Markforged Metal X Gen 2 Metal 3D Printer

$100,000 - $180,000 (system with wash + sinter) Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

Build Volume

300 x 220 x 180 mm

Process

Bound Metal Deposition (ADAM — metal filament + sinter)

Layer Thickness

50 - 125 µm

Materials

17-4 PH SS, D2/H13/A2 tool steel, Inconel 625, copper, Ti-6Al-4V

Sintered Density

96-99%

Dimensional Accuracy (sintered)

±0.5% (typical)

Overview

The Markforged Metal X Gen 2 is a bound metal deposition (BMD) metal 3D printer designed to bring metal additive manufacturing to engineering teams without the safety requirements and high capital costs of laser powder bed fusion systems. Instead of loose metal powder, the Metal X uses Markforged's proprietary Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) process — metal powder pre-mixed in a wax and polymer binder is fed as a filament, printed into the part shape, and then de-bound and sintered in the Wash + Sinter stations. The result is parts with 97-99% density in materials including 17-4 PH stainless steel, D2 tool steel, H13 tool steel, A2 tool steel, Inconel 625, copper, and titanium Ti-6Al-4V. The Metal X Gen 2 improves on the original with better layer adhesion and a larger build volume (300x220x180mm). It targets engineering prototyping, tooling inserts, and low-volume functional metal parts.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Build Volume	300 x 220 x 180 mm
Process	Bound Metal Deposition (ADAM — metal filament + sinter)
Layer Thickness	50 - 125 µm
Materials	17-4 PH SS, D2/H13/A2 tool steel, Inconel 625, copper, Ti-6Al-4V
Sintered Density	96-99%
Dimensional Accuracy (Sintered)	±0.5% (typical)
Print Resolution	50 µm
Required Stations	Metal X printer + Wash 1 (debind) + Sinter 1 (furnace)
Software	Markforged Eiger cloud/offline
Safety	No loose powder — standard shop environment OK

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

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

No loose metal powder — safe for standard office or shop environment
Low capital cost vs LPBF systems
Wide material range including tool steels and Inconel 625
Eiger software simple for engineering teams
Suitable for tooling inserts, fixtures, and functional prototypes

Limitations

Sintering shrinkage ~20% requires design compensation
97-99% density (lower than LPBF 99.5%+) limits fatigue-critical applications
Build volume smaller than LPBF production machines
Three-station workflow (printer + wash + sinter) requires dedicated space

Best For

Engineering teams, toolrooms, and product development labs requiring functional metal prototypes and tooling inserts in tool steel or stainless without powder bed fusion safety requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Is the Markforged Metal X safe to use in a standard office environment?

Yes. Because the metal powder is encapsulated in a polymer binder filament (not loose powder), the Metal X does not require explosion-proof rooms, inert gas environments, or powder handling PPE. The Wash 1 and Sinter 1 stations do require adequate ventilation, but overall the system has dramatically lower safety requirements than LPBF machines.

02 Can the Metal X print tool steel inserts for injection molds?

Yes, this is one of the most common applications. H13 and D2 tool steel are available materials. Printed and sintered mold inserts can be used for prototype tooling and bridge production runs. For high-volume production tooling, conventionally machined tool steel has better surface finish and tighter dimensional control.