Markforged Adds Color to Industrial Nylon with Onyx GF

Markforged has expanded its material offerings with the introduction of Onyx GF, a chopped glass fiber-filled nylon designed for its FX10 and FX20 material extrusion machines. This new material allows users to print parts in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, blue, green, grey, and white.

The primary benefit of Onyx GF is its ability to support modern visual management systems. By enabling color-coded tooling, error-proofing fixtures, and safety indicators, the material aims to enhance operational efficiency and safety on the factory floor. Markforged states that the embedded functional color eliminates the need for secondary processes like painting or label application, while maintaining the tensile strength, stiffness, dimensional accuracy, and print reliability characteristic of existing Onyx materials.

According to Jon Bond, General Manager of FFF at Markforged, Onyx GF removes the compromise between industrial-grade performance and the use of weaker, more brittle plastics like ABS or PLA for color applications. The company suggests this will allow teams to scale visual management strategies seamlessly across their operations.

Potential applications for Onyx GF are identified in sectors such as aerospace and automotive, particularly for Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention programs. The food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries are also noted as potential beneficiaries, especially in production facilities requiring rigorous zone segregation. For applications demanding higher structural performance, Onyx GF parts can be reinforced using Markforged's Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) process, achieving aluminum-strength capabilities.