A development in the microplastics situation has arisen, which could eventually be of interest to 3D printer operators.
Ideas
Cloud Challenges: How Do You Give Away a 3D Printer These Days?
Giving away an older 3D printer might seem to be an easy thing to do, but it increasingly is not.
Why CoreXY 3D Printers Outperform Bedslingers: A Practical Demonstration
I just printed an outstanding example demonstrating why CoreXY 3D printers are much more desirable.
Pricing 3D Print Jobs: Understanding Costs, Labor, and Profit Margins
I keep reading posts asking “how to price a 3D print job”, so let’s answer this question.
Autodesk AI Acquisition Hints at Future 3D Strategy
Autodesk acquired AI-powered Wonder Dynamics, suggesting they may be on the prowl for additional AI acquisitions.
Turning Waste into Opportunity: 3D Printing and the Circular Economy
As technology advances, it has the potential to play a critical role in building a more sustainable future.
3D Scanning in Museums: Allowed or Not?
I’m reading a story from two years ago about a conflict regarding 3D scanning at museums.
Speculations on Bambu Lab’s Next 3D Printer
There have been many hints of Bambu Lab nearing an announcement of a new 3D printer, but what could it be?
Strategies for Mitigating Emissions in 3D Printing Operations
How bad, exactly, are the emissions from 3D printing?
FFF 3D Printing: Can New Nozzle Technology Replace Resin Printers?
Do you need a resin 3D printer when FFF devices now approach similar levels of surface quality?
What to Consider Before Buying a 3D Printer for Your Child
Considering buying a 3D printer for your offspring? Here are some questions to ask.
From TikTok to DJI: Could U.S. Scrutiny Extend to Chinese 3D Printer Manufacturers
I’m reading reports about the US banning certain Chinese companies, and thought about the implications for 3D printing.
Is Your Old 3D Printer Obsolete? Increasing Frustration with Outdated Models
Do you hate your desktop 3D printer? I’m thinking a growing number of operators think exactly that.
Could Your Next Chair Be 3D Printed? Exploring the Viability of 3D Printing in Furniture Production
Could furniture be the next big application for 3D printing?
Growing IP Challenges in 3D Model Repositories Prompt Need for New Solutions
I’m seeing a growing issue with 3D model repositories that likely isn’t going to go away anytime soon.
Understanding the Surge in Construction 3D Printing Companies
Each week I see a different construction 3D printing company in the news. What’s going on?
The Strategic Value of Material Diversity in 3D Printing
There’s an increasing amount of cooperation between 3D printer manufacturers and chemical companies.
Unpacking the Price Tag: Why Some 3D Printers Are More Expensive
I’m reading a thread on the cost of LulzBot 3D printers, and there are several interesting insights to be found.
Pre-Sliced Files for Resin 3D Printers: Convenience or Compromise?
Do pre-sliced 3D models make sense?
Overcoming the Challenges: The Road Ahead for 3D Printing in Construction
The construction industry has looked different in recent years due to demands for sustainability and innovation. 3D printing has been a catalyst for this change in construction, but it is relatively still in its infancy.
Clearance Sales Signal the Decline of Slow-Speed 3D Printers
It begins: the disappearance of slow-speed 3D printers.
Reality Check: Seven Hidden Truths About 3D Printing
Having used many types of 3D printers for so many years, I’ve heard all the hype. But what are the hidden truths?
What are the Biggest Misconceptions About 3D Printing Today?
Clinging to outdated ideas about additive manufacturing puts you behind. Here are 5 3D printing myths worth busting.
Sora: How OpenAI’s Latest Innovation Could Transform 3D Design and Printing
OpenAI announced something quite startling last week, and it has significant long-term implications for 3D printing and design.
Top 3D Printing Predictions for 2024
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi have some thoughts about what trends we might see in the world of 3D printing in 2024.
Navigating the Future: Materialise Unveils Key 3D Printing Trends for 2024
Materialise has published their thoughts on 3D printing trends in 2024, and they’re quite revealing.
Predicting Potential 3D Printing Mergers and Acquisitions
It’s early in 2024, but later this year we will see a number of corporate collisions in the 3D print industry. What could happen?
Will AI Finally Put the Aid in Computer-Aided Design?
Moribund software about to get an innovation boost from the AI tsunami.
Exploring the Challenges of Tall 3D Printing: From Hobbyist Modifications to Industrial Implications
Tall 3D printing can be quite useful, but height can cause many issues.
Emerging Low-Cost 3D Printing Technologies Disrupt Professional Market in 2023
I’m reading an analysis of 2023 3D printer sales and there are some very interesting implications.
Rising Cyber Threats in Manufacturing: Velo3D Highlights Crucial Security Statistics
Velo3D published an interesting set of statistics regarding security in additive manufacturing.
Shifting Gears in 3D Printing: Industry Trends and Predictions for 2024
Many have asked, so here’s my thoughts on the new year of 2024 and 3D printing.
New Studies Linking Microplastics in Plants May Trigger Shift in 3D Printing Materials
There’s more evidence of microplastics causing negative effects, which will eventually affect 3D printing.
Nine Advanced 3D Printer Features You Need To Understand
The latest 3D printers offer a slew of new features, but which ones are important?
The Costly Cycle of Elastomeric Spare Parts: How Digital Inventories Offer a Sustainable Alternative
There’s an elastomeric twist to the digital inventory concept I hadn’t heard previously.
Eight Hopes for Desktop 3D Printing in 2024
It’s 2024, and many people are making predictions.
From High Hopes to Harsh Realities: The Struggle of 3D Printing Companies in Attracting Investment
I’m reading an interesting post by 3D Alliances about the hope for 3D print company stocks in 2024.
The Truth Behind ‘High Speed’ 3D Printing: A Call for Standardized Specifications
In the confusing world of high speed desktop 3D printing, which companies present the proper specifications?
Real-Time Material Temperature Monitoring, The Next Frontier in 3D Printing:?
I’ve been thinking about a possible innovation for desktop 3D printers that might change print quality and material management forever.
The 3MF Conundrum: How Current Software Falls Short in 3D Print File Compatibility
I think there could be a problem with 3MF, or at least how software makes use of it.
Forecasting the Future: Are 3D Printing Companies Really Facing Decline or Poised for Growth?
I’m reading a financial forecast for 3D printing and it doesn’t seem to match the current state of the industry.
Are 3D Print Companies Really Dying?
I’m reading an extremely interesting and critical post about the 3D printing industry by Alex Huckstepp.
Additive Manufacturing’s Potential and Limitations: Insights from Extol’s Kyle Harvey
I’m reading an interesting LinkedIn post by Kyle Harvey about additive manufacturing crossing the chasm.
Desktop Filament Machines: How Quality Challenges Are Finally Being Overcome
I had a thought about the future of self-made 3D printer filaments.
Understanding the Market Segments of 3D Printers
There are multiple market segments in the 3D printer world, in which one do you belong?
Adapting to Disruption: How Desktop 3D Printer Manufacturers Can Compete With Bambu Lab
What must desktop 3D printer manufacturers do to keep up with their competitors?
Does Creality Offer Too Many 3D Printers?
A question I’m hearing more frequently goes something like this: “Does Creality sell too many models of 3D printers?” At first, I thought this might be the case, as the company has released so many models that it’s actually hard to keep track of them. Creality has a habit of releasing new machines every few… Continue reading Does Creality Offer Too Many 3D Printers?
3D Printing for Home Renovations
People aren’t just using 3D printers for small-scale art projects anymore.
Seven Things to Know About High Speed 3D Printing
You’ve heard about “high speed 3D printing”, but what are the things you need to know about it?
The Potential of 3D Printing in Advancing Car Safety for An Aging Driving Population
As we age, our physical abilities and reaction times naturally decline, making driving a potentially dangerous task.
Bambu Lab’s Disruptive Emergence in the 3D Printing Market
There is an interesting trend occurring in the 3D printing market recently, all caused by Bambu Lab.
Rethinking Construction: The Potential of Generative Design for 3D Printed Buildings
I’ve been thinking about a new concept for designing 3D printed buildings that just might change the way we work and live quite a bit.
Prusa Research’s Design Contest Reveals Potential for 3D Printed Spare Parts
Prusa Research just concluded a design contest and there’s a surprising outcome.
Silicon Valley’s Open Source Shift: Implications for 3D Printing
A story about open source trends might become disturbing for the 3D print world.
9 Factors to Consider When Choosing a 3D Printer for Continuous Production
What would be the key things to look for when choosing a desktop 3D printer for series production?
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 5 — All You Need is a Few Functions
With the rendering of implicit functions into the voxel field, we have created the ability to work with lattices and complex infills.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 4 Implicits
We will dive a bit into the technicalities of a Voxel-based kernel here, how do we interact with it?
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 3 — Voxels to the Rescue
Thanks to the previous articles, we should have a pretty good understanding of the reasoning behind Computational Engineering and the fundamental technology necessary to support it.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 2 — The Technology
After setting the stage in the first two installments of this series of article, let’s dive a bit deeper.
Enhancing 3D Print Recycling: The Proposal to Add Recycling Stamps
My proposal to allow 3D print slicers to emboss recycling stamps has generated some interesting ideas.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Part 1 — A Bit of History
Let’s define what Computational Engineering is and how it differs from the way we currently use computers to design physical parts.
Resellers Face Uncertainty in the Wake of the Desktop 3D Printer Shift
I’ve been doing some thinking about the high speed 3D printing revolution, and realized there’s going to be another casualty: resellers.
Fundamentals of Computational Engineering: Prologue
For the last decade, I have relentlessly pushed for a change in the way we humans engineer physical things. Our future depends on it.
Race to the Bottom: The Changing Dynamics of the Desktop 3D Printer Market
The race to the bottom is over. Or is it?
The Ukraine Conflict’s Ripple Effect on Additive Manufacturing
There’s a shift in manufacturing happening due to world events, but are we seeing a corresponding change in additive manufacturing?
Shaping Sustainable Structures: Exploring 3D Printing in Construction
The construction industry has long heralded 3D printing as its next big innovation.
From ‘Junk’ to High-Speed: The Potential Revival of Slower 3D Printers
There’s an interesting implication from the achievement of high speed printing on the Prusa Mini.
Big Implications from Bambu Lab’s A1 Mini
I’ve been thinking about Bambu Lab’s latest 3D printer announcement, and there are several important implications.
Speculation on the Industrial 3D Printers Deployed in Ukraine
The US has revealed it has provided Ukraine with some type of industrial 3D printers, but what does this mean?
Making 3D Print Recycling Easier: A Proposal for Slicing Software Developers
I’m increasingly disturbed by the pile of waste 3D prints I am generating, and I have an idea that might help recycle them.
The Impending Material Crisis in High-Speed 3D Printing
After working with several high speed FFF desktop 3D printers lately, I think the industry is going to face a material crisis.
From Aerospace to Dental: 3D Printing’s Role in Six Manufacturing Fields
3D print technology is slowly moving into manufacturing, but what, exactly is driving it?
From Skepticism to Opportunity: How Apple’s Move Might Shape 3D Printing’s Future
I have some thoughts on the latest rumors of Apple getting into 3D printing.
High-Speed 3D Printing On the Rise: Who’s Joining the Fast Lane?
Which desktop 3D printer companies have entered the high speed 3D printing race?
Sensors and AI: The Next Frontier in Enhancing 3D Printing Technology
I’ve thinking a lot lately about sensors on 3D printers.
AI-Driven 3D Printing: Unveiling the Future of Unusual and Practical Parts
We could see an increase of very unusual yet practical 3D printed parts in the near future due to AI technology.
Strategies for Economical Filament Sourcing in 3D Printing Ventures
Are there options for lowering the cost of filament?
Why No Desktop SLS Printers Yet? Unraveling the Cost and Complexity
We have consumer-level filament and resin 3D printers, why don’t we have consumer SLS 3D printers?
Optical Innovation: How ‘Flat Lenses’ Could Redefine 3D Scanning Technology
There could be a significant shift in how 3D scanners work in the near future.
Terminology Turmoil: FDM, FFF, MEX, and the Quest for Accuracy
The plot thickens regarding the use of “FFF”.
Could Resin 3D Printers Face Future Bans? Safety Concerns Arise
Could desktop resin 3D printers be banned in the near future?
Upgrading Your Desktop 3D Printer: Is It Time for an Update?
Should you upgrade your desktop 3D printer?
FDM or FFF: What’s the Right Term for 3D Printing?
Another day, another misuse of the term “FDM”.
Rethinking Management: Embracing an Additive Approach to Employee Growth
Modern organizations focus on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and maximizing an individual’s short-term output.
From Software to Hardware: Will 3D Printer Manufacturers Embrace Subscriptions?
What happens when 3D printer manufacturers catch on to the subscription craze?
The 3D Printer Race to the Bottom Becomes The Professional Squeeze
The race to the bottom is over, and there will be considerable movement in the 3D printer market in coming years.
Embrace the Freedom: Unlocking the Full Potential of 3D Printing
Do we have sufficient imagination to truly use 3D printing?
Is There Still a Place for Big-Time 3D Print Trade Shows?
Is there a future for big-time 3D print exhibitions and trade shows?
Batch.Works: The Future of Sustainable Manufacturing through 3D Printing?
We were directed to check out Batch.Works, a startup company leveraging 3D printing to achieve sustainability.
3D Printing in the Years Ahead: A Glimpse into the AI-Powered Future of Desktop Printers
Last week I forecasted what a typical desktop FFF 3D printer of 2026 might look like. This week let’s go further ahead.
Predicting Future 3D Printer Features: 2026 Standard Specifications?
After yesterday’s story about how desktop 3D printer buying strategies are shifting, I thought about what kind of machines might be offered in the near future.
The Changing Landscape of Desktop 3D Printers: New Features Complicate Buying Decisions
Buying a desktop FFF 3D printer is getting a lot more complex these days.
Understanding the Microplastic Challenge in Desktop 3D Printing
There’s a bit more to think about when considering microplastics generated by 3D printing.
From Concorde to Hypersonic: How AM Helps Change Our Future
Velo3D published a video that exemplifies the ways 3D printing is changing the world.
Will Artificial Intelligence Crowd Out 3D Printing Innovation?
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi consider whether 3D print technology investment and innovation could be affected by interest in AI tech.