GE has found a way to automatically refill powder hoppers on 3D printers.
metal
Studio 3E8 to Launch a Desktop Metal 3D Printer
Stealth startup Studio 3E8 revealed an inexpensive desktop metal 3D printer.
Desktop Metal’s Zombie Patent Makes Aluminum Jetting More Reliable
A dead company has just published a pretty interesting patent application.
Why High Density Isn’t Enough For Metal 3D Printing
A metal 3D printed part can be almost completely solid and still not work properly for its application. Researchers made this observation in a new study of metal additive manufacturing. For years, one of the most important measures of successful metal 3D printing has been density. The fewer internal voids, the better the part. That… Continue reading Why High Density Isn’t Enough For Metal 3D Printing
Seurat Patent Proposes A Faster Light Valve For Metal Printing
Seurat is patenting a very unusual method of speeding up metal 3D printing.
From Scrap to Print: How Recycling Is Reshaping 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at the expanding role of recycling in securing materials for 3D printing, from America’s steel and aluminum scrap streams to copper, precious metals, plastics, and concrete.
VulcanForms Patents Steerable Laser Beams
Laser beam steering usually means moving something.
Researchers Develop Predictive Laser Control to Reduce Metal 3D Printing Defects
What if a metal 3D printer could adjust its laser before something went wrong?
GE Patent Uses Laser Flicker To Spot LPBF Defects
In metal LBPF, a laser can look perfectly healthy while the powder beneath it is not.
Will The Real Superalloy Please Stand Up?
Charles G. Goulding explores why the world’s latest “miracle” superalloys rarely replace steel overnight and how additive manufacturing is reshaping the path from laboratory breakthrough to commercial success.
Additive Industries Patent Splits Powder Beds Into Independently Controlled Zones
Additive Industries seems to want to make its LPBF print beds into a collection of smaller machines.
LLNL Patent Replaces LPBF Rastering With A Digital Light Mask
LLNL is making a metal powder bed fusion machine print like an MSLA resin system.
MX3D Facility Receives Highest DNV Additive Manufacturing Certification
MX3D announced the achievement of an important certification.
Divergent Patent Uses Magnetic Fields To Stir Metal 3D Printing
A metal 3D printer patent from Divergent Technologies proposes using changing magnetic fields to stir the melt pool and break up structures that can become pores or cracks.
PINN Model Predicts Laser Melt Pools In Milliseconds
What if an LPBF system could predict what its melt pool was about to do in less than 50 milliseconds?
From Recycling to Upcycling: 3D Printing and the New Value of Old Aluminum
Charles G. Goulding highlights how advances in additive manufacturing, alloy traceability, and recycling technologies are redefining the future of sustainable aluminum production.
xBUILD Rebranding by Atlix Reflects the Industrial Gap
It’s time for some rebranding, again.
Researchers 3D Print Titanium That Floats Even If Damaged
Metal does not have to sink.
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?
Can Electropolishing Reach the Roughest Parts of an LPBF Lattice?
Here’s a really common problem in metal 3D printing: LPBF can make shapes that are almost impossible to machine — and then you discover they’re also almost impossible to finish.
Single Laser Tracks Tame 200 Micron Aluminum LPBF Lattices
A single laser pass per wall produced 200µm aluminum lattices that behaved remarkably close to their computer models.
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.
US Navy’s New Rules Could Boost US Metal 3D Printing Industry
The US Navy made a very important announcement regarding their use of 3D print technology.
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.
Lawrence Livermore Patent Uses Z-Pinch For Metal Droplet Printing
What if a metal printer could use the molten metal itself as both the printing material and the actuator?
NanoVoxel Patent Turns Micro 3D Prints Into Metal Parts
NanoVoxel has patented a clever method for producing highly detailed metal microcomponents using polymer micro 3D printing as a temporary mold.
Study Examines Large Spatter In Metal Additive Manufacturing
A new simulation study investigates how large spatter forms and damages surface quality in metal additive manufacturing.
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.
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.
Deep Learning Detects LPBF Meltpool Anomalies With 98% Accuracy
Rutgers researchers report a deep learning method that spots LPBF meltpool anomalies in real time.
EOS Pursues AM Software Patent In China
EOS is pursuing Chinese patent protection for additive manufacturing preflight software
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.
Velo3D Launches Forge 1 Metal AM Campus
Velo3D opened a massive new Livermore site for repeatable metal 3D print production.
3DEO and Fusion3 Shut Down as Two US 3D Printing Companies Enter Liquidation
Two notable USA-based 3D printing companies have apparently shut down.
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.
Binocular Vision Targets WAAM Weld Control
A new research study explores binocular vision for measuring weld features during 316L wire arc additive manufacturing.
New Digital Twin Predicts LPBF Defects In Real Time
A new digital twin for metal AM can perform real-time defect prediction in Laser Powder Bed Fusion.
AM Texture Control Moves Toward Programmable Materials
A new review proposes that crystallographic texture is becoming a design variable in metal additive manufacturing.
Laser AM Advances Shape Memory Alloys For 4D Printing
A new research paper maps how laser additive manufacturing is bringing shape memory alloys closer to practical 4D printing.
MIT Improves Alloy Modeling With Smarter AI Sampling
MIT researchers say they have found a more efficient way to train machine learning models that predict how complex metal alloys will behave.
3D Printing Inconel 939 Without Cracking
A new research paper examines what actually works when attempting to 3D print turbine-grade parts in Inconel 939.
DLR Develops LPBF Aluminum Alloy From Scraps
Researchers at DLR say they have identified a LBPF aluminum alloy made from scrap that prints crack free with low porosity.
VulcanForms’ 1 Million-Square-Foot Manufacturing Facility
VulcanForms is expanding.
GLB Announces Strange “Consumer” Metal 3D Printer
A new consumer-level metal 3D printer has just been announced in China.
ExOne Launches S-Print Pro Industrial Sand 3D Printer
There’s a new industrial 3D printer from ExOne.
RIT Unveils Multi-Nozzle Molten Metal Jetting Printhead
RIT researchers unveiled an eight nozzle Molten Metal Jetting printhead that promises much higher metal AM throughput without sacrificing feature resolution.
Orthopedic AM To Bioprinting: A 2030–2050 Outlook
A new academic roadmap lays out how orthopedic 3D printing could evolve into clinical bioprinting by 2050 — and what must happen along the way.
Friction Stir Welding Boosts LPBF Copper Performance
Researchers show friction stir welding can join LPBF CuNiSiCr copper alloy while nearly eliminating porosity and lifting strength, hinting at a workable path to larger, higher performing thermal hardware.
Containerized ARCEMY Metal Printer Deployed At Navy CoE
AML3D has installed its first portable, containerized ARCEMY metal 3D printing system at the US Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.
3D Printing Continues to Reshape Rocket Engine Design as Agnikul Tests New Engine
Yet another company has developed a fully 3D-printed rocket engine. This time it is Agnikul.
WIM Enables Traceable, Adaptive WAAM
RWTH Aachen researchers turned WAAM traceability into active control that roughly triples build endurance.
Laser Beam Modulation Patent Targets Smarter Metal PBF
A new patent application from GE/Concept Laser proposes tighter real time control over laser energy in powder bed fusion systems.
Crack-Free Ti-Modified 6063 Aluminum TPMS By LPBF
Researchers report crack-free LPBF builds of Ti-modified 6063 aluminum TPMS lattices.
China Tests Metal 3D Printing System in Orbit Using Qingzhou Spacecraft
China has tested a metal 3D printing system in orbit.
Meltio Joins SUMMSEED Project to Develop Sustainable Medium Manganese Steel
Meltio announced their participation in a new European project to develop a new steel alloy.
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 EP-M3050 has a Massive Build Volume and up to 256 Lasers
I’m looking at a very unusual new metal 3D printer, the EP-M3050 from Eplus3D. Eplus3D specializes in manufacturing rather large-format metal 3D printers, as they have multiple devices of this type currently in their product catalog. This type of machine is quite difficult to produce. There aren’t a lot of large-scale metal 3D printers using… Continue reading The EP-M3050 has a Massive Build Volume and up to 256 Lasers
LPBF Aluminum Alloy Adds Heat Resistance And Ductility
Researchers unveiled an LPBF aluminum alloy that stays strong and creep resistant up to 400C with no heat treatment.
INNOSPACE Develops Support-Free Titanium LPBF Process
A Korean company announced a 3D print process for titanium that apparently requires no support structures.
Gallium, Supply Chain Security, and the Next Frontier of 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Nimra Shakoor connect federal investment, breakthrough additive manufacturing, and valuable R&D tax incentives to show how gallium is becoming a strategic material with outsized impact.
Eplus3D Abruptly Pulls IPO Application From Shanghai Stock Exchange
Interesting news from China: EPlus3D has abruptly withdrawn its IPO filing.
Design of the Week: AI Chair
This week’s selection is the AI Chair by Ross Lovegrove and Google Deepmind.
High-Speed Laser DED Delivers Robust Inconel 718
Researchers validated a high-speed laser DED process that prints Inconel 718 quickly while keeping key properties stable.
Predictive Low Power DED Nails 316L Repeatability
Researchers have shown a data-driven, low-power Directed Energy Deposition (DED) approach for 316L stainless steel that delivers sub‑5% porosity, forged‑level microhardness, and a clear path to repeatability.
LPBF Prints Zinc–Silver–Copper Alloys For Biodegradable Implants
Researchers used Laser Powder Bed Fusion to 3D print zinc–silver–copper alloys and report promising cytocompatibility for future biodegradable implants.
Scrap Labs Unveils SCRAP 1 For Lower-Cost Metal 3D Printing
There’s another super inexpensive metal LPBF device coming: the SCRAP 1.
Metal 1.0 Kickstarter Promises Low-Cost Desktop LPBF Metal 3D Printing
An interesting Kickstarter campaign has launched a desktop metal 3D printer, the Metal 1.0.
Farsoon Annouces 16-Laser Metal 3D Printer with Large Build Volume
Farsoon made a series of announcements, including a sixteen-laser metal 3D printer.
Study Compares CNC, SLM, Extrusion For UAV Part
A new study measures the environmental and economic tradeoffs of making a VTOL UAV component by CNC milling, Selective Laser Melting, or metal extrusion.
Digital Twin Aims To Speed Automotive Additive Manufacturing
Researchers have proposed a digital twin framework to make automotive additive manufacturing more agile and predictable.
Deep Learning Co-Optimizes LPBF Titanium Gyroid Lattices
A new paper demonstrates a deep learning framework that co-optimizes Laser Powder Bed Fusion settings and titanium gyroid lattice design to boost printability and performance.
Multi Wire FSAM Patent Targets Bigger Metal Builds
A new friction stir additive manufacturing patent proposes a smarter way to feed several metal wires through one rotating tool.
Noyron Computational Engineering Produces Record-Scale 3D Printed Rocket Engine
LEAP71 continues to break records, this time with the world’s largest 3D-printed aerospike rocket engine.
NiTi TPMS Sheet Lattices Promise Lightweight Performance
Researchers report laser powder bed fused NiTi TPMS sheet lattices with promising lightweight metrics that could reshape energy-absorbing and compliant structures.
Dual Laser LPBF Targets Support Free Overhang Quality
A new dual laser Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) concept proposes printing overhangs with micro spot precision while the bulk runs faster with a higher power beam.
New York Times Examines Desktop Metal Collapse and Its Impact on Additive Manufacturing Investment
Mass media has now noticed the biggest problem in the additive manufacturing space: hype. A detailed report in the New York Times describes the unfortunate saga of Desktop Metal that unfolded over the past five years. If you’re not familiar, here’s a quick recap. Before 2020, 3D printing of metal was possible, but extremely expensive,… Continue reading New York Times Examines Desktop Metal Collapse and Its Impact on Additive Manufacturing Investment
LM PAEK Can Outperforms PEEK In Certain Applications
A Drexel-led team showed that porous PAEK knee revision topologies can be 3D printed using the FFF process strong enough for demanding loads.
NVIDIA Invests in Freeform to Advance AI-Driven Metal Additive Manufacturing
Freeform has obtained a massive investment boost, and the backers include NVIDIA.
Velo3D Becomes First Qualified Army Ground Vehicle AM Vendor
Velo3D says it has become the first qualified metal additive manufacturing vendor for the US Army’s ground vehicle program, a sign the service wants faster pathways from “cool demo” to approved sustainment parts.
Titomic Signs NASA Agreement For Cold Spray Testing
Titomic has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to test cold spray manufactured components, a move that could push solid-state additive manufacturing closer to flight-critical use.
Spectral Extrapolation Boosts LPBF Surface Characterization
A research team proposes spectral extrapolation to recover determine surface roughness metrics on laser powder bed fusion parts from limited measurements, promising faster quality assurance for AM shops.
Researchers Probe Fatigue In 3D Printed High Entropy Alloy
A new study investigates cyclic deformation in a 3D printed high entropy alloy, a step toward predictable fatigue life for metal AM.
Metal 3D Printing Firm VulcanForms Brings Total Funding to $575M With New Investment
VulcanForms has raised a very large investment.
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.
Sculpteo Publishes Comprehensive Guide on Improving Pull-Out Strength of 3D Printed Inserts
Sculpteo produced quite a comprehensive guide to 3D printed inserts.
Patent Proposes TFT Driven Electrochemical Metal Printing
A newly published Taiwanese patent describes a powderless metal additive manufacturing concept using a TFT backplane to electrochemically print metal.
After LIMIT3D Irons, Cobra Deepens Investment in 3D Printing With New Putter Line
Golf equipment maker Cobra has gone deeper into metal 3D printing with the announcement of an entire family of putters.
Velo3D Signs US Army Agreement On LPBF
Velo3D has struck a new agreement with the U.S. Army to accelerate qualification of metal 3D printed parts that could relieve ground-vehicle supply bottlenecks.
Xact Metal Achieves Year-Over-Year Order Growth While Other Companies Struggle
Xact Metal announced they’ve achieved very significant growth this year.
Rotoforge Explores Friction-Based Metal 3D Printing for Desktop-Scale Systems
The Rotoforge project is developing a low-cost, open-source, metal 3D printer based on the Ender-3 platform.
Wireless Sensing In 3D Printed Metals: Magnetoelastic Inclusions
New research proposes wireless, embedded sensing for 3D printed metal parts using magnetoelastic and thermomagnetic inclusions.
Magnesium 3D Printing Edges Closer To Clinical Use
A new review examines how magnesium containing materials and additive processes could turn patient specific, resorbable bone repairs into reality.
Machine Learning Predicts LPBF Defects By Surface Angle
Researchers report a machine learning approach to predict LPBF defects from up-skin and down-skin angles, suggesting there might be angle-aware process control for metal AM.
MX3D Spins Off ArtLab to Serve Growing Demand for Large-Scale Printed Art and Custom Structures
MX3D has made an interesting move by setting up a subsidiary.