The manufacturer describes the market launch of Blacksmith as an important step towards the future of autonomous manufacturing, in which 3D printers adapt intelligently and take into account variables that may affect a part during printing. The result is accurate and precisely printed parts right from the first print. The new software enables manufacturing companies to print precise parts immediately via the Digital Forge.

Blacksmith combines item design, production and inspection with the ability to learn through artificial intelligence (AI). Because Blacksmith uses collective learning across the entire printer fleet, customers are able to get the right part every time they print. This will make supply chains more resilient and flexible in the future. With Blacksmith, manufacturers can now print their part and scan it at the same time to directly assess how close the printed part is to the planned design. The software is designed to continuously learn from each print through closed-loop processing, so parts can be printed accurately and precisely every time.

For the first time, the printer is fully "aware" of the parts to be produced. By streamlining the workflow, Blacksmith makes the world's production facilities more cost efficient, speeds up time to market and reduces production costs.

Blacksmith's easy-to-use, intelligent software utilizes the power of the X7's existing built-in laser micrometer and a patented, intelligent scanning process to reliably measure parts during printing. The part's dimensional data is then automatically matched to the intended design data. Scanning during the printing process enables inspection of the internal part structure and critical features, which would otherwise be impossible in a single post-production step.

Blacksmith is now available as a software subscription on all cloud-connected Markforged X7 printers. The software is delivered through over-the-air updates for easy customer access and requires an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified reference bed calibration.