Researchers at the University of Bristol’s Faculty of Engineering have developed a new technique for strengthening 3D printed resin.
research
Nano-Level Electro-Chemical 3D Printing Demonstrated
A new microscopic 3D printing process has been developed by Swiss company Cytosurge, and it can print metal!
NewPro3D’s Speedy ILI 3D Printing Technology
Vancouver-based NewPro3D has developed a new process for resin 3D printing that seems quite fast.
UCLA Invents New Strong And Lightweight Metal, But Can It Be 3D Printed?
A new metal alloy developed by UCLA researchers looks quite promising, particularly for aerospace use, but can it be 3D printed?
The Best 3D Print Benchmarks: Done?
We 3D printed two popular benchmark 3D models on a top quality industrial 3D printer, the Stratasys Objet Connex260.
3D Printing Materials Toxicity Assessment: Yes, Toxic
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have determined that at least some commonly used 3D printing materials are toxic.
An Easy Method To Generate Hair – On Almost Any 3D Printer!
Researchers at Carnagie Mellon have developed a ridiculously simple method of 3D printing hair-like structures.
A Big Step Towards 3D Printed Organs
Carnegie Mellon researchers have worked out a way to successfully print “squishy” biological tissues, thus removing one of the key barriers to major bioprinting.
Could Self-Healing Plastic Be 3D Printed?
A curious new plastic can heal itself in water, but could this be used in a 3D printer? Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania examined squid teeth, which have a very unusual property: they can heal themselves, even when submerged in water. Here’s the interesting part: the researchers were able to determine which genes controlled… Continue reading Could Self-Healing Plastic Be 3D Printed?
MIT’s Fab Forms Pre-Tests 3D Model Variations
Researchers at MIT have developed “Fab Forms”, a system that pre-tests thousands of variations of a 3D model to simplify end user design.
3D Hubs Trend Report For September
3D Hubs has issued its latest trends report on their view of 3D printer use. We noticed some interesting patterns.
More On Gartner’s 3D Printing Predictions
Gartner 3D printing analyst Pete Basiliere pointed us at their company’s latest detailed report on 3D printing and it shows some interesting predictions.
Microsoft Developing Mobile 3D Scanning Technology – For Any Smartphone!
A paper from Oxford and Microsoft researchers details an experimental workflow enabling capture of 3D models using only a smartphone’s camera.
MIT’s 3D Glass Printer Raises Questions
Researchers at MIT unveiled an incredible new 3D printing process that uses glass as the print material. We’re asking some questions about its capabilities.
Made In Space’s New In-Vacuum 3D Printer
You’ve probably heard of Made In Space, the company that recently installed a real 3D printer on the International Space Station. Now they’ve developed a new method of 3D printing in a vacuum!
3D Print Flexible Objects With Solid Plastic? Disney Can!
New research from scientists at Disney have described ways to 3D print objects with components of varying flexibility using only solid plastic.
Alternative Method of 3D Printing Electronics Developed
Researchers at UC Berkeley and National Chiao Tung University have developed a simple alternative method of 3D printing electrical traces within printed objects.
Report: Desktop 3D Printer Shipments Grow By 114% But Which Vendors Lead?
We’re looking at a summary of an industry report from CONTEXT that calculates the growth in desktop 3D printer shipments was 114%, comparing 1Q14 to 1Q15.
New Digital DNA-Based 3D Printing Technology Emerges
While 3D printing at human-sized scales remains a busy marketplace, research into 3D printing at microscopic scales also continues.
A Seahorse Shows How 3D Printed Robots Can Be Much, Much Better
Dr. Michael M. Porter of Clemson University in South Carolina and team have discovered something very interesting about the mechanics of seahorses – and it may change 3D printed robotics.
3D Hubs’ July 2015 Trends Reveals Interesting 3D Printing Behavior
This month’s trends report from 3D Hubs has some interesting data that identifies who’s actually 3D printing.
Breakthrough in 3D Bioprinting: Reinforced Tissue Constructs
A team from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane has developed a way to make robust bioprints.
Hydrographic 3D Print Painting?
Wired reports on a potential method of coloring complex 3D prints: hydrographic painting. But is it really feasible?
Space 3D Prints Returned To Earth Inspected By NASA
Remember the 3D printer sent to the International Space Station? The first prints from it have been examined by NASA.
3D Printed Metal Pricing Analysis
A reader recently asked us how much it would cost to print an item in metal. We said, “Lots”, but there’s more to the story.
Contrasting the Corporate Acquisitions of Stratasys and 3D Systems
Did you ever notice there’s quite a few news releases from 3D printing companies describing their latest acquisitions? We tallied them up.
3D Hubs’ April Trends
Each month 3D Hubs deploys an analysis of trends they observe in their 3D printer network. It’s always an interesting read.
More On Carbon3D’s New 3D Printing Process
If you are anywhere close to the world of 3D printing, you no doubt saw the blockbuster announcement last week of Carbon3D’s new speedy process. We took a bit deeper look at it.
Gizmo 3D Printers Develops Another Rapid Printing Process
An Australian startup seems to have found a way to significantly speed up DLP 3D printing.
3D Printed Architectural Structure Demonstrates New Approach
3D Systems teamed with a team from UC Berkeley to 3D print an intricate architectural structure, perhaps the largest cement structure ever 3D printed.
3D Hubs’ Trends Report Provides Deeper Insights
This month’s trend report from 3D Hubs again provides deeper insights into the use of personal 3D printing gear.
New Quality Control Techniques For EOS Metal 3D Printers
EOS manufactures high-end industrial 3D printers, some of which can print in metal. But how do they maintain quality control?
China Sets Up a Medical 3D Printing Center
The PRC has established a center for medical 3D printing.
Research May Lead to Low Cost 3D Metal Printing
Research on aluminum 3D printing has discovered ways to potentially lower operational costs.
3D Printing Body Parts in Japan
Japanese researchers are focusing on developing ways to 3D print body parts.
3D Printing with DNA-Based “Smart Glue”
Researchers have developed a way to use DNA as “glue” to hold together 3D prints.
3D Hubs’ January Trends Yields a Surprising Result
We’re looking at some interesting statistics presented by 3D Hubs in their monthly trends report.
Nanoscribe’s Nano-Scale 3D Printing Technology
We took a closer look at Nanoscribe’s nano-scale 3D printing technology to understand how it works.
New 3D Printing Algorithm Reduces Support Material, But…
A new algorithm might prove effective to reduce the amount of support material required for 3D prints by chopping objects into more easily printable shapes.
Impossible Objects Receives Funding
The scientists at Impossible Objects have developed a unique 3D printing process, and it appears the market like it: they were just awarded USD$2.8M.
TNO’s 3D Printing Breakthroughs
TNO has been developing some unique 3D printing technologies that we may see in new machines soon.
New Technique Could Enable 3D Printed Contact Lenses
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a technique for 3D printing multiple materials that could prove quite interesting.
Space 3D Printer Is Installed
A few short weeks ago a SpaceX cargo craft carried a unique experiment: A 3D printer designed for space. Now it’s being installed.
New Process Could Lead to Consumer-Priced 3D Metal Printers
We’re checking out a proposed new 3D printing process that could significantly lower the barriers to metal 3D printing: Selective Inhibition Sintering.
The Beauty of Great 3D Printer Filament
Remember we performed some tests on the FoxSmart filament? We did one more test afterwards and found something very interesting.
Quasicrystalline Alloys Could Improve 3D Print Materials
Researchers at the University of Lorraine in France have been working on new methods of creating powdered alloys.
New 3D Printing Preparation Algorithms
Researchers at Purdue University have developed new 3D printing preparation software that could make 3D printing a lot more efficient.
The Road Ahead for 3D Printing
The technology for 3-D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has existed in some form since the 1980s.
3D Hubs’ October Report Analyzes Crowdfunding
We always watch for 3D Hubs monthly report as it provides insight into use of 3D printing. But this month’s report includes some very interesting analyses.
Refining the Lost-PLA Burnout Process for 3D Printed Metal Casting
The folks at the University of Washington’s Mechanical Engineering Department have been refining the process of metal casting using 3D printed PLA.
The Minibuilders 3D Construction Robots
The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) of Barcelona has developed a set of experimental robots capable of building clay structures.
Smart Matter Update
What’s been happening in the world of smart matter lately? And what is “Smart Matter”, anyway?
3D Design By Example
Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab have developed a new twist on 3D design by creating “Fab By Example”.
Research May Lead to a Molecular-Level 3D Printer
Researchers are attempting to develop a machine that can produce arbitrary organic molecules – on demand.
The Da Vinci 3D Printer is Leading?
Something interesting showed up in 3D Hubs’ monthly trends report: XYZ Printing’s Da Vinci 3D printer is trending.
Research Done, But No 3D Chop Yet
Following up on our piece about the 3DPrintTech free utility for segmenting large 3D models for printing, we found something.
Researchers Develop Method for 3D Printing Gradient Alloys
Industrial 3D printers have long been able to print metal objects, using a variety of techniques, but now researchers from NASA, California Institute of Technology and Penn State are working on printing “gradient alloys”.
University of Connecticut Makes 3D Scanning Breakthrough
Researchers at UConn have developed a new technique for 3D scanning antique musical instruments.
Major Breakthrough in 3D Printed Living Tissue
Researchers have been struggling to develop techniques to 3D print living tissue for some years now, but researchers at Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston seem to have made big steps.
3D Printing With Micro-Robots?
We’re watching a video from SRI International, who have apparently been developing micro-robots that can assemble things.
IBM Computes New Polymers; Usable for 3D Printing?
IBM announced the discovery of two new classes of polymers, the first discovered in decades. We’re wondering if they have any applicability to 3D printing.
3D Printed Materials Acts as a Functioning Liver
The dream of 3D printed human organs got slightly closer to reality with the development of 3D printed tissue that mimics liver functions.
Shark Material Produced by 3D Printing
Shark skin is quite rough yet allows rapid swimming, for those of you who haven’t been up close with the notorious fish, but now the nature of the skin has been duplicated with 3D printing.
A 3D Felt Printer From Disney and Carnagie Mellon
Researchers at Carnagie Mellon and Disney have developed a new type of 3D printer that prints 3D felt objects.
Overhangs? What Overhangs?
Australian engineer Daniel Brown has been experimenting with overhangs, the bane of 3D printer operators worldwide. It looks like he’s managed to overcome them.
A Microscale 3D Printing Breakthrough
Harvard’s Jennifer Lewis has developed a technique for 3D printing a wide variety of materials at micro-scale dimensions.
ECN Develops A DLP Metal Printing Technique
Researchers at the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN) have developed a new technique for 3D printing that can create metal parts without melting its mineral material.
An Examination of 3D Printing Patents
A new report from patent researchers Patent Insight Pro investigates the state of 3DP patents. We found some very interesting tidbits.
3D Printer Filament Recycling is Super Green
In a study recently released by the Michigan Technological University (MTU), Joshua Pierce and his group have found that recycling commonplace plastics into 3D printing filament consumes less energy than traditional recycling.
A “Full Color 3D Printer”? Not So Much
A report in GigaOm touts a “a sub-$100 device that upgrades desktop 3D printers to print in a full rainbow of colors”. But is this actually true?
4 AXYZ’s 3D Potential
4 AXYZ CEO Samir Shah provided us with several incredible examples produced by their new process. When you see them and read his explanations, you’ll understand why we think this technology is so important.
3D Printed Heart Membrane
Researchers have developed a way to use 3D printing to create an implantable custom-fit heart membrane.
Uncovered: 4 AXYZ’s Secret 3D Wood Machine
For some time now we’ve been hearing rumors of a mysterious “wood machine” from a mysterious company called “4 AXYZ”. Now we know a lot more about it.
The MX3D: A Robotic 3D Printer
On the heels of its debut in May 2013, the MX3D-resin printer has already evolved from a machine only capable of building in plastic to one that can print in a variety of metals.
Ultra-Fast 3D Printing?
A surprise announcement from ORNL and Cincinnati Incorporated hopes to revolutionize 3D printed manufacturing. But how?
Flexible and Functional: 3D Printed Kinetic Shapes
New research from Virginia Tech could lead to 3D printed fabrics, and much more.
The Beachy Head Lady Reconstructed
The Daily Mail reports on an ancient skull being reconstructed with modern 3D technology.
It’s 3D Printed, and It’s Flexible
At NYC’s 3D Printshow this week there are plenty of amazing items to check out. One that caught our eye was very flexible.
NASA’s 3D Printed Instruments
NASA is experimenting with 3D printing techniques to develop not one, but at least three different solutions to space instrument manufacturing issues.
Can You 3D Print Cotton?
Probably you can’t 3D print cotton, but a new project hopes to find a way to do so.
Developments in 3D Food Printing
We’re looking at a video from TNO, who have been developing various forms of 3D food printing. 3D printed food seems to be a topic of great interest among the public, although we’re not quite sure why. Perhaps it’s because almost everyone finds themselves in a kitchen sooner or later and reckons they’re a kind… Continue reading Developments in 3D Food Printing
Contour Crafting Update
Many years ago we wrote a brief story on Contour Crafting, who, if you don’t know, are developing the technologies necessary to 3D print entire buildings in concrete. The idea is to erect a “portable” 3D printer gantry around a home-building site and have the device extrude the walls of the building. This approach… Continue reading Contour Crafting Update
3D Printed Underwear?
A UK firm has revealed plans to produce a line of apparently 3D printed underwear. Tamicare has developed a new process that is said to enable 3D printed fabric, which they intend to produce underwear with, at least at first. The fabric generated through this process is trademarked as “CosyFlex”. It’s not entirely clear… Continue reading 3D Printed Underwear?
Miniature DMLS Prints Tiny Metal Parts
A joint venture between 3D-Micromac AG and EOS Gmbh has created a new micro-laser sintering technology (MLS) that can be used to create miniature metal components. While the two firms have been developing MLS technology since 2006 under the name of 3D MicroPrint, it was only last year that the technology was mature enough… Continue reading Miniature DMLS Prints Tiny Metal Parts
A Virtual 3D Printer in Minecraft
Ingenious YouTube user and Minecraft Designer ItsJustJumby has created a kind of virtual 3D printer in the world of Minecraft. Minecraft, if you’re not aware, is a simple to use 3D virtual environment where people can design and build, well, anything! Even though the “printed” output appears quite simplistic to real 3D printer… Continue reading A Virtual 3D Printer in Minecraft
Cornell 3D Prints a Working Audio Speaker
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a method that is capable of 3D printing an entire, working audio speaker. The process involves two different 3D printers: one prints the basic structure in plastic, while the other prints the electronic parts within the plastic structure. It’s a two-stage operation, to be sure, but it… Continue reading Cornell 3D Prints a Working Audio Speaker
3D Printed Skulls Help Teach Future Brain Surgeons
Brain surgery is notoriously difficult with surgeons spending years honing their craft. Given the need for more hands-on practice performing surgical operations, researchers at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur have created a 3D printed skull that can provide just that. Using scans of each layer of the human skull, Vicknes Waran, professor… Continue reading 3D Printed Skulls Help Teach Future Brain Surgeons
The 3D Printed Robot Heart Powered by Urine
Researchers in the UK have created a 3D printed robotic heart that uses urine as its fuel source. While many might be repulsed by the idea of a heart that pumps urine, have no fear – the robotic heart is designed for use in robots, not humans. In a paper published in the… Continue reading The 3D Printed Robot Heart Powered by Urine
A New Approach to 3D Printed Skin
The University of Liverpool has developed a different approach to 3D printed skin, which had been previously accomplished. The problem with prior techniques is the appearance: manufactured skin was entirely uniform, without the bumps, wrinkles, freckles and curiosities of actual human skin. The new approach involves scanning a subject’s surviving skin to prepare a… Continue reading A New Approach to 3D Printed Skin
3D Printing Patents Sky Rocket in Number
In a recently released report, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has stated that the amount of patent filing related to 3D printing has increased dramatically since the year 2000. After analyzing 9000 patent records filed since 1980, a team of IPO researchers pinpointed a rapid upswing in 3D printing related patents; particularly in… Continue reading 3D Printing Patents Sky Rocket in Number
3D Printed Batteries?
Harvard materials scientist Jennifer Lewis has produced a new liquid material that could be used to 3D print lithium-ion batteries. The “ink” is intended to be 3D printed using the syringe approach that is frequently used for bioprinting or culinary experiments. The process to produce the liquid material is quite interesting. Printing battery… Continue reading 3D Printed Batteries?
New Ways to Resurrect Dinosaurs with 3D Printing
A paper published in the journal Radiology explores new techniques used to capture 3D information from dinosaur fossils. The new approach overcomes the problem of removing non-fossil material from the actual fossil during excavation and subsequent processing. Apparently when surrounding material is removed, small portions of the true fossil can be lost. The new… Continue reading New Ways to Resurrect Dinosaurs with 3D Printing
USC Investigating Multi-Material 3D Printing
Researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering led by Professor Yong Chen have demonstrated a new method of 3D printing multiple materials. By “multiple” we mean two materials that can be combined in different ratios. For example, the process can print an object that has both hard and soft portions – in different degrees… Continue reading USC Investigating Multi-Material 3D Printing
Making Prints Stick: Some Tips
The folks at ProtoParadigm have produced a terrific list of tips on how to reduce or eliminate the deadly warping effect that plagues personal 3D printers. There’s nothing worse than discovering a time-consuming mess caused by a print that lifted off the bed. The warping itself isn’t such a problem; it’s that the warping… Continue reading Making Prints Stick: Some Tips
How to Print Everything on a Single Machine
Modern 3D printers are built for one thing: reproducing 3D designs in a printer’s native material. If you want your design in a different material, you’ll need to use a different printer; or at least that used to be the case. A new 3D printing technique, developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of… Continue reading How to Print Everything on a Single Machine