Portuguese 3D printer manufacturer Blocks has unveiled its newest solution, the RF50, an extrusion platform built for the factory floor. The new machine is the company’s latest hardware solution, following the more compact R21 3D printer, and offers a substantially larger build volume with an envelope of 500 x 500 x 500 mm.
Blocks was originally founded in 2013 and launched its first solution, the Blocks One in 2015. Following the early success of its first 3D printer, the startup developed an even more cost-effective model for education end users, the Blocks Zero, which launched through a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2017. The following year, the Portuguese company introduced two systems: the upgraded Blocks One MKII and the Blocks Pro S30, for the industrial market. In 2020, the company went through some restructuring and was acquired by a group of ex-employees with support from an investment fund. At this point, Blocks seems to have refocused on industrial and professional applications, with the development and launch of the R21 and now RF50.
“We designed the Blocks RF50 to address the growing demand for big volume, fast, adaptable and precise 3D printing technology in high-stakes fields,” explained Duarte Bragadesto, CEO of Blocks. “This launch brings to the market a powerful tool that not only improves product quality but also significantly reduces lead times, giving our clients the competitive edge they need in an increasingly fast-paced environment.”
Looking at more of the system specifications, the RF50—which is designed and manufactured in Portugal—features a fully enclosed design with built-in HEPA filter. To meet the needs of industrial end users, the machine is also equipped with sensors for remote operation and live video streaming for off-site management and monitoring. Blocks also emphasizes the RF50 3D printer’s speed, citing speeds of up to 600mm/s, acceleration reaching 30 000 mm/s2 and a maximum flow rate of 30 mm3/s.
“Our vision with the Blocks RF50 was to set a new standard in 3D printing for industries demanding both precision and efficiency,” added Alexandre Guerreiro, CTO of Blocks. “With advanced tech specifications, the RF50 is engineered to handle complex, large-scale projects with accuracy and speed. We’re especially proud of its innovative design, optimized to deliver high-performance printing for sectors like aerospace, product design and engineering.”
The RF50 3D printer is retailing for €5,500 ($5,840) and is now available to pre-order (with delivery planned for Q1 2025). Blocks is also preparing to release an upgrade for the new 3D printer, an Automated Control Filament System, which will streamline material management with functions like filament usage monitoring, automatic spool switching and material flow control. This material system is expected to launch in the second half of 2025 and will be available to users as an upgrade kit.
