10 years of reliable performance – the story of the Fortus 450mc
Think back to the moment you first considered investing in additive manufacturing. What was your primary consideration? Would you have reduced risk with a cheaper 3D printer, or prioritized long-term performance with a more robust solution?
If you’re still weighing your options, this blog post will show you why the Fortus 450mc FDM printer remains an outstanding investment to this day.
The professional toolmaking solution for industrial 3D printing: The new Fortus 450mc
Since its introduction in 2014, 92% of the Fortus 450mc printers installed are still in active use today. The new version continues this legacy: it comes with a renewed design, future-proof developments and expanded functionality.
Here are some key features that make the Fortus 450mc a production-line ready solution:
- Reinforced parts for carbon fiber reinforced materials – no need for separate accessory kits
- New application opportunities with recently introduced materials: PC-FR, VICTREX™ AM 200 (PEEK for the oil and gas industry) and PC-ESD
- More advanced processing capabilities with GrabCAD Print Pro software
- Faster printing with Nylon 12CF – coming soon
- New materials, such as fiberglass-reinforced, fire-resistant types – coming soon
Keeping pace with modern manufacturing
It's no coincidence that the Fortus 450mc has become an industry favorite over the past decade. Through regular updates, it has continuously adapted to the changing needs of manufacturing and made industrial additive manufacturing capabilities available at a price much more affordable than premium machines.
The printer has a higher build volume than lower-cost models and can process a wide range of thermoplastics, including high-temperature polymers. It also operates as an open system with the new OpenAM software, allowing it to handle third-party and proprietary materials.
Technology developments in the last 10 years:
2015: ULTEM™ 1010 – a new high-performance plastic
2016: ULTEM™ 9085 Certified Grade – aerospace grade
2016: GrabCAD Print – simplified CAD printing workflow
2017: Nylon 12CF – first carbon fiber FDM material
2018: Antero 800NA – PEKK-based high-performance polymer
2020: MTConnect – communication with production line systems
2022: New printheads (T16A, T20, T20F) – better quality, faster production
2022: OpenAM software – open parameter management
2022: 13 new Validated Materials
2023: GrabCAD Print Pro – increased productivity
2023: IPv6 protocol – more advanced network security
2024: VICTREX™ AM 200 and PC-ESD – new Validated Materials
2025: The next decade of the Fortus 450mc begins – in a new, production-ready version
“That all sounds great, but how does the Fortus 450mc actually perform?” – The answer comes from an independent study that examined the reliability and repeatability of Stratasys FDM technology. The results showed that the Fortus 450mc demonstrated extremely high dimensional accuracy and consistent print performance.
The bottom line: you’ll be hard-pressed to find another FDM printer that offers such industrial-grade additive capabilities in a mid-range, affordable system. The Fortus 450mc can cover a wide range of additive applications while offering more time- and cost-effective solutions than traditional manufacturing methods.
The industrial-grade solution that manufacturers rely on
If all this wasn't enough, let's take a look at some real user experiences:
Mecoval (Spain) – Antonio Enguix Lozano, CEO:
“Stratasys’ industrial-grade material range was a crucial consideration for us. The introduction of the Fortus 450mc has fundamentally changed the way our business operates – we really got what we expected.”
East/West Industries – Mike Vetter, Product Development Director:
“The flexibility of the Fortus 450mc keeps us open to new possibilities. We printed a full-size mold using Nylon 12CF – it worked great on the first try and saved us a lot of time.”
Siemens Mobility – Michael Kuczmik, Head of Additive Manufacturing:
“The rapid and economical production of customized devices and spare parts has revolutionized our supply chain.”
The industrial-grade solution that manufacturers rely on
The Fortus 450mc is still a complete solution for manufacturers after 10 years: opening up new applications, increasing flexibility, while offering reliable operation and simple workflows. The new version continues this legacy.
8 pages of knowledge and inspiration – download now!
We've gathered together why manufacturers around the world choose the Stratasys Fortus® 450mc system.
Technological developments, real-world examples, and the latest material innovations all in one place.