Onyx · print state · default condition
Onyx As Printed
Properties of the As Printed condition, compared with the other Onyx grades.
Default choice for jigs, fixtures and covers where stiffness and surface finish matter more than ultimate strength.
What is Onyx As Printed?
Onyx As Printed is Onyx in the As Printed condition — default choice for jigs, fixtures and covers where stiffness and surface finish matter more than ultimate strength. Onyx As Printed has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.348 Msi). Onyx As Printed has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), lighter than 79% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F).
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 25%, better than 98% of composite grades
- Lightweight — 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), better than 79% of composite grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 40 MPa (5.8 ksi), worse than 100% of composite grades
- Limited service temperature — 110°C (230 °F), worse than 88% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 2.4 GPa (0.348 Msi), worse than 86% of composite grades
Onyx As Printed properties
Typical room-temperature values for Onyx As Printed — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every Onyx grade. Each bar shows where the value sits among the composite grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical5
Onyx As Printed has a density of 1.2 g/cm³ (0.0434 lb/in³), lighter than 79% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 60°C (140 °F).
Mechanical9
Onyx As Printed has a yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.348 Msi).
Thermal7
Onyx As Printed is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 0.35 W/m·K (0.202 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 50% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 45 µm/m·K (25 µin/in·°F).
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of composite grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Onyx As Printed takes about 135 MJ of energy and emits 8 kg of CO₂ — less than 56% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Onyx As Printed's machinability is good (55/100, better than 72% of composite grades).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other Onyx grades and fills
Onyx is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the Onyx overview.
- As PrintedDefaultDefault choice for jigs, fixtures and covers where stiffness and surface finish matter more than ultimate strength.40 MPa tensile
- CFF-CFUse when a printed part must replace machined aluminium in stiffness/strength; values apply along the continuous fiber direction only.800 MPa tensile
- CFF-HSHT-FGChoose when reinforced parts see elevated temperature or need higher impact toughness than standard fiberglass.600 MPa tensile
- FRPick when the printed part must meet UL 94 V-0 flammability, e.g. electrical enclosures and rail/industrial interiors.50 MPa tensile
- ESDChoose for electronics handling fixtures, wafer/PCB tooling and any part that must bleed off static charge.42 MPa tensile
Working with Onyx As Printed
Is Onyx easy to machine?
Drilling/reaming and light milling are fine with sharp carbide tools, but the chopped carbon fiber is abrasive and cutting into sparse infill exposes voids — design in solid regions where you plan to machine.
Can Onyx be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; parts are joined with cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesive, threaded inserts or mechanical fasteners after light surface abrasion.
Can Onyx be formed, bent or molded?
Processed only by FFF extrusion at roughly 260–285 °C on Markforged printers; dry the spool before use, keep walls ≥ 4 layers and orient loads in-plane to avoid weak Z-axis interlayer failure.
What surface finishes work on Onyx?
Prints leave a matte black surface that needs no painting; sanding, filling and adhesion-promoter primer are required if coating, and no anodizing/plating applies.
Onyx chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| chopped (micro) carbon fiberloading not published by producer; SDS indicates <20 wt% | 5 – 20 | 12 |
| polyamide (PA6/PA66) matrixsemi-crystalline nylon copolymer base resin | balance | — |
Onyx As Printed — frequently asked
What is Onyx As Printed used for?
Onyx As Printed is typically used for jigs, fixtures and tooling. In short: carbon-filled tough nylon.
What is the yield strength of Onyx As Printed?
Onyx As Printed has a typical yield strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 100% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Onyx As Printed easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, better than 72% of composite grades). Drilling/reaming and light milling are fine with sharp carbide tools, but the chopped carbon fiber is abrasive and cutting into sparse infill exposes voids — design in solid regions where you plan to machine.
Can Onyx As Printed be welded?
Not weldable in the metal sense; parts are joined with cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesive, threaded inserts or mechanical fasteners after light surface abrasion.
What surface finishes work on Onyx As Printed?
Prints leave a matte black surface that needs no painting; sanding, filling and adhesion-promoter primer are required if coating, and no anodizing/plating applies.
Can Onyx As Printed be formed, bent or molded?
Processed only by FFF extrusion at roughly 260–285 °C on Markforged printers; dry the spool before use, keep walls ≥ 4 layers and orient loads in-plane to avoid weak Z-axis interlayer failure.
What is the maximum service temperature of Onyx As Printed?
Onyx As Printed is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in Onyx As Printed?
Yes — Onyx As Printed is available for 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Markforged Composites Material Datasheet (Onyx, Onyx FR, Onyx ESD, CFF fibers) — Markforged (2023)
- Onyx Safety Data Sheet / filament technical bulletin — Markforged (2022)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D256 / D648 test methods referenced by the producer — ASTM International (2022)
- Engineering property data for carbon-fiber-filled polyamide (matrix baseline values) — ASM International / CAMPUS polymer data (2020)
- 3D Markforged Onyx (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.