Once again we take a look at the valuations of the major 3D printing companies over the past week.
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Boustead Singapore Invests in Robotic Urology Diagnostics
Charles Goulding and Ari Willick analyze how Boustead Singapore’s acquisition of UroMedTech reflects the growing convergence of robotics, 3D printing, and precision healthcare in Singapore.
California 3D Printer Bill AB 2047 Clears Key Senate Appropriations Vote
The California 3D printer law has progressed forward in a significant way.
Whatever Happened to Glass 3D Printer Build Plates?
Whatever happened to glass 3D printing plates?
Thermwood Patent Adds Internal Bracing to Cut Layer Tooling
Thermwood has patented an interesting way to strengthen large hollow tooling made from stacked, machined layers.
Oscillating Toolpaths Could Make 3D Printed Carbon Fiber Parts Tougher
Researchers have found a way to increase energy absorption in 3D printed carbon fiber composites simply by changing how the print head moves.
Backflip Adds AI-Powered Reverse Engineering to Convert Mesh Files Into CAD Models
Backflip announced a new capability: reverse engineering.
3D Printed Liquid Crystal Elastomers Learn to Expand and Contract
Researchers have developed a 3D printing technique that can program opposite actuation behaviors into different sections of the same printed filament.
Hybrid Manufacturing Patent Automates Additive Tool Docking
Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies has published a European patent application describing a way to make toolheads work like CNC tools.
Math, Models, and Mysteries Solved: How Additive Manufacturing Helped Find the Answer to Schrödinger’s Color Theory
Charles R. Goulding and Kate Esposito reveal how 3D printing transformed an abstract mathematical mystery into a tangible breakthrough, completing one of Schrödinger’s unfinished scientific puzzles.
Could PAC Bayes Make Learning Based 3D Printer Control More Trustworthy?
A new control theory paper offers a way to certify learning based controllers from limited data, something that could eventually matter to advanced 3D printers.
The Big List of 3D Model Sites, 2026
Let’s take an inventory of all the places you can find 3D models.
Chinese Startup Dewu Develops Metal 3D Printing Process With Lower Post-Processing Costs
A Chinese company has figured out a way to lower the cost of 3D printing metal parts.
Slice Engineering Patent Separates Hotend Structure From Heatbreak
Slice Engineering has secured a European patent covering an FFF hotend design that simplifies the heatbreak.
Frozen Time: How 3D Printing Could Create the First Biological Supply Chain
Charles G. Goulding explores how 3D printing and cryogenic preservation could transform organ transplantation by creating the world’s first biological supply chain.
Concrete 3D Printing Gets a Much Needed Quality Control Loop
A new doctoral study proposes a comprehensive quality control framework that could make concrete 3D printing considerably more predictable.
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.
How Did Firestorm Labs Keep MJF 3D Printers Running in Heavy Seas?
I’m a bit puzzled over a US Navy test of a 3D printing solution.
University Of Bath Patent Automates 3D Printing Setup
The University of Bath has filed a patent for automated material calibration on FFF systems.
Building the Future at the Smallest Scale: How SUNY Albany Is Advancing Nanotech, Life Sciences, and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi take a closer look at how SUNY Albany’s cutting-edge work in nanotechnology and life sciences is helping drive the innovations that could shape the next generation of 3D printing and advanced manufacturing.
Study Examines Rapidly Deployable 3D Printed Biosensors
Researchers have shown that one common FFF material may be a much better foundation for rapidly deployable biosensors.
New Startup Targets Military Market With Secure, US-Made 3D Printers
There’s a brand-new US-based 3D printer manufacturer.
Construction Company Prints Its Own Headquarters
One construction company is so keen on 3DCP that they printed their own headquarters.
This Holographic Process 3D Prints Ultra Tall Microstructures In Seconds
A University of Utah team has demonstrated a single exposure method for 3D printing intricate microstructures in roughly 20 seconds.
Design of the Week: Airless MTB Tire
This week’s selection is the Airless MTB Tire by YouTube biking channel Berm Peak.
Digital Fringe Projection Targets AM Defect Correction
New research explores digital fringe projection as a way to find and correct additive manufacturing defects during a build.
Who’s The Biggest In 3D Printing, August 9, 2026
Once again we take a look at the valuations of the major 3D printing companies over the past week.
New White House Defense Policy Could Accelerate Additive Manufacturing Adoption
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explain why a new White House order aimed at strengthening defense supply chains may create significant growth opportunities for the U.S. 3D printing industry.
Another Company Appears to Exit 3D Printer Manufacturing
It seems another 3D printer manufacturer is moving along to other products.
Artec 3D Launches Point II Industrial Scanner
Artec 3D introduced a new industrial 3D scanner, the Artec Point II.
This May Be the Most Unusual Use of 3D Printed Lattices Yet
Researchers have used a 3D printed metal lattice to make heat effectively disappear.
NIOSH Publishes Safety Labels to Promote Safer 3D Printing
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued some important information about 3D printing.
Deep Learning Detects LPBF Meltpool Anomalies With 98% Accuracy
Rutgers researchers report a deep learning method that spots LPBF meltpool anomalies in real time.
What is the Most Popular 3D Model Repository in 2026?
What are the most popular 3D model repositories in mid-2026?
Xometry Upgrades AI Process Recommender to Improve Manufacturing Choices
Xometry announced “comprehensive upgrades” to their AI model architecture.
ASTM Launches ‘Manufacturing Unlimited’ Video Series
ASTM has launched an interesting AM video series.
Looking Ahead to MEDevice Boston 2026: Where MedTech and Additive Manufacturing Meet
Anthony Palumbo, Mellissa McIntyre, and Charles Goulding look ahead to MEDevice Boston 2026 and the medical-device companies applying additive manufacturing to product development and production.
EOS Pursues AM Software Patent In China
EOS is pursuing Chinese patent protection for additive manufacturing preflight software
NIST Studies Ketchup-Like Flow Behavior to Improve Ceramic 3D Printing
A better understanding of why ketchup suddenly pours could improve the consistency of ceramic 3D printing.
3Dmodels.org Provides Editable CAD Files and Niche 3D Models
We were directed to another 3D model repository I hadn’t previously seen, 3Dmodels.org.
Japan’s Renewed Investment in Humanoid Robotics Underscores the Strategic Importance of US Domestic Manufacturing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi analyze Japan’s resurgence in humanoid robotics, the engineering insights revealed by the Unitree G1 disassembly, and the growing importance of domestic manufacturing capabilities for technological leadership and national security.
New Study Examines Carbon Nylon Impact Failure
A new research paper examines how 3D printed carbon nylon composites absorb impact energy and fail under load.
Creality Launches Pocket-Sized Pika 3D Scanner with Gaussian Splatting
Creality introduced a very different kind of 3D scanner.
Bambu Lab Patents a Method for Faster 3D Printer Assembly
A newly patent application from Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology, the company behind Bambu Lab, focuses on assembling the machine itself.
Prompt2CAD Expands AI CAD Capabilities with Improved STEP Model Generation
Remember Prompt2CAD? It’s advanced quite a bit since my last check.
The Road to 200,000 Miles: Geopolitics, Supply Chain Risks, and the Rise of 3D Printed Auto Parts
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi discuss how political developments and longer vehicle lifespans are making maintenance data, repair efficiency, and digital asset management more valuable than ever.
New Stratasys Patents Target Both FFF And Resin
Stratasys has surfaced in two recent patents that work on very different problems: keeping heat inside an industrial FFF machine, and making resin parts last longer after printing.
Prusa Launches Pure PA11 Prusament
Prusa Research has added a “pure” PA11 Prusament filament for printing tougher, lower-friction functional parts.
Sovol M1D Campaign Confirms Shift Away from Filament Swapping 3D Printers
The 3D print community has spoken: Sovol’s M1D Kickstarter campaign has raised an incredible amount of money.
eSUN Revives Coffee-Filled Composite Filament
eSUN announced a bizarre 3D printing filament: PLA-Coffee.
Design of the Week: Colossus of Constantine
This week’s selection is the Colossus of Constantine by Factum Foundation.
Dual Loop Control Improves LPBF Melt Pool Stability
A new dual loop controller approach could make laser powder bed fusion more tolerant of thermal surprises.
Who’s The Biggest In 3D Printing, August 2, 2026
Once again we take a look at the valuations of the major 3D printing companies over the past week.
Beyond Chemistry: How 3D Printing Is Reshaping Battery Technology
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi take a technical look at the emerging world of 3D printed batteries, where advanced manufacturing is enabling entirely new energy architectures beyond the limits of conventional battery production.
Velo3D Launches Forge 1 Metal AM Campus
Velo3D opened a massive new Livermore site for repeatable metal 3D print production.
ELEGOO Patent Targets Lighter Multi Nozzle FFF Switching
A new Chinese patent application suggests ELEGOO is exploring a lighter way to switch multiple FFF toolheads.
Vibration Assisted FFF Makes Stronger PLA Parts
A new paper investigates whether vibration assisted filament extrusion can make PLA prints stronger where it matters most: between layers.
Hands On With the Kobra 4 Combo 3D Printer, Part 3
We conclude our look at the Kobra 4 Combo 3D printer with print results and final thoughts. This is part three of a three-part series. Please read parts one and two. Kobra 4 Combo Print Results We grouped several of our standard test prints together into one large print job – cylindricity test, knurling nut… Continue reading Hands On With the Kobra 4 Combo 3D Printer, Part 3
Hands On With the Kobra 4 Combo 3D Printer, Part 2
We continue our review of the Kobra 4 Combo 3D printer with setup, calibration, operations and software.
Hands On With the Kobra 4 Combo 3D Printer, Part 1
We’re testing the Anycubic Kobra 4 desktop FFF 3D printer this week.
From Cobots to Custom Grippers: How Devonics Uses 3D Printing to Power Industrial Automation
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi examine Devonics’ growing automation ecosystem, highlighting its innovative end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), strategic robotics partnerships, and the role of 3D printing in rapid product development.
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.
How Are Small US-Based 3D Printer Manufacturers Doing?
What other US 3D printer manufacturers are in trouble?
Stick Tech’s Patents Point Toward A Printer
Stick Tech Oy has patented another odd little piece of the 3D printing workflow, and now the pattern is getting harder to ignore.
From Cobots to Smart Factories: Teradyne’s Vision for AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi describe how the convergence of collaborative robots, autonomous mobile systems, and Physical AI is creating new opportunities for smarter, more autonomous 3D printing operations.
Flashforge Patents Swappable FFF Toolheads
Flashforge appears to be thinking about a different way to handle multiple toolheads on desktop FFF 3D printers.
FreeCAD MCP Integration Lets ChatGPT Create and Edit 3D CAD Models
Can you generate 3D CAD files with ChatGPT? It turns out you can.
3DEO and Fusion3 Shut Down as Two US 3D Printing Companies Enter Liquidation
Two notable USA-based 3D printing companies have apparently shut down.
Shining 3D Patent Packages Resin Into Capsules
Shining 3D has filed a European patent application for a resin printing capsule system, and the interesting part is not just the packaging.
Battle of the Builders: Comparing 3D Printing Innovation at Auburn and the University of Alabama
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi compare the additive manufacturing initiatives at Auburn University and the University of Alabama, revealing how each institution is contributing to Alabama’s rise as an advanced manufacturing hub.
Robotic Finishing Strengthens 3D Printed Concrete Joints
Robotic finishing could turn rough 3D printed concrete segments into far more reliable structural assemblies.
The Kare S1 Is An Affordable High-Temperature 3D Printer, But Can They Deliver?
A new 3D printer on Kickstarter is able to print metal filament.
Chinese 3D Printer Exports Surge 90% in First Half of 2026
A financial report shows Chinese 3D printer manufacturers almost doubled their shipments in 2026.
Hanin Patent Makes Toolhead Filament Cutters Safer
Xiamen Hanin has patented a modular filament cutting mechanism intended to make automated material changes safer and easier to maintain.
Design of the Week: ECHO Chair
This week’s selection is the Echo Chair by ZHA and Nagami Design.
Binocular Vision Targets WAAM Weld Control
A new research study explores binocular vision for measuring weld features during 316L wire arc additive manufacturing.
Who’s The Biggest In 3D Printing, July 26, 2026
Once again we take a look at the valuations of the major 3D printing companies over the past week.
Industrial 3D Printing Finally Gets Affordable: Formlabs’ Fuse X1 Could Change the Market
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi examine how Formlabs’ new US$85,000 Fuse X1 industrial 3D printer could accelerate the shift of additive manufacturing from a high-cost specialty process to a mainstream production technology.
ERDC Embeds Fiber Optics In LFAM Parts
U.S. Army ERDC researchers have shown that fiber optic strain sensors can be embedded during large format additive manufacturing without changing the basic print process.
Meshy Unveils Auto Split Feature as US$400M Funding Fuels AI Expansion
Two major news items from Meshy.ai this week.
Chinese Patent Combines Pellet Material Heating And Metered Feeding
A newly granted Chinese utility model proposes combining material heating, mixing and forced feeding inside one compact 3D printer hopper.
ELEGOO Launches H1 HT Filament Dryer with 85°C High-Temperature Drying
ELEGOO announced a new 3D printing peripheral: the H1 HT Filament Dryer.
3D Printed Shoes Could Require Dynamic Foot Modeling
There could be a lot more to the business of 3D-printed footwear.
Polymaker’s New HT-PLA Pro Outperforms PLA, ABS, PETG, and PC
Polymaker just released an extremely interesting new FFF material: HT-PLA PRO.
Mechanical Patent Detects FFF Material Flow Failures
System to mechanically detect material flow in the hot end [Source: Espacenet]
CGTrader Report Reveals 3D Model Marketplace Trends, AI Performance
CGTrader issued a rather interesting report on their customer activity.
Quantum Computing Emerges from the Shadows
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi discuss how advances in quantum computing may accelerate materials discovery, transform manufacturing processes, and create new opportunities for the additive manufacturing industry.
Robotic AM Optimizer Targets Collision Free Toolpaths
A new robotic AM optimization method tries to keep complex multi axis prints smooth, accurate and collision free.
Nine Bambu Lab Patents Reveal Broader Printer Architecture
A collection of nine new Bambu Lab patents provides a detailed picture of several future 3D printer concepts.
Reverse-Engineered CAD Model of Prusa’s INDX System Appears Online After Accidental File Release
The CAD for Prusa Research’s INDX system seems to have been reverse-engineered.
Lumina Studio Uses Camera Calibration for Multicolor FFF 3D Printing
Lumina Studio provides an easy way to achieve accurate, full multicolor 3D prints.
Rocket Lab: An Emerging Leader in Aerospace
Charles G. Goulding explores how Rocket Lab has emerged as one of the few commercial space companies to successfully scale from innovative rocket development to a diversified aerospace manufacturing powerhouse.
Soy Hull Fiber PLA Filament Faces FFF Test
A new research paper examines whether soy hull fiber and PLA filament is workable for FFF 3D printing.
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.
Nano Dimension Cancels Shareholder Meeting as Four Directors and CEO Exit
Another week, another major development at Nano Dimension, which throws everything said previously upside down.