
McService Overcomes the Limitations of Traditional Manufacturing with the FX20™
Fixture for Verifying Gearbox Alignment
In the industrial machinery and equipment sector, customization and speed are critical factors to maintain competitiveness. McService, an Italian company specializing in designing and manufacturing turnkey solutions for industrial automation, has found a way to balance these needs with 3D printing.
The Challenge
Industrial production lines often require customized equipment to meet the specific requirements of clients. However, traditional manufacturing methods, such as welding metal plates, can be slow, expensive, and only suitable for a limited range of applications. This slows down production processes, increases costs, and reduces companies' competitive edge. For instance, producing a fixture that verifies the alignment of gears in a gearbox traditionally took weeks and relied on heavy materials like iron, which negatively impacted the ergonomics of the tools and extended production times.
The Solution
To overcome these limitations, McService adopted Markforged industrial 3D printers, particularly the X7™ and FX20™, utilizing the composite material Onyx®. With these technologies, the company has successfully produced customized components with drastically reduced time and costs.
A notable example is the gear alignment verification fixture. Manufactured using the FX20, this tool incorporates an electronic board that provides audio and visual feedback and features handles integrated directly into the main structure for enhanced ergonomics and functionality. The Digital Forge™ platform enabled printing of customized labels with instructions and brand details, further improving the product’s functionality.

Benefits
The adoption of 3D printing has brought numerous tangible benefits:
- Production of large and high-strength parts: Thanks to the FX20, McService can create robust and functional components of significant size, ideal for complex industrial applications.
- Time savings: Traditional manufacturing of the gear alignment verification fixture required approximately 2 weeks. However, with the FX20’s printing speed, the part is ready in just 1.5 days.
- Cost optimization: Eliminating welding processes and utilizing Onyx material has reduced costs, achieving a 40% savings for the fixture.
- Weight reduction: The 3D-printed fixture weighs only 1 kg, less than half of the 2.5 kg of the traditional iron version. This improvement has made the tool lighter and more ergonomic for operators.
- Design flexibility: The freedom of design enabled by 3D printing has allowed the integration of advanced functionalities and customizations without any additional costs.
Thanks to the FX20 printer and Onyx material from Markforged, McService has transformed a complex process into a fast, efficient, and ergonomic solution, solidifying its position as a leader in implementing advanced technologies for industrial automation.
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