I ran into a fascinating open-source project that attempts to automate some of the work to perform 3D print jobs.
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Elegoo Wants to Solve the Hard Part of 3D Printing
Elegoo has launched something that isn’t a 3D printer.
El Segundo’s Manufacturing Revolution: AI for Physical (ATOMS) Things versus Bits
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi make a compelling case for how El Segundo represents a new generation of Southern California innovation, that resonates nationally.
AI CAD Models Approach 100% Accuracy on BenchCAD Benchmark
Are we getting dangerously close to 100% accurate AI CAD?
Knowledge Guided AI Designs Stronger, More Printable Metal Alloys
A new machine learning approach has designed metal alloys and their printing parameters at the same time.
Knowledge Guided AI Designs Stronger, More Printable Metal Alloys
A new machine learning approach has designed metal alloys and their laser printing parameters at the same time.
Modly Brings Free, Open-Source AI 3D Model Generation to Your Desktop
Want to generate 3D models on your own computer? You can!
Tripo P2.0 Preview Generates 3D Models With Up to 50,000 Triangles
Tripo AI released Tripo P2.0 Preview, which has a unique method to generate 3D models.
Hi3D Upgrades AI 3D Platform With Better Resolution and Cleaner Meshes
Hi3D has upgraded their AI 3D generative service to 3.0.
Meshy 7 Improves Image-to-3D Accuracy With New Geometry Alignment Technology
Meshy has released a new version of their AI-powered image-to-3D model service.
Digital Biology and 3D Printing
Charles G. Goulding examines the convergence of AI-driven digital biology and additive manufacturing, revealing how next-generation research is accelerating scientific breakthroughs and reshaping the future of biotechnology.
Backflip Adds AI-Powered Reverse Engineering to Convert Mesh Files Into CAD Models
Backflip announced a new capability: reverse engineering.
Xometry Upgrades AI Process Recommender to Improve Manufacturing Choices
Xometry announced “comprehensive upgrades” to their AI model architecture.
Prompt2CAD Expands AI CAD Capabilities with Improved STEP Model Generation
Remember Prompt2CAD? It’s advanced quite a bit since my last check.
FreeCAD MCP Integration Lets ChatGPT Create and Edit 3D CAD Models
Can you generate 3D CAD files with ChatGPT? It turns out you can.
Meshy Unveils Auto Split Feature as US$400M Funding Fuels AI Expansion
Two major news items from Meshy.ai this week.
Vibe Coding Is Coming to 3D Printing
Vibe coding is now hitting the 3D print world.
Design of the Week: NX2 Long Range Flying Wing
This week’s selection is the NX2 Long Range Flying Wing by YouTuber Neuroautics.
Coherent Photonics LLC and the Expanding World of Photonics
Charles G. Goulding highlights how pioneering advancements in photonics manufacturing can be enhanced with 3D printing and qualify for substantial R&D tax incentives.
Kentstrapper Unveils Mille Large-Format FFF 3D Printer with 1-Cubic-Metre Build Volume
Kentstrapper announced a massive new FFF system, the Mille.
PETG Flexural Optimization With Taguchi And ANN
A Moroccan research team mapped how common FFF settings drive PETG flexural behavior and then used a neural network to predict the best tradeoffs.
Hi3D announced a new “3D print workflow” for AI-generated models.
Hi3D announced a new “3D print workflow” for AI-generated models.
IBM Patent Applies AI To 3D Printer Control
IBM has published a patent application describing an AI decision engine for managing 3D printers.
3D Printed Copper Plates — Solving One of AI’s Biggest Problems
Charles G. Goulding examines how advanced 3D printing and copper engineering could unlock the next phase of AI expansion while easing pressure on power grids and critical infrastructure.
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.
Deep Learning Spots 3D Print Defects In Process
A new study explores deep learning for image-based defect detection during 3D printing, looking to catch bad builds.
Humanoid Robots, the Question of Human Work, and 3D Printing
Charles G. Goulding raises the key question: How effectively can humanoid robots perform work traditionally done by humans?
Carbon Capture, Additive Manufacturing, and the New Infrastructure Beside the Turbine
Charles G. Goulding investigates how industrial data center developers deploy modular carbon-capture technology beside gas turbines to overcome environmental permitting roadblocks and secure federal tax incentives.
Prometheus Raises Billions to Develop ‘Artificial General Engineer’ for Physical Product Creation
Prometheus Industries is a company that might become very important to additive manufacturing in the future.
The TDK-Fabric8Labs Deal Shows the Importance of 3D Print Applications
TDK’s surprise acquisition of Fabric8Labs last week shows how applications truly drive the 3D printing industry.
Neural Shape Optimization Could Cut 3D Print Supports
A new neural field-based optimization method aims to reshape parts to reduce overhangs and, in turn, minimize the need for 3D printing support structures.
Meshy Launches 3D Agent Beta, Introducing Conversational AI Workflows for 3D Model Creation
Meshy announced a new agent capability.
Google and FANUC Want to Build the First Truly Intelligent Factory Robots
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi analyze how AI-enabled FANUC robots could transform automation, additive manufacturing, and factory intelligence.
AI-Generated 3D Content Gains Strategic Importance as Tripo Raises US$200M
Tripo just received US$200M, and there’s a reason for that.
Ten Potential Disruptions That Could Reshape the 3D Printing Industry
What developments in 3D printing could truly disrupt the industry?
AI Spending Surge Meets Industrial Reality: What It Means for Additive Manufacturing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi share insights from a recent Deloitte seminar, connecting today’s AI boom to tomorrow’s factory floor innovations.
Researchers Map The Path To AI Guided 3D Food Printing
A new research paper lays out how extrusion 3D food printing and AI could deliver truly personalized, plant-based meals.
Flashforge and Meshy Partnership Streamlines AI-Generated Multicolor 3D Printing Workflow
This is interesting: Meshy is partnering with Flashforge.
AI Post-Slicing GCODE Lowers FFF Material Use
A new research paper shows AI and curvature-aware post-slicing can cut FFF material use by about a quarter without touching CAD or the slicer.
Tvasta Differentiates Cedar 3D Printer With AI-Based Concrete Mix Optimization
I ran across yet another new concrete 3D printer manufacturer, this time in India. What’s going on here?
New AI Tools Move Toward Easier 3D Design
Anthropic’s latest strategy to position Claude as a tool for creative work points toward a future where describing an object could become as important as learning difficult CAD software.
AI And Digital Twin Manufacturing Architecture For Small Businesses
Researchers described a practical AI and Digital Twin architecture to enable SMEs to use closed-loop small-batch additive manufacturing.
New AI Platform From Euler Analyzes Sensor Data to Improve Metal Print Quality
A new startup company from Iceland offers an advanced AI tool for metal 3D printing.
The Beginning of Prompt-Based Manufacturing? A Look at Wonder 3D
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafe highlight how AI-driven tools like Wonder 3D are speeding up design workflows while expanding opportunities for R&D tax credits across digital fabrication.
Hands On with Prompt2CAD
I’m trying a new and quite different AI generative tool, Prompt2CAD.
Personalized Without Compromise: AI Keeps Custom 3D Prints Durable
Charles R. Goulding and Nimra Shakoor discuss how emerging systems blend generative design with structural analysis so everyday users can create customized objects that actually hold up in real-world use.
Tripo Secures $50M Investment to Advance AI-Generated 3D Models for Industrial and Creative Use
Tripo announced a massive US$50M investment to power their AI 3D generation company.
Design of the Week: AI Chair
This week’s selection is the AI Chair by Ross Lovegrove and Google Deepmind.
Hitem3D Integration with OpenClaw Enables Automated AI-Driven 3D Model Generation
For those into AI tools, there is now a very intriguing option to use Hitem3D in workflows.
Bambu Lab Integrates Meshy 6 into MakerLab, Expanding AI Image-to-3D Capabilities
Bambu Lab has added a powerful feature to MakerLab: Meshy 6.
Navigating Complexity in Industrial 3D Printing Sales: An Interview with Corbel’s Le’ora Lichtenstein
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafe discuss how AI-driven sales tools are reshaping industrial manufacturing by reducing misconfigurations and accelerating deal flow.
DreamPartGen Brings Part Aware Text To 3D
A new research model called DreamPartGen could make text generated 3D models far more usable for printing and assembly.
Why Apple’s LiTo Research Could Matter To 3D Printing
Apple’s new LiTo research is not about 3D printers — at first glance, but it could point toward a more 3D print friendly content pipeline if the company ever decides to connect image based 3D capture, asset generation, and physical output into one ecosystem.
Vision Transformers Boost Real Time FFF Quality Monitoring
Researchers propose a Vision Transformer approach that detects FFF surface defects in real time with on-demand explainability.
Disney’s Big Bet on Storytelling, Parks and Products
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi explore how Disney’s massive bet on Imagineering, from theme parks to cruise ships, is opening new doors for advanced manufacturing and 3D printing.
New MIT AI System Designs Structurally Sound 3D Printable Objects
MIT researchers have developed a system to generate 3D models that can better function in real life when printed.
Natural Language Mechanical Design: FusionMCP Demonstrates AI-Driven CAD
A fascinating proof-of-concept shows how CAD could be done via AI in the future.
Polymaker’s Advanced Filament Selection Tool Includes Color Matching and Material Comparison
Anyone selecting a filament product from Polymaker can now use an incredibly powerful assistant.
Patent Proposes Lights Out Implant 3D Printing
A new patent filing describes an AI driven 3D printer that could automate patient specific implant production with minimal human touch time.
Reinforcement Learning Tames DLP Peel Forces For Fragile Prints
A new research paper proposes geometry adaptive reinforcement learning to reduce peel forces in Digital Light Processing (DLP) resin printing to save fragile features and increase lift success for resin workflows.
Is the TOP.E R1 the First Desktop 5-Axis 3D Printer?
Could this new device be the first desktop 5-axis 3D printer?
Hitem3D Shifts Image-to-3D AI Platform Toward Print-Ready Model Generation
Hitem3D is focusing on 3D printing for its image-to-3D AI system.
MyMiniFactory Takes Over Thingiverse
Easily the biggest news of the day: MyMiniFactory has acquired Thingiverse!
Makerworld Introduces New Image Requirement to Address Misleading AI-Generated Model Listings
Bambu Lab just made an important rule change about AI use on Makerworld.
Synera Expands AI-Driven Engineering Platform with Autodesk Fusion Integration
I’m looking at a new AI tool for developing 3D models, Synera.
University of Maryland’s Extensive HVAC 3D Printing Program Signals a Turning Point
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi highlight how the University of Maryland’s extensive HVAC 3D printing program is moving additive manufacturing from experimental concepts to real-world energy infrastructure.
LLM Agents Step Into The 3D Printer Control Loop
A new CMU framework uses large language models to spot defects and change print parameters during print jobs.
AdditiveGDL Predicts LPBF Thermal Fields With Generative AI
Researchers introduced AdditiveGDL, a generative deep learning method that predicts local thermal distributions across metal Laser Powder Bed Fusion layers to accelerate process tuning and quality assurance.
Five Breakthrough Industries Shaping 2026 — and Why Additive Manufacturing Is Embedded in All of Them
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi predict which industries will have the most significant impact in 2026.
Industrial AI and the Next Revolution: Siemens and NVIDIA at CES 2026
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi spotlight why Siemens believes AI-driven digital twins are now as essential to industry as electricity once was, and how NVIDIA’s computing power makes that vision real.
BCN3D Launches Omega I60 G2, Its First New System Since Acquisition
BCN3D announced a new version of their Omega I60 industrial 3D printer, the G2.
AI Adoption in 3D Printing Should Accelerate Despite Early Failures and Skepticism
Where is AI going in the 3D print world?
Hitem3D Releases Version 2.0 With Integrated Texture Generation for Higher-Fidelity 3D Models
AI company Hitem3D has released a new version of their 3D generation service.
Creality Quietly Introduces New “Spark X” Brand Focused on Automated, AI-Enhanced 3D Printing
Creality quietly announced something called “Spark X” last week.
printpal Milestone Signals Shift From Traditional CAD to AI Modeling
printpal announced they’ve hit a significant milestone.
Hands on with PrintU
Bambu Lab released an interesting new service called “PrintU”.
3D Printed Copper vs. In-Chip Microfluidics: Which Cooling Technology Will Enable the AI Data Center?
Anthony Palumbo and Charles Goulding examine how 3D printed copper cold plates and in-chip microfluidic silicon are reshaping AI data center cooling, positioning copper as the rack-ready solution deployable today and in-chip microfluidics as the long-term leap, both enabled by additive manufacturing.
Tencent and Meta Launch New AI Tools That Advance 3D Model Generation
Generating 3D models with AI tools gets a bit easier with not one, but two new options.
New AI Venture Cadxstudio Targets Automated CAD Generation
I’m looking at a new AI-based CAD system called “Cadxstudio”.
MyMiniFactory Launches SoulCrafted Slicer Project to Build Open Source Resin 3D Printing Software
News from MyMiniFactory: they are building powerful open source slicing software for resin 3D printing.
Another Very Questionable 3D Print Market Report Emerges
A week later, I am again presented with an extremely suspicious 3D print market analyst report.
From Algorithms to Action: SoftBank’s Physical AI Bet on ABB
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafe connect SoftBank’s robotics deal to the rise of additive manufacturing and the next wave of AI-powered production.
Beyond the Beaker: Corning’s AI Success and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti examine Corning’s success with the AI boom due to its fiber optic research and development, all while setting a place for 3D printing to hedge any unforeseen risks. Corning’s AI Glow-Up: How 3D Printing Could Shape Its Next Big Win Corning, often associated with glass manufacturing and kitchenware more than… Continue reading Beyond the Beaker: Corning’s AI Success and 3D Printing
Mango3D Expands Beyond Slicing with Lychee Gen, an AI-Powered 3D Model Creation Platform
Mango3D announced a new service: Lychee Gen.
Elegoo Quietly Launches Centauri Carbon 2 in China, Adding Multicolor Printing
Elegoo announced the Centauri Carbon 2 — on their China site.
Cemforge Uses Physics-Based AI to Design Custom Concrete Mixes for 3DCP Applications
A new startup company hopes to assist 3DCP companies by generating concrete formulations.
SLB and the Future of Energy: Digital Platforms, AI Innovation, and Industrial 3D Printing
Anthony Palumbo and Charles Goulding examine how SLB is reshaping the energy sector through digital platforms, AI-driven operations, and industrial 3D printing, positioning additive manufacturing as a mission-critical enabler in one of the world’s most demanding industries.
Reardon Metal, Reimagined: MIT’s 3D Printed Aluminum Hits Five-Fold Strength
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi lead the charge into a new age of metals by reporting on how MIT engineers are leveraging machine learning and 3D printing to transform ordinary aluminum into a super-strong structural alloy.
Meshy.ai Launches Meshy 6 Preview With Major Advances in 3D Model Quality
Meshy.ai has released a new model, Meshy 6.
3D Systems Refocuses Strategy on AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing Workflows
3D Systems announced a sweeping change in strategy this week. The company, one of the original 3D printing companies after their invention of the SLA process back in the 80’s, has faced stiff competition in recent years. This has eroded their position, which they hope to recover as a result of the announced changes. What’s… Continue reading 3D Systems Refocuses Strategy on AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing Workflows
CMU Researchers Use AI to Autonomously Manage 3D Printing Workflows on FFF Systems
Researchers have found a way to use AI to autonomously control 3D print workflows.
MoBluRF Enables High-Quality Dynamic 3D Capture Using Ordinary Smartphones and Cameras
Researchers have developed a new approach for capturing 3D models using neural radiance fields.
Golden Shares and Silicon Deals: How U.S. Government Investments Reshape Industry and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Leah Nabangi explore how unprecedented U.S. government equity deals—from semiconductors to rare earths—are reshaping industry partnerships and creating ripple effects across the 3D printing sector.
How AI Could Reshape the Workflow of Designing and 3D Printing Parts
I’ve been thinking about recent developments in AI technology and how they might dramatically change how we make parts.
Rebuilding Energy Infrastructure: Baker Hughes, Chart Industries, and the Role of 3D Printing
In this article, Charles Goulding and Anthony Palumbo explore Baker Hughes’ US$13.6 billion acquisition of Chart Industries, analyzing its impact on energy infrastructure, clean technology, thermal and cryogenic systems, and digital industrial applications, with a focus on the expanding role of additive manufacturing in global energy innovation.