About | Colex Forge

The Project

Colex Forge is a 14-week project to convert an industrial Colex SharpCut SXC flatbed cutter into a large-format multi-material 3D printer. The machine's existing precision XY gantry, Panasonic servo motors, and WinCNC controller provide an industrial-grade motion platform — we're adding 3D printing capability as a new tool in the tool bay.

Why Convert a CNC?

The Colex SharpCut SXC already has everything a large-format printer needs: a rigid steel-welded frame weighing 3,500 lbs, precision rack-and-pinion drive with Panasonic servos, a 67" × 126" working area, and a 6-axis WinCNC controller with 128 auxiliary I/O channels. Rather than building a large printer from scratch, we're leveraging this industrial platform and adding extrusion heads, heated bed zones, and AI monitoring.

Capabilities

Print envelope: 48" × 120" × 24" (1,200 × 3,050 × 600mm)
Carbon fiber: CF-PETG and CF-Nylon via hardened DiamondBack nozzle
Full color: CMYK mixing via Zonestar 4-in-1 hotend
AI monitoring: Real-time defect detection with gantry-mounted camera
Real-time scanning: Creality Raptor Pro mounted on print head
Industrial precision: ±0.05mm positioning from Panasonic servos

Workshop Equipment

This project leverages a full workshop of complementary tools: a Creality K1 Max for printing custom brackets and adapters, a laser cutter for structural steel/aluminum parts, the Creality Raptor Pro scanner for measurement and real-time monitoring, and a Xante X55 UV printer for labels and markings.

Design Philosophy

Every design decision optimizes for leveraging the Colex's existing capabilities. We're not fighting the machine — we're extending it. The WinCNC controller maps extrusion to its A-axis, heater controls to auxiliary outputs, and camera triggers to input monitoring. The machine doesn't know it's 3D printing — it's just running G-code.

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