Focus Area: Advanced/Additive Manufacturing

Contact

Danielle Bartholomew
danielle.bartholomew@markforged.com
215-267-7675

Markforged delivers advanced additive manufacturing solutions purpose-built for the Department of Defense, enabling rapid, point-of-need production of mission-critical parts. Headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, Markforged pioneered Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforcement (CFR), producing composite parts that are lighter than aluminum yet stronger than many metals—ideal for aerospace, naval, and ground systems where strength-to-weight ratio is critical.

Through the same Digital Forge platform, DOD users can seamlessly print both high-strength composites and true metals, reducing reliance on vulnerable supply chains and cutting lead times from months to hours. The ecosystem integrates ruggedized 3D printers, advanced materials including carbon fiber, Kevlar®, Onyx, stainless steels, Inconel, and tool steels as well as secure software with digital part verification and inventory management.

3D Print Strong Parts | Carbon & Metal | Audit & Production

Problem Statement:

Adopting additive manufacturing at scale for the DOD presents challenges. First, many commands have access to entry-level or composite-only 3D printers that can produce temporary parts or prototypes, but these parts often lack the strength, durability, and certification required for long-term replacements in mission-critical applications. Second, most 3D printer acquisitions within the DOD do not include intuitive, secure software platforms, which results in underutilized equipment and a lack of continuity in AM programs.

Technology Solution Statement:

Markforged provides the DOD with a complete additive manufacturing platform capable of producing both continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites and true metals on the same system. This capability delivers lightweight parts with strength exceeding many metals, as well as fully metallic components in stainless steels, tool steels, and high-temperature alloys such as Inconel. The result is mission-ready parts suitable for both temporary and long-term use. The technology enables units to manufacture replacement components, jigs, fixtures, and end-use parts directly at the point of need, reducing lead times from months to hours. Continuous fiber reinforcement ensures structural strength and durability well beyond what conventional polymer-only printers can achieve, expanding additive manufacturing from prototyping to true sustainment.

Benefits Statement:

  • Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) and true metal 3D printing on the same platform produces end-use parts that meet or exceed the performance of traditionally manufacturing.
  • Intuitive software and training ecosystem ensures that AM capabilities are fully adopted and sustained across units.
  • Markforged University provides standardized training across the Services, along with QR-coded quick-start guides.
  • Part auditing, production services, and custom engineering support, enables identification of viable candidates for additive replacement.