Ideas Archives « Fabbaloo

BMW’s Latest 3D Printing Expansion is Really a 35-Year Story

BMW is investing further in additive manufacturing, and that seems like a normal thing to do.

The Stratasys–Bambu Lab Patent Verdict Could Reshape Desktop 3D Printing

After the announcement of the Bambu Lab / Stratasys patent infringement case, there are some implications.

How MakerGear and LulzBot Are Adapting to Survive in Heavy Competition

Two veteran American 3D printer manufacturers seem to be finding remarkably similar ways to stay in business.

When Stolen 3D Printers Become Worth Stealing

Someone stole a batch of 3D printers in Calgary, Canada.

AI CAD Models Approach 100% Accuracy on BenchCAD Benchmark

Are we getting dangerously close to 100% accurate AI CAD?

xBUILD Rebranding by Atlix Reflects the Industrial Gap

It’s time for some rebranding, again.

Why 3D Printer Manufacturers Like Meltio Are Moving Assembly to the US

Some 3D printer providers are setting up manufacturing operations in the US, but is this a good approach?

Could PCTG Be Ready for a Breakthrough?

PCTG is a wonderful 3D print material, and it just might be ready to explode in popularity.

Printables Users Targeted by Scam Through Compromised Accounts

It appears there are scams circulating on Printables.

3D Printed Tornado Storm Shelters?

I’m reading about a potential application for 3DCP: tornado shelters.

Why UV Printers Are Suddenly Everywhere and How They Differ From 3D Printers

Why are there all these UV printers suddenly on the market? What are they, anyway?

Why US States Are Pursuing 3D Printer Gun-Detection Laws

Why are multiple US states suddenly pursuing technically impossible 3D printer regulations?

Whatever Happened to Glass 3D Printer Build Plates?

Whatever happened to glass 3D printing plates?

Another Way Formlabs Gains an Edge in the Competitive 3D Printing Market

Formlabs CEO Maxim Lobovsky leaked one of the company’s secrets for success.

Another Company Appears to Exit 3D Printer Manufacturing

It seems another 3D printer manufacturer is moving along to other products.

What is the Most Popular 3D Model Repository in 2026?

What are the most popular 3D model repositories in mid-2026?

The State of Low-Waste 3D Printing: Desktop FFF Solutions Available in Mid 2026

The switch to low-waste 3D printers continues. Let’s survey the landscape as of today.

3D Printed Shoes Could Require Dynamic Foot Modeling

There could be a lot more to the business of 3D-printed footwear.

Eleven Problems With Volumetric 3D Printing

There’s been much talk about the incredible speed of volumetric 3D printing, but there are a number of issues with the approach.

Vibe Coding Is Coming to 3D Printing

Vibe coding is now hitting the 3D print world.

Is Desktop Resin 3D Printing Too Risky for Casual Users?

Is it time to exit desktop resin 3D printing?

Building Codes Continue to Challenge Adoption of Construction 3D Printing Technologies

Building regulations are definitely slowing the progress of 3DCP technology.

Text-To-CAD Is Getting More Real, But It’s Not There Yet.

Text-to-CAD tools are beginning to generate useful 3D models from prompts, but the most important missing feature is not geometry — it is intent.

Mass Media Reporting on 3D Printer Legislation Indicates a Dark Future

It’s starting to look dark for the future of desktop 3D printing.

Full Color Printing Expands in Desktop FFF, But Some Major Manufacturers are AWOL

The new “full colour” capabilities to FFF 3D printing are creating some interesting reactions.

Cura’s Role Shrinks as PrusaSlicer-Derived Tools Dominate FFF Printing Software

The FFF slicing tool market has consolidated, and not around Cura.

Building Codes and Regulation May Determine the Future Growth of 3D Printed Construction

Regulation may be the least fun part of 3D printed construction, but it determines whether 3DCP can move past demonstrations.

Ten Potential Disruptions That Could Reshape the 3D Printing Industry

What developments in 3D printing could truly disrupt the industry?

Where Are Those 3D Printed ABS Fumes Going?

A Reddit photo showing heavy residue collected after more than 3,000 hours of ABS printing is a vivid reminder that printer emissions are a serious issue.

3DCP May Drive a Revival of Brutalist Architectural Design

I had a thought about how 3DCP architecture may play out.

The Bambu Lab / Open Source Dispute Is Not What You Think It Is

There’s something going on with the Bambu Lab / Open Source situation, and it is not what you think.

David Tobin Is Fighting California’s 3D Printer “Ghost Gun” Bill

California’s AB2047 is one of the most troubling pieces of 3D printing legislation ever proposed.

Legacy Management Still Slows Adoption of 3D Printing in Large Manufacturers

A brief encounter with a manufacturer revealed an ongoing problem in 3D printing.

Water Washable Resin Should Die

Water washable resin should be discontinued, and that’s my opinion.

Why Recycling 3D Printer Scraps Will Never Work

Perhaps this is a controversial viewpoint, but I am now thinking that recycling of 3D print waste is a lost cause.

Waste Free 3D Printers Could Transform the Future of Color 3D Printing

Where are all the full-colour 3D models?

Global Oil Supply Issues May Lead to Higher Prices for 3D Printing Materials

The 3D print industry could be facing material shortages.

Growing Military Demand Drives Strategic Pivot Across 3D Printing Companies

It seems every other story we write these days involves a military application.

Which Desktop 3D Printing Features are on the Way Out?

What features are going to disappear on desktop 3D printers in the coming years?

Bambu Lab X2D Signals Potential Shift Toward Consumer-Focused 3D Printing Market

I’ve been thinking about the X2D announcement from Bambu Lab, and I believe it could be a turning point for the industry.

Used Industrial FFF Printers May Be Hitting a Brutal New Reality: Near-Zero Resale Value

A recent secondary-market listing suggests some once-expensive industrial FFF systems may now be worth almost nothing, a shift that says a lot about aging hardware, leasing risk, and pressure from newer low cost alternatives.

How Israel-Based 3D Printing Businesses Navigate the Middle East Conflict

With conflict raging in the Middle East, how are the 3D print companies doing?

EFF Criticizes Proposed US Laws Mandating Software Controls on 3D Printers

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has published a damning article about efforts to control 3D printers.

X2D or P2 Evolution? Analyzing Bambu Lab’s Likely Direction After Retiring the X1 Series

Is Bambu Lab about to announce a new 3D printer?

What Happens When Desktop 3D Printer Companies Get Much Larger?

What is going to happen as 3D printer companies get much, much larger?

Sticky by Design: The 8 Tactics 3D Printer Manufacturers Use to Retain Customers

How do desktop 3D printer manufacturers make their products “sticky”?

Why Recycling 3D Printed Plastic Remains Difficult Despite Growing Interest

Everyone wants to recycle their 3D prints, but it is quite difficult to do so. Here’s why.

Breaking the $99 Barrier in 3D Printing

Could we soon see a “real” 3D printer priced less than US$100?

Feature Suggestion: Automatic Random Model Placement

There’s a feature I want in every FFF 3D print slicing tool, and so should you.

This One Trick Makes Your FFF 3D Printer a Bit Safer

There’s one trick you should be doing to keep your workspace safer when 3D printing.

Modernizing Thingiverse: Key Challenges Await MyMiniFactory After Acquisition

So, MyMiniFactory bought Thingiverse. What work awaits them?

The Open Source Community Continues to Criticize Prusa Research’s OCL

Some continue to criticize Prusa Research’s new Open Community License, but why?

Road Construction Research Opens New Path for Reusing 3D Printing Plastic Waste

A report opens up the possibility that 3D printer waste could be put to good use.

Barriers in Scaling and TPU Materials Limit Home Production of 3D Printed Footwear

The 3D print industry may be missing out on a major distributed application: footwear.

Slant 3D Proposes Catalog Platform as a Partial Solution to Widespread 3D Model Theft

3D model theft is rampant, and there’s not a lot that can be done.

Chinese 3D Printer Production Jumps 33% in 2025, with the United States as the Largest Buyer

The number of 3D printers being produced in China is astounding.

TPU Filament Hardness Explained: What Shore A and Shore D Measurements Mean

Here’s everything you need to know about durometer measurements for 3D printer filaments.

Growing Ecosystem of Printers, Materials, and Brands Signals Rise of 3D Printed Shoes

There seems to be something afoot in the footwear industry.

Home 3D Printing Experiment Demonstrates Potential for Low-Cost Custom Orthotics

There could be a way for anyone to personally manufacture their own orthotics.

AI Adoption in 3D Printing Should Accelerate Despite Early Failures and Skepticism

Where is AI going in the 3D print world?

What Was The Most Important Development in 3D Printing in 2025?

Today turns out to be the end of the year, so it is time to reflect on the past and look forward.

Teen 3D Printing Success Sparks Misconceptions: Why Most Makers Won’t Earn Millions

A recent story suggests anyone can make huge money with their 3D printer. It’s not that simple.

Why Food 3D Printing Still Isn’t Practical

Will food 3D printing ever work?

Iowa Firm Finds Niche Making Obsolete Components With 3D Printing

I’m reading about an interesting angle to make use of 3D printing for small-scale manufacturing.

Automated 3D Print Farm Achieves China-Level Costs, Raising New Questions

There has long been the idea that 3D printing will “bring back manufacturing”, but is that ever going to happen?

Do Multicolor 3D Printers Redefine Desktop FFF Priorities?

Does print speed really matter anymore?

Recent Announcements Highlight Maturing Role of 3D Printing in Industry

Multiple recent announcements confirm the reality of 3D print technology in manufacturing.

In-House 3D Printing in Radiology Signals Erosion of Market for High-Cost Commercial Systems

A 3D printing usage story suggests the days could be numbered for some expensive 3D printing options.

Why 3D Printed Prosthetics Haven’t Scaled

An article on IEEE Spectrum explores reasons why 3D printed prosthetics have yet to catch on.

Emotional Farewells to First 3D Printers as Shift Toward Faster, Smarter Hardware Grows

What should you do with your beloved — and now obsolete — desktop 3D printer?

A 3D Printer for the Holidays? Here’s What Buyers Should Know

For anyone considering a 3D printer as a holiday gift this year, it’s a great idea — but one that requires more thought than simply picking the fanciest box on the shelf.

Design Theft Crisis in 3D Model Platforms Sparks Legal Battles

The frequency of unauthorized 3D model content is increasing and something has to be done.

Flawed FDM Market Report Misidentifies Key 3D Printing Players, Undermining Credibility

I’m looking at what seems to be a marketing analysis for the FDM market, but there are problems.

FCC Crackdown on China-Based Certification Labs Could Cause Delays for 3D Printers and Other Electronics

There’s another possible reason for 3D printer sales delays in the US.

Why Hasn’t Bambu Lab Entered the Resin 3D Printing Market?

Why hasn’t Bambu Lab announced a resin 3D printer?

Maker Experiments with Manually Resuming a Failed 3D Print — and Reveals Future Potential for Smart Recovery

Have you ever wanted to somehow recover a 3D print job that failed in mid-print? Someone tried to do this.

US Tariff Laws Leave Few Options for Duty-Free 3D Printer Imports — Except in Rare Cases

Is it possible to avoid US tariffs when importing a 3D printer?

Bambu Lab’s P2S Launch Confirms New Era of Lower Pricing for Advanced 3D Printers

The 3D printer price reset seems to be complete.

U.S. Commerce Department Survey Raises Questions About Future Restrictions on Imported 3D Printers

A US Department of Commerce survey suggests there could be troubles for non-US 3D printers in the future.

Only a Few 3D Printers Still Support 2.85mm Filament

Which 3D printers still use the 2.85mm filament standard?

Security in 3D Printing Clouds: Who Can Legally Access Your Data?

I’ve been thinking about 3D print cloud security.

FBR’s Hadrian Robot Blurs the Line Between 3D Printing and Automated Bricklaying

I’m reading about an unusual robotic construction system and comparing it to 3D printing.

Bambu Lab Takes Transparency Leap With Trust Center, But Will It Ease Western Concerns?

Bambu Lab launched “Trust Center”, but will it work?

Managing 3D Printer Tariffs: Assembly Workarounds, Surprise Shipping Fees, Buyer Impact

Tariffs continue to mess up purchasing for US residents. The blanket imposition of a series of tariffs on non-US goods in recent months has made quite a bit of a mess for all concerned, including those purchasing desktop 3D printers. The issue is that the vast majority of desktop 3D printers used in the US… Continue reading Managing 3D Printer Tariffs: Assembly Workarounds, Surprise Shipping Fees, Buyer Impact