It’s been a while, but it appears the first major 3D print trade show to take place in-person during the 2020 pandemic has succeeded.
Kerry Stevenson
Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!
Question of the Week: Does Ceramic PEEK 3D Printing Filament Exist?
This week’s question is about the availability of ceramic PEEK 3D printing filament.
Eight Ways 3D Printing Can Help Manufacturing
With the recent spotlight on 3D printing as a result of the pandemic’s bump on supply chains, I listed some ways the technology can help manufacturers.
Formlabs Announces “Factory Solutions” And Shifts Everyone’s Perception Of 3D Printing
Formlabs announced a new product offering they call “Factory Solutions”.
The Highest-Temperature 3D Printer Filament?
There’s one filament that appears to have the highest-temperature resistance of them all: EXTEM AMHH811F.
3D Systems Announces Sweeping Changes
3D Systems, one of the leading 3D printer manufacturers, announced a series of sweeping changes to their operations and outlook.
Examining European Additive Manufacturing Patents
A report from the European Patent Office shows a wealth of data regarding innovative activity.
Stratasys Deep Inside GM
Stratasys issued an interesting press release where they describe their activities inside of GM.
An Unexpected Bioprinting Advantage Over COVID-19
Researchers have been using bioprinting technology to assist in the development of COVID-19 treatments.
Book of the Week: Faster, Better, Cheaper in the History of Manufacturing
This week’s selection is “Faster, Better, Cheaper in the History of Manufacturing: From the Stone Age to Lean Manufacturing and Beyond” by Christoph Roser.
Researchers Invent “Injection Printing” Method: 100% Infill, Every Time
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have developed an unusual hybrid 3D printing process that both speeds and strengthens prints.
Inverted Powder 3D Printing
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a unique form of powder 3D printing that is inverted.
Design of the Week: Triceratops Skull No. 21
This week’s selection is “Triceratops Skull No. 21” by Javid Jooshesh.
First LIDAR 3D Scanning Apps Appearing
There’s now at least one new app that takes advantage of Apple’s new LIDAR capability.
Hands On With The Prusa MINI 3D Printer, Part 3
We had a chance to evaluate the new Prusa MINI 3D printer. Here we examine print quality and one error encountered.
Hands On With The Prusa MINI 3D Printer, Part 2
We had a chance to evaluate the new Prusa MINI 3D printer. Here we configure the machine and begin operations.
Hands On With The Prusa MINI 3D Printer, Part 1
We had a chance to evaluate the new Prusa MINI 3D printer. Here we unbox and assemble the device.
Microsoft Officially Joins Blender Foundation
Microsoft has officially joined the Blender Foundation Development Fund, a group that supports the open source 3D modeling tool Blender.
Thoughts On Using The Prusa MINI In 3D Printer Farms
After working with the Prusa MINI 3D printer, I have some thoughts on the use of this device in a potential 3D printer farm setup.
The Calibry Mini 3D Scanner Fills The Gap
Thor3D has announced the Calibry Mini handheld 3D scanner, which can easily capture small objects in fine detail.
Future Welding With 3D Printed Reactive Material Architectures
A group of researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed an approach for 3D printing thermite to perform part joining.
E3D’s ASMBL System Could Make Near-Perfect 3D Prints
E3D-Online announced a new tool for their Toolchanger 3D printer that performs coordinated subtractive operations.
Book of the Week: A Practical Guide to Design for Additive Manufacturing
This week’s selection is “A Practical Guide to Design for Additive Manufacturing” by Olaf Diegel , Axel Nordin and Damien Motte.
Who’s Who In Construction 3D Printing In 2020?
Construction 3D printing is a relatively new discipline, and we made a list of the current players.
3D Printed Micro-Endoscope Developed
Researchers have developed a way to fabricate microscopic endoscopes using 3D printing technology.
Design of the Week: FLOLA Lamp
This week’s selection is the astonishingly beautiful FLOLA lamp by 3LOBIT.
Polimotor’s 3D Printed Plastic Internal Combustion Engine
A company is apparently 3D printing fully functional internal combustion engines for racing — made from plastic!
LulzBot Adds 1.75mm Filament Support
We’ve just heard that FAME 3D, the new owners of LulzBot, have made a deal to provide 1.75mm filament support for LulzBot 3D printers.
New Chart Illustrates Polymer 3D Printing Options
A new chart published by AMPOWER shows a comprehensive view of the polymer 3D printing landscape.
3D Printed Compressible Batteries
A team of researchers in Singapore and China has developed a unique process to produce compressible batteries using 3D printing.
Titan Robotics’ New Polypropylene Pellets
Titan Robotics announced a new partnership to produce highly effective polypropylene pellets for 3D printing.
Exploring The World of High-Temperature 3D Printing Materials
In the last 2-3 years there has been a dramatic rise in high-temperature 3D printing, but what are the materials for this type of printing?
INTAMSYS’ New Advanced PAEK Material Better Than PEEK?
INTAMSYS announced a partnership with Victrex to allow use of a newly designed PAEK 3D printer filament in their high-temperature equipment.
A Walk Through Fictiv’s Manufacturing Survey Shows Significant Change Underway
Fictiv released their annual “State of Manufacturing” report, and there are some notable changes from previous years’ reports.
Another Additive Manufacturing Company Pivots
Along with loss and grief, the pandemic has caused a great deal of change. One of those changes has been in 3D printing.
Analyzing KFC’s 3D Printed Chicken Project
KFC announced a new initiative to 3D print their fried chicken products, but could this be practical?
Book of the Week: Generative Design
This week’s selection is “Generative Design” by Benedikt Groß, Hartmut Bohnacker, Julia Laub, and Claudius Lazzeroni.
Porsche’s 3D Printed Pistons Demonstrate High Efficiency
An interesting experiment in metal 3D printing has resulted in some rather efficient pistons for Porsche sports cars.
Design of the Week: Quarantine Haircut Robot
This week’s selection is the scary Quarantine Haircut Robot by YouTuber Shane Wighton.
What is “Swarm 3D Printing”?
A company is working on a concept called “Swarm 3D Printing”.
Question of the Week: 3D Printing Life-Size Heads
This week’s question delves into the science of producing life-size head sculptures using 3D scanning and 3D printing.
Another Way To Measure 3D Printer Resolution?
I’m reading an interesting release from Nanofabrica, and had a thought about 3D printer specifications.
Why Would You Need CAD Conversion?
I hadn’t deeply considered the idea of CAD file conversion until I realized this could be a very difficult challenge for larger companies.
Researchers Break The 3D Printed Latex Barrier
Researchers at the Virginia Tech have developed an unusual method that allows latex to be 3D printed.
Question of the Week: Is 3D Printer Filament Too Expensive?
This week’s question examines the pricing of 3D printer filament.
Mass Customization Is Coming
With the arrival of the new Superstrata 3D printed bikes, I’m wondering whether we’re now at the moment when mass customization begins to grow in the minds of consumers.
Major Development in 3D Printed Fabric
Polymaker and Covestro announced a new approach for producing 3D printed textiles, and there are huge implications.
MX3D Completes 3D Printed Robot Arm Project
When we last saw MX3D at Formnext 2019, they were showing off a 3D printed robot arm. Now, they’ve tested it in a working robotic system.
Book of the Week: The 3D Printing Handbook
This week’s selection is “The 3D Printing Handbook” by 3D Hubs.
Ultimaker Launches “Ultimaker Essentials”
Ultimaker launched a new software product today, which they call Ultimaker Essentials.
Arevo’s 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Process Just Got Real
California startup Superstrata just launched a new e-bike made with 3D printed continuous carbon fiber.
Design of the Week: Future Tree
This week’s selection is the Future Tree by a group of researchers at ETH Zurich.
The Variable Currency Prices Of 3D Printer Filament
On a tip I took a look at how desktop 3D printer filament is priced by major suppliers and found something quite interesting.
Holographic 3D Printing With Multiple Lasers
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a method of using holography in 3D printing.
The Secret Recoater Blades of Open Additive’s PANDA 3D Printer
The world of 3D printer recoaters is even more complex after learning more about Open Additive’s approach.
Yeggi Will Find That 3D Model For You
If you’re seeking a 3D model to print, there’s a great place to search called Yeggi.
HEXR’s 3D Scanned Fitting Process Shows Another Retail Approach
A helmet manufacturer is using distributed 3D scanning technology to produce bespoke products for customers.
Four New Pandemic-Generated 3D Printing Business Models
The pandemic is far from over, but its effect on 3D printing business is becoming clear; we list 4 new business models for 3D printing.
Fictiv’s New Collaboration With Jabil
Fictiv and Jabil announced an unusual collaboration that should allow for far faster 3D printed production.
Exploring The Edge Of Gigantic Thermoplastic 3D Printing With CADzilla
There are large 3D printers, and there are larger 3D printers. And then there is CADzilla.
Will Redefine Meat’s Alt-Steaks Succeed?
A company hopes to begin mass production of 3D printed meat.
Where You Can Find Certified COVID-19 3D Models
The US FDA has been engaged with other parties to assist in the use of community 3D printing resources to confront the COVID-19 crisis.
All About 3D Printer Recoater Blades
I’m reading a fascinating piece by Additive Manufacturing Consultant Michael Wohlfart discussing the different types of recoaters one might use.
Book of the Week: Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager
This week’s selection is “Project Management for The Unofficial Project Manager” by Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore and James Wood.
Reverse Engineering Any 3D Printed Part’s Microstructure
Researchers have found a way to reverse engineer a 3D printed part by examining its microstructure.
Using Correct Additive Manufacturing Terminology
Are we using the right words when referring to our favorite technology?
Design of the Week: Impossible Table
This week’s selection is the Impossible Table by Austin Steingrube.
Another Trip Through The Fabbaloo Mailbag
It’s time to open up the Fabbaloo mailbag and see what fun happened lately.
Hands On With the ANET N4 LCD 3D Printer, Part 2
An ANET N4 showed up in our lab, so we thought we’d run it through some tests: here we see results from this 3D printer.
Hands On With the ANET N4 LCD 3D Printer, Part 1
An ANET N4 showed up in our lab, so we thought we’d run it through some tests, starting with setup and getting the 3D printer running.
6K Additive Makes Some Big Moves
6K Additive has commissioned their first units and at the same time has landed a sustainable client.
Kersten Departs Additive Industries
Daan Kersten is now the former CEO of Additive Industries.
Should AMUG Go Digital?
A recent discussion on LinkedIn suggests AMUG, the annual additive manufacturing event, should go to a digital format.
Fabbaloo Turns 10,000!
Today is the day Fabbaloo finally publishes our 10,000th story and, in fact, this very post is the one.
Finely-Detailed Metal 3D Prints From The Incus Hammer Lab35
Today I’m looking at a 3D printer I had not seen before, the Incus Hammer Lab35.
Formlabs Announces Sweeping Set Of 3D Printing Resin Families
Formlabs today announced a series of powerful industrial materials in a new set of product families.
Book Of The Week: The Zombie Apocalypse Guide To 3D Printing
This week’s selection is “The Zombie Apocalypse Guide to 3D printing” by Clifford T Smyth.
Sculpteo & BASF Announce New Industrial 3D Printing Materials
3D printing and manufacturing service Sculpteo and its parent, BASF, announced three new industrial materials.
Now Is The Time To Push 3D Printing Into Manufacturing
The emergence of 3D printing as a manufacturing solution during the COVID-19 crisis now implies bold actions be taken.
The Economies Of 3D Printed Direct Rapid Soft Tooling
Nanofabrica has demonstrated an intriguing economy of scale when producing 3D printed injection molds.
Design of the Week: Old Steam Engine
This week’s selection is the Old Steam Engine by Dijon 3D.
Another 3D Printed House To Go Up This Summer
A new project in the Czech Republic will produce a small 3D printed house called “Prvok”.
A Future Nano-Cutting 3D Printer?
Researchers have developed a new method of cutting tiny 2D materials, but could this be the foundation of a new type of 3D printer?
Stacker Announces New, Smaller 3D Printer
Stacker announced the F1, a desktop 3D printer that is quite a bit smaller than their previous models.
New 3D Printing Process: Droplet-Based Multiphase Emulsion
Researchers as UC Davis have developed an unusual new form of 3D printing that uses Droplet-Based Multiphase Emulsion.
Relativity Space Scores Another 3D Printed Rocket Client
Big news: rocket startup Relativity Space has signed a deal with their fifth launch client, Iridium.
Planning On A Move To Fusion 360? Deal Available Until July 17
We’ve learned Autodesk has an excellent promotion this month for their very popular Fusion 360 suite.
Hands On With The Calibry 3D Scanner, Part 4
Hands on with the Calibry 3D Scanner. This part explains my experience using the Calibry 3D scanner to capture 3D models of larger objects and and my conclusions on using this device.
Hands On With The Calibry 3D Scanner, Part 3
Hands on with the Calibry 3D scanner. This part explains my experience using the Calibry 3D scanner to capture 3D models of small objects and medium-sized objects, as well as 3D scanning live subjects.
Hands On With The Calibry 3D Scanner, Part 2
Hands on with the Calibry handheld 3D scanner. In this part we’ll look at the operations of the Calibry handheld 3D scanner.
Hands On With The Calibry 3D Scanner, Part 1
Hands on with the Calibry 3D scanner. In this part we’ll examine the Calibry hardware and software configurations.
Weinberg Seeks Information On Proprietary 3D Printer Materials
Michael Weinberg is seeking information from the public on 3D printers that employ various mechanisms to ensure the use of proprietary materials.
Book of the Week: Mastering 3D Printing
This week’s selection is “Mastering 3D Printing: A Guide to Modeling, Printing, and Prototyping Paperback” by Joan Horvath and Rich Cameron.
New Mainstream Media Documentary Suggests 3D Printing Is For Manufacturing
There’s an interesting mainstream media video exploring the current state of 3D printing that poses some interesting opportunities.
Can 3D Printed Thermoplastics Replace Metal?
A question being asked is whether a plastic 3D printed part could replace a metal part, and the answer is increasingly, “Yes!”