Markforged Metal X Gen 2

$99,000 – $150,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

Build Volume (X×Y×Z)

300 × 220 × 180 mm

Layer Thickness

50 – 125 µm

Print Technology

Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) — filament extrusion

Build Rate

Up to 12 cm³/h

Accuracy

±0.5% (post-sinter, with Eiger shrinkage compensation)

Materials

17-4 PH stainless steel, 316L stainless, H13 tool steel, D2 tool steel, A2 tool steel, copper, Inconel 625, Ti-6Al-4V

Overview

The Markforged Metal X Gen 2 is a compact, safety-first metal 3D printing system built around Markforged's Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) process. Like bound metal deposition, ADAM extrudes metal-filled filament to build near-net-shape green parts that are subsequently washed in a debinder and then sintered in a tube furnace to achieve near-full density. The Gen 2 iteration refines the original Metal X platform with improved print head reliability, enhanced thermal control, and broader material compatibility.

The Metal X Gen 2 features a build volume of 300 × 220 × 180 mm and prints in a fully enclosed, thermally managed chamber that maintains consistent bed temperature throughout the build. Markforged's Eiger cloud-based slicing software handles print preparation including automatic support placement, part orientation suggestions, and sintering shrinkage compensation — making it accessible to engineers without deep AM expertise. The system integrates natively with Markforged's Digital Forge platform, enabling fleet management, print scheduling, and part analytics across multiple machines.

The material portfolio for the Metal X Gen 2 spans 17-4 PH stainless steel, 316L stainless steel, H13 and D2 tool steels, A2 tool steel, copper, Inconel 625, and titanium Ti-6Al-4V. The tool steel options are particularly popular for printing injection mold inserts, cutting tools, and wear components that would otherwise require expensive machining from solid bar stock. Sintered parts typically achieve 96–99% density with mechanical properties comparable to wrought equivalents.

The Metal X Gen 2 occupies a strong position in the industrial desktop AM segment, competing directly with Desktop Metal's Studio System. Its advantage lies in the Markforged ecosystem's breadth — the Metal X can share a facility with Markforged composite printers, enabling mixed metal-and-fiber production under unified fleet management software, which is attractive to manufacturers building comprehensive in-house AM capabilities.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Build Volume (X×Y×Z)	300 × 220 × 180 mm
Layer Thickness	50 – 125 µm
Print Technology	Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) — filament extrusion
Build Rate	Up to 12 cm³/h
Accuracy	±0.5% (post-sinter, with Eiger shrinkage compensation)
Materials	17-4 PH stainless steel, 316L stainless, H13 tool steel, D2 tool steel, A2 tool steel, copper, Inconel 625, Ti-6Al-4V
Machine Weight	Approx. 93 kg (printer unit)
Number Of Lasers	N/A – extrusion-based process

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

No loose powder handling — clean, safe operation in standard shop or office environments
Broad material library including titanium and Inconel for demanding applications
Eiger software simplifies print preparation with automatic shrinkage compensation
Integrates with Markforged Digital Forge for centralized fleet management

Limitations

Post-sinter dimensional tolerances (~±0.5%) are looser than laser powder bed fusion
Three-step workflow (print → wash → sinter) creates 24–48 hour total cycle times
Relatively small build volume limits part size compared to powder bed fusion systems

Best For

Tool and die shops producing injection mold inserts and forming tools from H13 or D2 steel Engineers validating metal part designs before committing to CNC machining or casting Manufacturers already using Markforged composite printers seeking a unified AM ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Can the Metal X Gen 2 print titanium parts?

Yes, the Metal X Gen 2 supports Ti-6Al-4V through Markforged's titanium filament. Titanium parts require specific sintering profiles in the companion furnace and achieve density comparable to other ADAM-processed alloys. Markforged recommends this capability for aerospace and medical prototype applications where titanium's strength-to-weight ratio is needed.

02 What is the difference between the original Metal X and the Gen 2?

The Gen 2 improves on the original with a more reliable dual print head system, better thermal uniformity in the build chamber, expanded material support (including titanium and additional tool steels), and tighter integration with Markforged's Eiger and Digital Forge software platforms. Print head maintenance intervals are also extended in the Gen 2 design.

03 How does the Metal X Gen 2 compare to laser powder bed fusion for tool steels?

For tool steel applications like H13 mold inserts, the Metal X Gen 2 offers significantly lower equipment and operating costs with no facility modifications required. Dimensional accuracy is lower (~±0.5% vs. ±0.1% for LPBF), so features requiring tight tolerances typically need light post-machining. For prototyping and low-volume tooling, the cost and speed advantages of the Metal X are often decisive.