the Markforged Metal X price?

The Metal X printer alone is approximately $99,500. The complete system with Wash-1 debinder and Sinter-1 furnace is typically $160,000-$200,000. Annual subscriptions to the Eiger software platform are required for operation. Material costs depend on alloy — titanium filament commands a premium over stainless and tool steels.

02 Can the Metal X print titanium?

Yes — Ti-6Al-4V is a supported Metal X material, which is a significant differentiator in the office-friendly metal AM segment. Post-sinter density for titanium is 96-99% depending on geometry. This makes the Metal X suitable for aerospace and medical Ti-6Al-4V prototypes and some end-use applications. Parts requiring higher density or fatigue certification still require LPBF processing.

03 How does ADAM compare to Desktop Metal's BMD process?

Both ADAM and BMD share the same fundamental process — metal powder in polymer binder, printed then washed then sintered — and achieve similar final densities (96-99%+). Key differences: Markforged uses filament on spools vs. Desktop Metal's rods; Markforged offers titanium while Desktop Metal does not in the Studio/Shop tier; Desktop Metal's Fabricate software is offline while Markforged's Eiger is cloud-based. Build volumes are similar, and both target the office-safe metal AM market.

04 What tool steels does the Markforged Metal X support?

The Metal X supports H13 hot-work tool steel, A2 air-hardening tool steel, and D2 cold-work tool steel — one of the broadest tool steel libraries available in any office-class metal AM system. H13 is popular for injection mold inserts and die-casting cores; A2 and D2 are used for punches, dies, and cutting tools. Post-sinter hardness is comparable to wrought heat-treated equivalents.

05 Does the Metal X require internet connectivity to operate?

Yes — Markforged's Eiger slicer and Digital Forge platform are cloud-based and require internet connectivity for slice, print queue management, and analytics. This enables powerful fleet management for distributed operations but can be a limitation for air-gapped defense and government facilities. Markforged offers Private Cloud options for sensitive environments — contact Markforged for air-gapped deployment specifics.