Markforged Launches Onyx ESD for the Electronics Manufacturing Industry

Markforged has launched Onyx ESD, a new high-strength composite material for the electronics manufacturing industry. This year, many industries have leveraged additive manufacturing to withstand supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19. Use of this technology for the production of electronics, however, has been limited due to barriers. Electronics manufacturers must use materials that meet electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety requirements to avoid damaging a product or critical component during production. 

Now, with the launch of Onyx ESD, electronics manufacturers can utilized additive manufacturing. This material is a high-performance static-dissipative version of Markforged’s flagship composite base material Onyx, a micro carbon fiber-filled nylon that yields accurate parts with quality surface finish, the company says.

Onyx ESD was developed to achieve a tight surface resistance range to consistently meet strict ESD-safe requirements. The material can be reinforced with continuous carbon fiber, creating strong 3D printed composite parts. When printing with Onyx ESD, electronics manufacturers can safely produce strong, accurate tools and fixtures ready for the manufacturing floor, as well as customer-ready parts, the company says. 

“Manufacturers choose Markforged because our Digital Forge delivers strong, high-quality parts while significantly reducing time and cost,” says Michael Papish, VP of Marketing at Markforged. “Onyx ESD opens the door for electronics manufacturers to innovate across our platform, too. The launch of the new material allows our customers, who value ESD-safe properties, to remain competitive and print best-in-class parts and tools for their customers.”

Joining Markforged’s wide portfolio of industrial metal and composite materials, Onyx ESD also features:

• Higher strength and stiffness than the original Onyx material
• Compatibility with Markforged’s full range of continuous fiber reinforcement materials

Printing with Onyx ESD is available today on Markforged’s X7, X5 and X3 printers and can be accessed by existing customers via Markforged’s cloud-based software, Eiger, that enables seamless over-the-air updates of new products and features to improve hardware already in the field. For more information, visit the Onyx ESD materials page. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.