3D Metal Printing Orders Rise 30% Through September
Industrial operators are increasingly adopting hardware with finer laser spot sizes to improve small-part production.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Xact Metal reported a 30% increase in machine orders through September 2026 compared to the prior year. The company also initiated shipments of its XM200G µHD metal printer during Q3 2026.
Why it matters
The order volume surge reflects sustained demand for precision 3D printing equipment capable of handling small-part production. Expanding hardware capabilities allow manufacturers to integrate finer particle and laser specifications into their existing production workflows.
Manufacturer machine orders rose by 30% through September 2026 versus the same period in the prior year. The firm's new XM200G µHD printer operates with a 22 µm particle size and a 25 µm laser spot size to facilitate high-precision builds.
The players
Xact Metal
A developer of additive manufacturing hardware specializing in metal 3D printing solutions for industrial applications.
The details
The XM200G µHD printer uses specific laser and powder metrics to enable the production of smaller, high-detail metal components. By standardizing these physical specifications, operators can transition to tighter tolerances for complex, industrial-grade parts. The company is now preparing for the next hardware iteration, the XM300G, which will offer 500W or 1,000W laser power options and a 300 x 300 x 300 mm build volume.
Timeline
Machine orders surged throughout Q2 2026.
Shipments for the XM200G µHD printer commenced in Q3 2026.
The 30% increase in order volume was tracked through September 2026.
Shipping for the XM300G printer is expected to start in mid-2027.
Market Landscape
Xact Metal's performance follows a broader industry trend toward higher-resolution powder bed fusion 3D printing systems. The shift emphasizes hardware integration capable of achieving finer laser spot sizes for increasingly complex industrial manufacturing requirements.
Operators currently utilizing metal additive hardware should evaluate if their current laser spot size and powder specifications meet new precision standards. Given the upcoming release of the XM300G, businesses should prepare procurement budgets based on the $200,000 starting price.
The takeaway
The increasing demand for specialized metal printing indicates that manufacturers are seeking more granular control over part tolerances and material density. Track the rollout of the XM300G in mid-2027 to assess whether the increased build volume and power options improve your throughput capabilities.
What happens next
Xact Metal plans to begin shipping the XM300G mid-sized printer, which has a starting price of $200,000, by mid-2027.
Further reading
For broader trends in hardware adoption, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TCT Magazine.
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