3D printer that can print carbon fiber

The Carbon Fiber 3D Printer Buyer's Guide 2022

Carbon fiber is strong, stiff, light and increasingly affordable to 3D print for companies, engineers and designers. Carbon fiber is an effective replacement for many metal parts in industry, with 3D printing offering faster prototyping, functional testing, and end user part carbon fiber production.

So, for any decision makers looking to implement carbon fiber 3D printing into their workflow, we’ve summarized all your carbon fiber 3D printer options under $10,000.

Types of carbon fiber 3D printer

Chopped Carbon Fiber 3D printers

Chopped carbon fiber filaments are the main filaments used for standard FDM 3D printing.

Most of the lower cost options on this list print chopped carbon fiber filaments, which are tiny sub-millimeter carbon fibers mixed with a standard thermoplastic filament, such as Nylon, ABS, or PLA.

They make the filaments stronger, stiffer and more heat resistant, and print in mostly the same way as the standard filaments, just at higher temperatures and requiring an abrasive-resistant nozzle.

Continuous Carbon Fiber 3D printers

Continuous carbon fibers are long (unchopped and continuous) strands that are laid on top of the original chopped carbon fiber “shell” or “matrix”.

These continuous lengths of carbon fiber are deposited by a second extruder, creating even tougher parts than can absorb tough impacts and distribute heavy loads.

Tips for 3D printing carbon fiber:

Hardened steel or ruby nozzle: these nozzles better resist the abrasiveness of carbon fiber filaments.
Print at a higher temperature, as hardened nozzles are less thermally conductive: generally 260°C+.
Larger nozzle size: se a slightly larger 0.5-0.6mm nozzle rather than a 0.4mm.
Print slower than you would print standard filaments.

Pulse XE — low cost carbon fiber 3D printer option

Price: $999 — Available on Matterhackers here
Build volume: 250 x 210 x 215 mm

Made by trusted 3D printer retailer Matterhackers and inspired from the original Prusa design, the Pulse XE is a low cost carbon fiber 3D printer especially designed to print Matterhackers’ NylonX filament.

NylonX is a mix of nylon with carbon fibers, with the Pulse XE able to print a range of other carbon fiber filaments thanks to its fitted Bondtech BMG extruder and E3D V6 hot end, along with your choice of either a hardened steel nozzle or ruby-tipped nozzle if you choose to upgrade. It’s marketed as a general advanced materials 3D printer capable of printing a variety of other tougher composite and abrasive filaments.

The Pulse XE offers a far cheaper way of 3D printing carbon fiber, but you’ll likely need the enclosure kit (another $300) to avoid warping as maintaining temperature is more difficult in an open air 3D printer than an enclosed 3D printer.

We also have a ranking of the best enclosed 3D printers.

Taking after the Prusa, it’s a reliable workhorse 3D printer that can also print standard filaments like metal filled filaments, PETG, and many advanced and abrasive filaments and composites. It prints up to 60mm/s (but be wary with tougher materials and slow down if you face issues), with resolutions of up to 20 microns possible.

You can mix and match and upgrade as you see fit based on your needs and preferences, including a hi-res LCD screen, upgrading to a 32-bit board, ruby nozzle, and a host of other improvements — it’s a very versatile carbon 3D printer that’ll save you some money compared to other 3D printers for carbon fiber if you’re on a tight budget.

Raise3D E2

Price: $3,499 — Available on Matterhackers here / Available on Dynamism here
Build volume: 330 x 240 x 240 mm

Raise3D make excellent professional 3D printers capable of large-scale 3D printing and high quality prototyping, and we could have also picked the Raise3D Pro2 Plus as an excellent carbon fiber 3D printer option for larger carbon fiber prototypes.

The Raise3D E2 is an enclosed 3D printer featuring IDEX technologies with Mirror and Duplication modes for efficient and effective dual extrusion 3D printing that still offers good print volumes. It’s fully enclosed, with a controlled heated chamber ideal for printing small to medium-sized carbon fiber prototypes.

And if you’re looking to print larger (up to 600mm tall) prototypes instead, go for the Raise3D Pro2 Plus.

The Raise3D E2 comes with a host of features that make your workflow easier and more efficient, including filament run out sensors, print resume features in the event of a power loss, and a full-color touchscreen with all analytics viewable during printing. The printer also comes with a flexible build plate that makes removing parts easier without damaging them — ideal for quickly removing carbon fiber prototypes to test them and iterate.

The Raise3D E2 CF is also set for release soon, further adding to the carbon fiber printing potential the E2 offers.

It’s not a specialized carbon fiber 3D printer, but it can handle carbon fiber filaments without issue. Beyond just carbon fiber 3D printing, the E2 also comfortably prints glass fiber infused filaments, PP, PC, Nylon, metal filled filaments, ABS, and more.

Fusion3 F410 — large carbon fiber 3D printer

Carbon fiber 3D printer price: $4,999
Build volume: 355 x 355 x 315 mm

Offering professional quality and industrial volume at desktop prices, the Fusion3 F410 is one of the top options around if you’re looking for a 3D printer for carbon fiber.

It’s fast — 250mm/s print speed — offers up to 20-micron layer resolution, and is ideal for both businesses and classrooms for 3D printing either larger prototypes or many smaller parts simultaneously for a class. You can add HEPA air filters to keep your print environment more pleasant and prevent any harmful gases being inhaled during the print process.

For 3D carbon fiber printing, the F410’s excellent build volume, large heated bed and enclosed print area make it ideal for high temperature filament printing. It’s been tried and tested with a number of different carbon fiber reinforced filaments, including 3DXTech and various other brands and composites, proving every time to work well. Almost all carbon fiber filaments should be compatible with it, owing to its 300°C maximum nozzle temperature — but you can read the full list of compatible filaments here.

The F410 comes with a hardened steel nozzle that can handle the abrasiveness of carbon fiber and other trickier filaments, and is an ideal carbon fiber 3D printer for under $5,000.

Makerbot Method and Method X Carbon Fiber Edition

Price: $5,499 — Available on Matterhackers here / Available on Dynamism here
Build volume: 190 x 190 x 196 mm

Makerbot’s specialized carbon fiber printer, the Method (and Method X) Carbon Fiber Edition, is designed to save businesses costs prototyping and creating, improve productivity, and encourage faster innovation.

The Method Carbon Fiber prints carbon fiber-reinforced Nylon as well as a host of other engineering-grade composite filaments. Makerbot themselves offer two carbon fiber Nylon blends:

Nylon 6/66: offering fantastic strength to weight ratio and good heat resistance.
Nylon 12: offering better moisture resistance, as well as a simpler and more reliable 3D printing experience overall.

Both Nylon carbon fiber 3D printer materials work well in structural applications and in general tough part production, with Makerbot championing the materials for replacing metal parts.

In addition to these carbon fiber nylon filaments, Makerbot offer SR-30 soluble filaments that can be dissolved for flawless surface finishes on parts, and a range of other high-quality materials. You can also use other materials as the Method is an open platform for other advanced filaments.

The Method features a 60°C heated chamber, and if you want to go higher, you can instead buy the Makerbot Method X which can reach 110°C to print a wider range of composite materials. You get a dual extruder for multi-material or multi-color 3D printing, and up to 20-micron resolution and 0.2mm dimensional accuracy.

Some may find the smaller than average build volume an issue, especially as if you are planning on using the dual extruder the X-axis maxes out at 152mm rather than 190mm. However, for small and medium part production the Method Carbon Fiber 3D printer is a great overall option, packed with features to maximize prototyping efficiency including a flexible steel build plate for adhesion and quick part removal, a 5-inch full color touchscreen for efficient printer interaction, and a camera for remote print monitoring.

Ultimaker S5

Price: $5,995 — Available on Matterhackers here / Available on Dynamism here
Build volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm

A favorite among designers, prototypers and companies worldwide, the Ultimaker S5 marries fantastic precision and part quality, with the robustness and reliability of a top FDM 3D printer.Switching to the CC print core for 3D printing carbon fiber on the Ultimaker S5.

The S5 isn’t as standard a carbon fiber 3D printer, but can be upgraded by buying Ultimaker’s CC Red 0.6 print core, which seamlessly slips into place to start printing abrasive and advanced filaments like carbon fiber. The CC Red works on both the S3 and S5, but not for the Ultimaker 3.

The upgraded print core transforms the Ultimaker S5, giving you all the S5’s precision and reliability in creating fantastic prototypes, as well as the ability to print carbon fiber composites. You can print with dual extruders without issue, and the S5 comes with a 7-inch full color touchscreen for easy operation and print monitoring, and a removable glass print bed for good carbon fiber part adhesion and easy part removal.

XYZprinting PartPro300 XT

Price: $5,500 — Available on Dynamism here
Build volume: 295 x 300 x 300 mm

XYZprinting have expanded far beyond their original horizons when they producing some of the best selling cheap 3D printers around — they now sell SLS 3D printers, a handheld 3D scanner, and full color 3D printers.

The PartPro300 XT is XYZprinting’s venture into making a commercial 3D printer capable of consistently printing advanced filaments like carbon fiber. Its dual extruders are fitted with hardened steel nozzles that can handle carbon fiber’s abrasiveness, and prints at a very fast 300mm/s for the rapid prototyping of large parts in record time.

Like most carbon fiber 3D printers the PartPro300 XT has a regulated heated chamber and enclosure for high quality part production, preventing temperature deviations that could cause imperfections in the prototype. The PartPro300’s filament humidity system prevents conditions from affecting filament quality, ensuring parts are as strong and offer the best surface area possible. Overall, it’s a powerful carbon fiber 3D printer that can print a range of other engineering-grade filaments too without issue.

Markforged Onyx One — for high quality carbon fiber 3D printing

Price: $3,499
Build volume: 320 x 132 x 154 mm

Markforged pioneered composite and high quality carbon fiber 3D printing with their professional FDM printer range, before expanding into metal 3D printers with their Metal X 3D printer.

For designers and engineers looking to print carbon fiber prototypes but without the $10,000+ for the Mark Two, the Onyx One is an ideal continuous carbon fiber 3D printer.

The Onyx One prints with Markforged’s specialized Onyx filament, offering great surface finishes and precision.

Onyx Filament

Specially designed for Markforged’s carbon fiber printers, Onyx is carbon fiber filled Nylon offering high strength, chemical resistance and excellent overall toughness. It can also be reinforced with continuous fibers as a continuous carbon fiber 3D printer filament for even better aluminum-level strength.

Desktop Metal Fiber HT & LT — Professional Continuous Carbon Fiber 3D Printer

Price: $3,495 per year — request a quote here
Build volume: 310 x 240 x 270 mm

Combining the exceptional performance of continuous carbon fiber with FDM 3D printing, Desktop Metal say their Fiber 3D printers produce parts stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and capable of operating in up to 250°C temperatures.

Desktop Metal use a process called Micro Automated Fiber Placement to apply continuous carbon fiber (or fiberglass) tape along critical load paths using the second extruder, while printing carbon fiber nylon filaments on the first. This creates denser, reinforced parts with excellent strength and low weight.

The Fiber system uses two print heads: one for either continuous carbon fiber (or fiberglass) tape, and one to deposit the carbon-fiber reinforced filament to make up the “shell” or “matrix” of the part. However, if you’re looking for versatility you can switch the materials and instead print with PEEK, PEKK, or PA6 Nylon.

The Fiber carbon fiber additive manufacturing system comes in two options: the Fiber HT, and Fiber LT, a more basic version. The main difference is the Fiber HT can reach high enough temperatures to 3D print PEEK and PEKK, whereas the LT edition prints with either carbon fiber or Nylon PA6.

We also have a buyer’s guide for PEEK 3D printers.

Desktop Metal’s innovative business model lets you rent their industrial carbon fiber 3D printers for a yearly fee, rather than shouldering the entire cost upfront. This brings professional 3D printing into range for many more smaller companies looking to prototype or produce parts on-demand, making high-quality continuous carbon fiber 3D printing more accessible than ever.

10 Best Carbon Fiber 3D Printers In 2022

Qidi Tech X-Plus
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MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition
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Ultimaker S5
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Table of Contents
Best Carbon Fiber 3D Printers At A Glance
1. MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition (Best Choice)
2. Qidi Tech X-Plus (Best Value)
3. Ultimaker S5 (Premium Choice)
4. XYZ PartPro300 xT (Beginner-Friendly)
5. Raise3D Pro3 (Most Reliable)
6. Fusion3 Edge (Best Large-Format)
7. Pulse XE (High Performance)
8. Markforged Mark Two (Best For Strongest Parts)
9. Delta WASP 2040 Industrial X (Fastest)
10. Desktop Metal Fiber
Printing with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Filament
Chopped Carbon Fiber vs. Continuous Carbon Fiber
Is 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Strong?
Ideal Designs for Carbon Fiber 3D Printers
Tips for Successful Carbon Fiber Printing
Pros and Cons of Carbon Fiber 3D Printers
Go Strong, Go Carbon Fiber
Best Carbon Fiber 3D Printers At A Glance
1. MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition (Best Choice)
2. Qidi Tech X-Plus (Best Value)
3. Ultimaker S5 (Premium Choice)
4. XYZ PartPro300 xT (Beginner Friendly)
5. Raise3D Pro3 (Most Reliable)
6. Fusion3 Edge (Best Large Format)
7. Pulse XE (High Performance)
8. Markforged Mark Two (Best for Strongest Parts)
9. Delta WASP 2040 Industrial 4.0 (Fastest)
10. Desktop Metal Fiber

1. MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition (Best Choice)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: Tough, PLA, PVA, PETG, Nylon, Nylon Carbon Fiber | Build Volume: 190 x 190 x 196 mm
If you’re only ever going to buy one carbon fiber 3D printer, make it the MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition (CFE). This machine brings you everything you could need.
With a minimum layer resolution of 20 microns, this printer creates surface details few FDM printers can match. That quality is due to the enclosed chamber that guarantees uniform heating.
METHOD X CFE also features dual extruder printing and can print water-soluble supports. It ships with three different extruders, each optimized for different filaments. You can print with practically any filament you want.
This fully production-ready printer supports everything from basic PLA to high-performance materials, even from third parties. It can even print parts good enough to replace metal. If you can dream it, METHOD X CFE can print it.
But wait, we haven’t gotten to the best part yet.
METHOD X CFE is automated to a mind-blowing degree. Material loading, bed leveling, Z-axis and nozzle calibration… The printer takes care of it all on its own and saves you hours in print preparation. Just hit Start and move on with your day.
If we have to nitpick to find downsides, you have to wait a bit for parts to cool down due to the heated chamber. As a professional quality (pro-quality) printer, METHOD X CFE is also pricey.
Note that MakerBot recently announced its merger with Ultimaker. The companies say they will keep manufacturing their respective printers, but we’ll have to wait and see what future support will be like.
But if you want to print carbon fiber filaments, get the MakerBot METHOD X CFE. It’s simply the best carbon fiber 3D printer available.

2. Qidi Tech X-Plus (Best Value)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon, Carbon Fiber & Polycarbonate | Build Volume: 270 x 200 x 200 mm
Whoever said there’s no such thing as affordable quality hasn’t seen Qidi Tech’s X-Plus. This printer serves up incredible flexibility at a price point well below $1,000. The machine achieves that versatility by essentially having two sides to it.
What exactly does that mean?
X-Plus ships with two swappable extruders — A and B. Similarly, it has a double-sided flexible printing bed and two filament holders.
Extruder A, combined with the A-side of the print platform and the external filament holder, makes printing regular filaments a breeze. The outside filament holder smoothly feeds PLA, ABS, or TPU filament into the machine.
But it’s the B-side where things get advanced. Extruder B is specifically designed for harsher advanced materials, like nylon or carbon fiber filament. You place carbon fiber materials into the internal filament holder within the ventilated enclosed chamber, which keeps their temperature steady for excellent print quality.
With X-Plus, you also get a very generously sized print chamber — well beyond what you’d expect at this price. You can easily print either large-scale parts or a whole bunch of small components from carbon fiber-reinforced filaments right at home. If you’re dreaming of an advanced 3D printing station in your garage, X-Plus makes your dreams come true.
But the low price shows in some things. The user manual and online resources are pretty poorly translated and occasionally devolve into non-English. Luckily, the company’s excellent customer service will quickly answer any questions.
Qidi Tech X-Plus is your printer of choice for reliable carbon fiber printing that won’t break the bank.

3. Ultimaker S5 (Premium Choice)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: Tough PLA, TPU 95A, ABS, Nylon, TPU | Build Volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm
Are you serious about carbon fiber 3D printing? Do you want to make pro-quality parts with a pro-quality machine at your home? Ultimaker S5 will keep you in business — with a capital B.
S5 is a popular machine among such huge companies as Volkswagen and Ford, and for a good reason. Its impressive collection of features makes it an “always-on” production powerhouse.
The S5 has swappable print cores and ships with three different ones. You can change them as needed to print with more than 200 filaments of different thicknesses and properties. Simply pop in the hardened print core and you’re ready to print carbon fibers.
But S5 goes much further in productivity.
With its dual extruders, S5 can print two different filaments at once. It can also automatically swap between the extruders on the fly to deliver accurate and multi-color parts. You can easily fill the S5’s massive print chamber with huge carbon fiber components.
If you’re looking for more dual extruder 3D printers check out our article here.
But one of the best things about the S5 is how easy it is to use. You can quickly set up the machine with the large touchscreen and it comes with advanced automated features, like bed leveling. Ultimaker’s Cura software unlocks further control options.
Of course, all this comes at a price, which is very high. S5 is also a big machine, so it can’t fit in just any living room corner.
Anybody looking to run a professional carbon fiber printing business from home can’t go wrong with Ultimaker S5. After all, it’s built for professionals.

4. XYZ PartPro300 xT (Beginner-Friendly)

3D Printer Type: FFF | Materials: Carbon PLA, Nylon, Metallic, PETG, ABS, TPE, PLA & Tough PLA | Build Volume: 295 × 300 × 300 mm
PartPro300 xT by XYZprinting is a carbon fiber 3D printer for people who don’t want to spend much time operating the machine itself. This printer could borrow the famous slogan of Ronco rotisserie ovens — just set it and forget it.
PartPro300 xT comes with a hardened steel nozzle on each of its dual extruders as the default option. The nozzle tolerates high temperatures and abrasive materials. It makes printing durable and detailed parts very easy.
And as you’re about to find out, “easy” is the key word here.
XYZprinting has gone above and beyond to make PartPro300 xT as simple to use as possible. The printer is easy to set up thanks to extensive automated features, including bed leveling and calibration. You’ll be printing as soon as you pull the machine out of the box and let it calibrate itself.
As a unique feature, PartPro300 xT has a separate enclosed filament holder that fits two giant three-kilogram filament spools. You can keep printing for a long time before you have to go through the hassle of replacing the spools. The printer also has a convenient resume function in case you lose power during printing.
The external filament chamber takes up quite a bit of space, though. Additionally, you can’t print with both extruders if you want to make the most of the big printing chamber.
XYZprinting PartPro300 xT is your choice if you want to make detailed carbon fiber printing as easy as possible.

5. Raise3D Pro3 (Most Reliable)

3D Printer Type: FFF | Materials: PLA, ABS, HIPS, PC, TPU, TPE, PETG, ASA, PP, PVA, Nylon, Glass Fiber Infused, Carbon Fiber Infused, Metal Fill & Wood Fill | Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 300 mm
Raise3D Pro3 looks like it could take an atomic blast with just a shrug. The sturdy appearance is a great indicator of what you can expect. If it’s reliability you’re after, here you go.
Pro3 is a workhorse in every sense of the word. It will keep printing for hours with steadily excellent print quality.
How does the printer achieve that?
The automatic bed leveling and calibration certainly help. So do the dual extruders that heat up to 300°C, which is enough to process a wide selection of filaments, including harsh carbon fiber-reinforced materials, without jams or clogs.
Those extruders give Pro3 an impressive 10-micron minimum layer height. Contributing to the predictable print quality is also the HEPA-filtered enclosed chamber with air circulation management. It keeps the temperature stable while filtering out excess noise and printing fumes.
Imagine safely running a printer in the same room and still hearing your thoughts. That’s not something many carbon fiber printers can achieve. Trust me, a quiet 3D printer is like a bidet. It’s something you didn’t know you needed in your life.
Maintenance is also a cinch. You can swap the printer hot ends literally within seconds. The printer automatically pauses prints if you open the chamber door and has power loss recovery features. Pro3 also includes the smart EVE assistant system that helps you troubleshoot problems for a quick fix.
True to its tank-like nature, the printer is bulky and kind of slow, though. And that’s a great way to wrap things up. Raise3D Pro3 is like a stubborn turtle — it prints steadily and reliably, come what may.

6. Fusion3 Edge (Best Large-Format)

3D Printer Type: FFF | Materials: PLA, ABS, ASA, Reinforced Materials including Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, and Fiberglass, Flexible, Nylons, PET/PETG & Polycarbonate | Build Volume: 355 × 355 × 368 mm
Do you like big parts and you cannot lie? If so, when Fusion3 Edge walks in with itty-bitty detail quality and a huge print chamber in your face, you’re about to get sprung.
Although it makes the machine itself big, Edge offers a massive build volume. The 368 x 368 x 343 mm print chamber can house pretty enormous parts. Thanks to its pro-level print quality, you could easily make spare parts for cars or any other machines at home.
Oh yes, the print quality. Let’s talk about that.
Instead of your usual screw-in hardened steel nozzle, Edge uses a single swappable surgical steel print tube. The fascinating print head configuration heats up to 320°C and handles carbon-fiber-reinforced filament without a problem.
Consequently, the printer has an impressive print speed and produces sharp details. It’s also less prone to leakage than a regular nozzle.
Edge is an open platform printer, so it works with practically any third-party filaments. The high hot end temperature means you can feed it pretty much anything.
The enclosed and HEPA-filtered enclosure makes Edge a quiet machine and reduces emissions. You can put it in an office or a classroom without worrying about noise or smells.
You better make space for the printer, though, because it’s really huge. It also comes with a price tag that rivals the printer in size.
But you can’t print big without a big machine. Fusion3 Edge is definitely the way to go if you want a large-format carbon fiber 3D printer.

7. Pulse XE (High Performance)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PVA, PLA, ABS, Nylon, Bronze PLA, Brass PLA, Wood PLA, Copper PLA, TPU, PETG , Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, Aluminum PLA, Magnetic Iron PLA, ColorFabb XT CF20 (PET-G), CopperFill, BronzeFill, WoodFill, CorkFillr, Flexfill 98A TPU, PLA 3D870 (APLA) | Build Volume: 250 x 220 x 215 mm
Those looking for a high-performance machine to produce carbon fiber prints shouldn’t miss Pulse XE. It’s a real gem of a carbon fiber 3D printer — literally.
Pulse XE has an optional nozzle that’s tipped with an Olsson Ruby. This jewel-tipped nozzle is built to withstand abrasive materials, like nylon and carbon fiber filaments. Another thing contributing to Pulse XE’s high performance is how easy it is to start printing. The machine comes with every component pre-installed and it’s ready to print right out of the box.
Not only are the prints high quality, so are the printer’s parts. Pulse XE is built from well-crafted, high-quality materials and needs little maintenance.
Just plug it in and after a short automatic calibration, you’re good to go for years.
As an interesting quirk, Pulse XE is designed to work specifically with MatterHackers’ MatterControl software. The features the application unlocks give the printer incredible versatility — if you have a dedicated computer.
Unfortunately, Pulse XE does have a couple of downsides.
First, it moves the print bed horizontally during printing. This method gives it a sluggish print speed since fast movements could cause layer misalignment. The detail quality can make up for the lack of speed, though.
Second, Pulse XE doesn’t come with an enclosed chamber. Exposure to room temperature air could lead to layer separation and there’s nothing to filter out printing fumes.
But at less than $1,500, Pulse XE is an affordable high-performance carbon fiber printer. With an added enclosure, it can only get better.

8. Markforged Mark Two (Best For Strongest Parts)

3D Printer Type: CFF | Materials: Onyx, Carbon Fibre, Fibreglass, Nylon, Kevlar, High Temp. Fibreglass | Build Volume: 320 × 132 × 154 mm
Markforged Mark Two is here to show you what heavy-duty means. When you need the roughest and toughest parts, this machine will deliver in spades.
Unlike most carbon fiber 3D printers that use chopped carbon fiber filament, Mark Two uses continuous carbon fiber printing. Using a second extruder, it feeds a steady strand of carbon fiber between material layers, giving parts uniform strength. Not only that, but Mark Two can also reinforce parts with kevlar or fiberglass.
And the result?
Parts that are more than twice as tough as aluminum.
The heavy-duty theme carries over to Mark Two’s general habitus. It’s a professionally-built, sturdy machine with an enclosed heated print chamber. This gives the parts a high print quality and contributes to their incredible strength.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to run a home factory to make spare engine parts for cars or motorcycles, this is your machine.
But do note that Mark Two is an industrial machine to boot. It doesn’t have automatic calibration, so you’ll have to dial in all the settings manually. Fortunately, the large and responsive touchscreen makes setup easier.
Mark Two works only with Markforged’s proprietary Onyx nylon material, which is expensive. That only adds to the printer’s staggering retail price, so you better be serious about continuous carbon fiber printing.
But if you are and you have the money, go right ahead. Anyone looking for an industrial-level carbon fiber printer to make incredibly strong parts won’t find a better machine.

9. Delta WASP 2040 Industrial X (Fastest)

3D Printer Type: FFF | Materials: ASA, ABS, High-Impact PS, PETG, TPU, TPE, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, PC+ABS, PPS, PMMA, PVA, PA, PA Carbon & PLA | Build Volume: 200 x 200 x 400 mm
Who says industrial-quality carbon fiber printers have to cost a fortune and be difficult to use? Certainly not Delta. Their WASP 2040 Industrial X printer offers simple, professional productivity at a surprisingly affordable price.
WASP 2040 has a unique movement mechanism when compared to other printers on this list. Three robotic arms move the extruder around, which lets you easily print curved geometries.
This should make the printer more difficult to calibrate, but Delta has included advanced automatic calibration to make using the WASP easy. As a result, it reaches amazing speed while being simple to operate.
But with speed comes poor print quality, right? Not in this case.
Delta’s Hot and Cold technology maintains a steady temperature in the printing chamber while cooling down the machine’s components. You won’t have to waste time and money by constantly replacing burnt-out parts.
The printer’s dual gear filament driver pushes material through the nozzle at a steady pressure. It gives the WASP great detail quality while reducing clogs. With WASP 2040, you can just print without worrying about maintenance.
Now, WASP 2040 isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s very affordable considering everything you get. It supports a wide range of third-party filaments, so you can save money by using cheaper materials.
The printer retails for around $5,000, so it’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for industrial-level capabilities at a great value.

10. Desktop Metal Fiber

3D Printer Type: Micro Automated Fiber Placement (uAFP) | Materials: Nylon (PA6), PEEK, and PEKK, which can be reinforced by carbon fiber- and fiberglass μAFP tapes | Build Volume: 310 × 240 × 270 mm
Buying your own carbon fiber 3D printer can be a tough decision. If you’d rather rent one instead, Desktop Metal Fiber might be the solution you’re looking for.
Instead of selling the machine, Desktop Metal provides the Fiber printer on a subscription basis. The three-year contract runs about $5,000 per year and delivers you a machine that’s ready to use out of the box.
And we really mean that. Fiber has two different settings available, one for entry-level users and another opt-in control scheme for advanced operators. It’s a printer that grows with your skills and gives you exactly the level of control you need.
But what about the part quality? Well, you have nothing to worry about.
The unique subscription model nets you a printer that makes extremely strong parts. Fiber uses continuous carbon fiber technology, meaning that it feeds a continuous strand of carbon fiber between part layers. It can even alter the direction the fiber runs for extra strength.
Fiber can use nylon, PEKK, or PEEK as the base material for carbon fiber composite materials, so you have options. It’s unfortunate that the printer is locked to Desktop Metal’s materials, though.
The subscription model might not be for everybody, but it’s an interesting sales model. Desktop Metal Fiber is a high-quality, professional carbon fiber 3D printer for the adventurous printer user.

Printing with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Filament
Carbon fiber can make for incredibly tough but lightweight parts. But you can’t get successful results even with the best carbon fiber 3D printer if you don’t understand the material you’re working with.
So, what exactly is carbon fiber?
We often think of sleek and shiny carbon fiber as modern, but carbon fiber was first made all the way back in 1860. The material consists of carbon atoms bonded together into thin but long chains. But when you print with “carbon fiber” filaments, you’re not actually printing with just carbon fiber.
Instead, 3D printers use either carbon fiber composites or reinforcement. But how do these two technologies differ from each other?

Chopped Carbon Fiber vs. Continuous Carbon Fiber
When most people talk about “carbon fiber filaments,” they generally mean chopped carbon fiber filament. As it says on the label, manufacturers mix short carbon fibers into the base material to make these materials
The most common base for chopped carbon filament is PLA. This thermoplastic creates accurate surface details but isn’t very sturdy — unless you mix it with carbon fibers. The presence of the carbon fiber material gives the filament enhanced mechanical characteristics.
Not every carbon fiber filament is PLA, though. For example, Onyx — the proprietary material Markforged Mark Two relies on — is based on nylon. Nylon is naturally strong, so you can imagine how strong it gets with carbon fibers. The downside is nylon’s high melting temperature and abrasiveness, but then again you need a reinforced nozzle to print carbon fiber in the first place.
The second carbon fiber technology is continuous carbon fiber reinforcement. If your 3D printer uses this technology, it will feed a continuous strand of carbon fiber into the part you’re printing alongside the thermoplastic filament. The web of continuous carbon fiber makes for extremely sturdy prints, but you need a specialized (and typically expensive) printer with dual extruders.
So, what’s the bottom line?
Continuous carbon fiber reinforcement generally gives you stronger parts, since the carbon fiber filament hasn’t been broken into a billion tiny bits. On the other hand, chopped carbon fiber filament is usually much cheaper. It can still be very strong, but the strength will ultimately depend on how much carbon fiber is mixed into the filament.

Is 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Strong?
Source: Youtube 3D Printer Academy
Carbon fiber’s main selling point is that it produces strong and durable parts. But is that really true?
When people talk about the “strength” of carbon fiber, they often actually mean “rigidity.” In this sense, yes — carbon fiber-reinforced filaments can create extremely rigid parts. With the right material and carbon fiber 3D printer, you can make parts that are more rigid than metal.
That said, carbon fiber-reinforced 3D printed parts are not flexible. It will take a lot to get them to bend, but once they do, the parts will easily snap and break.
The bottom line about carbon fiber parts’ strength is this — they will not bend. We mean that in both a positive and negative sense.
Ideal Designs for Carbon Fiber 3D Printers
Source: Youtube The 3D Print General
Although carbon fiber parts can snap, you shouldn’t take it as a downside. In fact, carbon fiber is one of the best materials to use for parts that you don’t want to bend.
Let’s put it this way. Big-name aerospace and automotive manufacturers — like Ford and Boeing — use carbon fiber 3D printers. They wouldn’t do that unless the technology delivered first-class parts.
But carbon fiber has much to offer you even at home. You can print carbon fiber parts that will perform fantastically as:
Supports
Cases or shells
Tools
Propellers
Gears
Carbon fiber 3D printers are particularly popular with drone and RC car enthusiasts. The lightweight and high toughness of the material are tailor-made for these kinds of uses.

Tips for Successful Carbon Fiber Printing
Printing technical materials like carbon fiber isn’t quite as straightforward as with plain plastics. The properties of carbon filament make the printing process more involved and demand more from your printer.
Here are some tips that help you get high-quality carbon fiber parts:
Use a Hardened Nozzle: Chopped carbon fiber is very abrasive and can quickly wear down low-end printer nozzles. Make sure whichever printer you use has a hardened steel nozzle or another kind of high-performance nozzle.
Tweak Retraction Settings: The carbon fibers within the filament won’t melt during printing and they can clog your nozzle. It’s a good idea to use low or no retraction to avoid material oozing and clogging your printer.
Lower the Print Speed: Some of the listed printers can reach very high speeds, but you can’t print carbon fiber in a rush. A lower print speed can give you better detail quality and prevent nozzle clogs.
Up the Nozzle Size: Nozzles with bigger diameters (0. 5 mm or more) are better for carbon fiber printing. They let the fibers pass through more easily and further prevent clogging issues.
Increase Temperature: Hardened steel nozzles are less thermally conductive than brass ones. Set your hot-end temperature a bit higher than the filament’s recommended setting to keep the material flowing smoothly.
Pros and Cons of Carbon Fiber 3D Printers

Go Strong, Go Carbon Fiber
So, there you have it. Carbon fiber 3D printing lets you make industrial-strength parts with relative ease. Carbon printers aren’t the cheapest machines on the market, but they’re a great investment for any printer user who likes and wants their parts as tough as they come.
We’ve covered many printers, though. If that’s a bit too much to take in, here are our recommendations for the best 3D printers for carbon fiber in different categories.
For a budget carbon fiber 3D printer, pick Qidi Tech X-Plus or Pulse XE. If you need pro-level productivity, Ultimaker S5 or Markforged Mark Two are for you. In case you’re after simple usability, buy XYZ PartPro300 xT. And finally, as the cream of the crop, MakerBot METHOD X Carbon Fiber Edition is the best choice.
Armed with any of these printers, you’re ready to start producing parts that stand out from the rest with their toughness and durability.

Large Format Raise3D RMF500 for 3D Printing with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Materials

Last autumn, the well-known Chinese manufacturer of 3D printers, Raise3D, announced the creation of a new 3D printer for small-scale production in the industrial sector - RMF500 . The unique feature of the novelty is the combination of the ability to print with carbon fiber reinforced material (colloquially carbon fiber), wide format and affordability .

We all know that high technology is becoming more accessible every day, and the RMF500 is a prime example of this. There have been systems on the 3D printing market for several years that print carbon fiber composites of similar quality, but, unfortunately, they are not available to all companies due to the very high cost and supply problems. For example, such professional 3D printers are produced by the American company Stratasys - Fortus 450mc, but they are equipped with less technological features and are much more expensive.

Let's take a closer look at what the RMF500 is and how it differs from other 3D printers.

The RMF500 is specifically designed for printing complex parts with high durability. It will enable 3D printing companies to expand their product portfolio with carbon fiber and fiberglass end parts. Both materials specially developed by Raise3D, such as PA12 CF, and materials from other manufacturers approved by Raise3D under the Open Filament Program (OFP) will work. Parts made of carbon and fiberglass are more rigid, durable, resistant to heat and shock than parts made of other plastics. For carbon and fiberglass printing, the RMF500 uses silicon carbide nozzles with a hardness of more than 60 HRC.

PA12 CF filament is the result of long-term development by Raise3D engineers. This is a carbon fiber reinforced filament with increased stiffness and reduced shrinkage and does not require a thermostatic print chamber. The parts obtained from it are light and extremely durable, sometimes they can even be used instead of metal. In addition, the company has developed the PPA GF glass-filled filament specifically for the RMF500 and plans to release PET-CF, ASA-GF, PPSU-GF and PP plastics for medical use. Raise3D promises that all fiber reinforced plastics will be competitively priced.

The RMF500 has a huge building area 500x500x500 mm. The size of the build area matters in the production of large parts and small-scale production. For comparison, the print area of the Fortus 450mc is 406x355x406mm.

In the photo: printing a large model with carbon fiber in the RMF500 3D printer from Raise3D.

Repeatability and print speed are very important for low volume production. The maximum print speed of the RMF500, according to the manufacturer, can reach 300 mm/s. Positioning accuracy along the XY axis - 1 micron, along the Z axis - 0.09765 microns.

Synchronous feedback control with 1 µm accuracy reduces speed fluctuations as motor load changes, further improving accuracy. Stability and repeatability of printing has long been a hallmark of Raise3D printers. The FFF technology on which this 3D printer is based allows the production of parts with a high degree of repeatability, high positioning accuracy and uniform extrusion. The RMF500 can quickly print large batches of identical parts.

Pictured: production of lots from a large number of parts on the RMF500.

The printer has a printing system with two independent IDEX extruders. It allows you to print with one or two extruders at once. The RMF500 can run two jobs at the same time, further increasing productivity and task speed. The extruders are manufactured using high temperature alloys and industrial ceramic composite materials. These characteristics provide stable and high extrusion speed up to 500 g/h.

The RMF500 has a strong design . The one-piece frame is made of hardened steel. Stainless steel linear guides have a design load of approx. 100 kg. The bearing of the linear guides has minimal backlash and does not require frequent maintenance.

An important detail - Raise3D has developed special support material for printing with reinforced plastic PA12 CF, which can be easily detached.

Pictured: Parts printed on the RMF500 with PA12 CF filament with special proprietary support.

The RMF500 is equipped with four large compartments for plastic spools. Switching between the main and auxiliary compartments occurs automatically. This feature reduces the amount of time spent threading the filament. The humidity control system keeps the relative humidity in the chamber below 5%, preventing humid air from entering from outside.

What else is there in the RMF500 from nice additional options. The front of the printer has a large 13.3-inch touch screen. Supports connection, management and printing via Wi-Fi and LAN. There is a reliable auto-calibration system from Raise3D.

Carbon fiber printed parts are strong enough to be used in the automotive and aerospace industries. Of course, they will not replace functional parts that have a special load, but their scope can be very wide. Raise3D has already presented the results of the first RMF500 printing and its application.

Pictured: Functional parts, accessory tools and fixtures, car décor printed on the RMF500.

Pictured: Functional parts, accessories and aerospace prototype printed on the RMF500.

In the photo: on the left is a prototype of the hinged window mechanism (details are printed with metal filament and carbon), on the right is a carbon fixture. Carbon parts printed on RMF500, metal parts printed on Metalfuse. Printing with fiber-filled plastics does not require a heated chamber, peak power consumption is less than 3 kW. The average power consumption per unit of print area of the RMF500 is 60% lower than the competition. 500 × 500 × 500 mm (when printing and 1 mi and 2 extruders) The number of extruders (printing heads) 2 Positioning on the XY 1 micron Positioning accuracy on the Z 0.09765 Micron The heating temperature of the site to 110 ℃ layer thickness 0. 0.0088 nozzle diameter (mm) 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm

Opestic temperature of the extruder to 330 ℃

to 300 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s. -filter yes

Build Tak pad surface yes

Positioner Rockchip ARM Cortex-M4

Operating systems Linux, Windows, iOS

Maintained file formats STL/ Obj/ OLTP
ETERARNETS, WIRELESS 802.1

Ports USB 2.0 × 1

Electrician 30 A @ 380 volts AC

Energy consumement 24 V, 350 WATT; 12V, 75W

Memory 1 GB, built-in flash memory 8 GB

Sizes (without packaging) 1340 × 2370 mm

2 9000 RMF500 from Raise3D and Mile 3D printing with composite materials, providing accurate and stable and high-performance printing with less economic investment and less power consumption.

Carbon fiber 3D printing

Researchers of the National Laboratory. Lawrence Livermore claim they are the world's first 3D printed carbon fiber aerospace composites and may be paving the way for sophisticated new printouts.

Carbon fiber is a material that is stronger than steel and at the same time very light. Because of this, it is ideal for the manufacture of parts for the aerospace and automotive industries. However, when creating complex shapes from the material using traditional methods, it is extremely difficult to control.

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) may have found a way to change that. The Explorers are the world's first 3D printed carbon fiber aerospace composites. And they believe that because of this work, they will be able to control and optimize the use of high specification material.

This is not the first time carbon fiber has been 3D printed. There are many PLA derivatives that can do the same on a regular home printer. However, it is important to note that the difference is that LLNLs have printed aerospace composites.

Previous problems with carbon fiber composites have included the complex techniques required to create parts and overcompensate material due to "performance issues". However, the researchers at LLNL were able to achieve the same material properties as two-thirds through a new 3D printing method.

To achieve this goal, LLNL created its own Direct Ink Printer (DIW) using its own carbon fiber composite "ink". The researchers also patented a method to cure extruded material in seconds, not hours.

They used the computational model shown in the video above to develop models for the flow of carbon fiber filaments in their inks. Julia Kanarska, Analyst, explains:

“We have developed a numerical code to simulate a non-Newtonian liquid polymer resin with a dispersion of carbon fibers.
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Opestic temperature of the extruder	to 330 ℃
	to 300 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s 900 mm/s. -filter	yes
Build Tak pad surface	yes
Positioner	Rockchip ARM Cortex-M4
Operating systems	Linux, Windows, iOS
Maintained file formats	STL/ Obj/ OLTP
	ETERARNETS, WIRELESS 802.1
Ports	USB 2.0 × 1
Electrician	30 A @ 380 volts AC
Energy consumement	24 V, 350 WATT; 12V, 75W
Memory	1 GB, built-in flash memory 8 GB
Sizes (without packaging)	1340 × 2370 mm