open source Archives

Voron Trident R2 Updates Motion And Assembly

Voron has released Trident R2, a design refresh that focuses on belts, idlers, and motion alignment.

Prusa Updates Open Community License With Plugins

Prusa Research has rolled out Open Community License (OCL) v1.1, looking to make open hardware sharing more practical for everyone.

The Public Does Not Understand California’s Proposed AB2047 Legislation

The fight to stop California’s hugely restrictive 3D printer law, AB2047, is full of misunderstandings.

No, Voron Was Not Just Patented In China

The Voron 3D printer design was NOT just patented by Chinese organizations.

Magma OrcaSlicer Fork Introduces Vertical Plastic Injection for Stronger Parts, But There’s a Patent

There’s an interesting software fork of OrcaSlicer brewing, but there could be patent issues in the future.

EPFL Demonstrates Overprinting With Tomographic Volumetric AM

EPFL researchers have shown fast, accurate overprinting in tomographic volumetric additive manufacturing, placing new features around real parts and inside sealed chips using open-source software.

Cura’s Role Shrinks as PrusaSlicer-Derived Tools Dominate FFF Printing Software

The FFF slicing tool market has consolidated, and not around Cura.

Prusa Open-Sources ColorMix For Dozens Of Tones

Prusa Research has added an open-source “ColorMix” workflow to PrusaSlicer and EasyPrint that can turn a handful of loaded filaments into dozens of visible color tones.

New York’s New 3D Printing Legislation Raises Questions About Feasibility

It happened last week: New York State actually passed their unbelievably infeasible 3D-printed weapon legislation.

The Growing Family Tree of Slic3r-Based Software

With the controversy over open-source 3D print slicing software continuing, I thought I’d check on the current state of these tools.

The Bambu Lab / Open Source Dispute Is Not What You Think It Is

There’s something going on with the Bambu Lab / Open Source situation, and it is not what you think.

Bambu Lab Cloud Access Dispute Highlights Tensions With Open Source Community

There’s been a bit of a controversy brewing over Bambu Lab’s policies, but it’s really a collision of concepts.

PrusaSlicer 3.0 Could Arrive Within Weeks Following Extensive Code Overhaul

The wait for PrusaSlicer 3.0.0 continues, but it may not be for much longer.

BambuStudio Update Adds Color Mixing

Bambu Lab has introduced a new feature to enable multiple colour shades.

Open-Source 6-DoF Robot Accelerates Curved FFF

Researchers unveiled an open-source six-axis robotic 3D printing system that promises faster, support-free curved builds.

New Site Warns Of Sweeping 3D Printer Laws

A new advocacy site argues proposed “anti gun” bills could unintentionally criminalize everyday 3D printers and software.

Snapmaker Publishes U1 Firmware Forks On GitHub

Snapmaker has published the Snapmaker U1 firmware modifications on GitHub, giving developers a clearer look at how the machine’s multi-toolhead functions are implemented.

What Happens When Desktop 3D Printer Companies Get Much Larger?

What is going to happen as 3D printer companies get much, much larger?

FreeCAD 1.1 Release Introduces Enhanced Assembly Tools, UI Improvements, and More

FreeCAD has been updated to version 1.1.

The Open Source Community Continues to Criticize Prusa Research’s OCL

Some continue to criticize Prusa Research’s new Open Community License, but why?

Manyfold Releases Update to Its Open Source, Federated 3D Model Repository Software

Manyfold issued a big release of new features for their open source, distributed 3D model repository software.

Open Source $50K 3D Concrete Printer Design Could Lower Barriers to 3DCP Adoption

There is now an open-source design for a 3DCP printer.

BamBuddy Launches as Open-Source Alternative to Bambu Lab’s Cloud

A new open-source tool is ready to help manage your Bambu Lab 3D prints.

Washington Bill Would Require Weapon-Blocking Software in 3D Printers

Two US states appear to be launching new laws to prevent 3D printing of weapons.

Home 3D Printing Experiment Demonstrates Potential for Low-Cost Custom Orthotics

There could be a way for anyone to personally manufacture their own orthotics.

Patent Reimagines Editable Tree 3D Supports

A newly published patent outlines editable, tree-style supports with controllable penetration tips to cut support count and stabilize tricky overhangs.

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.

T250 CoreXY Design Demonstrates Sub-Two-Minute #3DBenchy With Radical Motion and Cooling System

What is the world’s fastest 3D printer? It’s probably the T250.

Developer Releases “Simplified Open Community License” in Sharp Critique of Prusa’s New OCL

The Open Community License announced by Prusa Research last week has inspired an even simpler alternative, the Simplified Open Community License.

Prusa Research Reworks Its Open-Source Approach

Prusa Research seems to be taking a step away from traditional open source principles.

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.

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.

MIT Releases Open-Source Dual-Extruder Biotic Printer

MIT researchers unveiled an open-source dual-extruder syringe 3D printer aimed at reliable, multi-material printing of renewable biomaterial pastes.

Thoughts on Prusa Research’s OpenPrintTag Ending Proprietary Filament Lock-Ins

Late last week Prusa Research announced something that could be the most important development in desktop 3D printing in 2025.

OpenVCAD, an Open-Source Tool for Voxel-Based 3D Design

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed “OpenVCAD”.

Elegoo Publishes Open Source Firmware and Addresses Multicolor Printing for Centauri Carbon

Elegoo answered two key questions about their popular Centauri Carbon desktop 3D printer.

Open-Source Berkeley Humanoid Lite Democratizes Access to 3D Printed Humanoid Robots

Researchers have developed a low-cost, 3D printable humanoid robot design.

Prusa Research Identifies Causes of Vertical Fine Artifacts and Offers Fixes

Prusa Research published a very interesting analysis of vertical fine artifacts, and their solutions for them.

Upcoming OrcaSlicer Release Introduces Flow Calibration by Touch and Much More

It’s not yet official, but the upcoming release of OrcaSlicer has some very interesting new features.

Is Open Hardware in 3D Printing Losing Ground to Commercial Systems?

Is Open Source Hardware really dying? I believe the answer is yes and no.

Clura Open-Source 3D Printer Enclosure Offers Modularity, Air Filtration, and Smart Features

Need an enclosure for your desktop 3D printer? Consider Clura.

Elegoo Launches Nexprint, a 3D Model Sharing Platform for Its Printer Ecosystem

Elegoo has launched Nexprint, their online 3D model repository.

BambuStudio 2.2.0 Beta Brings Accessibility and Usability Upgrades for 3D Printing

The latest beta version of BambuStudio has some intriguing new functions.

Manage Your Filament Inventory With Open Source SpoolEase

Want to manage your ever-increasing collection of 3D printer filament spools? Try SpoolEase. SpoolEase is an open-source project that provides hardware and software to automatically manage filament spools. It comes in two products: SpoolEase Console and SpoolEase Scale. SpoolEase Scale, as you might suspect, is used to weigh spools and determine an accurate amount of… Continue reading Manage Your Filament Inventory With Open Source SpoolEase

New CC Signals Framework Could Impact Licensing of 3D Models for AI Training

A new licensing initiative may have implications for 3D model designs.

Josef Průša Declares Open Hardware Desktop 3D Printing “Dead

Josef Průša has declared “open hardware desktop 3D printing is dead”.

New FreeCAD Plugin by Rahix Adds Optimized FFF 3D Printing Features

Do you use FreeCAD? There’s a plugin you definitely should install.

Etsy Policy Shift May Disrupt Makers and 3D Printing Services

A small but possibly impactful change in Etsy’s policies may affect the 3D print industry.

Testers Wanted: Manyfold to Launch First Public Instance of Decentralized 3D Model Repository

Manyfold is planning a public instance of their open-source 3D model repository.

RepRapMicron Project Advances Open-Source Microscopic 3D Printing With MAUS Platform

It’s time for an update on the RepRapMicron project.

Implications of the S4 Slicer: Nonplanar 3D Printing for Everyone?

A new nonplanar slicer has been released as open source. What could this mean for 3D printing?

Bricklayers Script Enhances 3D Print Strength with Interlocking Wall Geometry

Tenger Technologies has released an update to their Bricklayers slicing script to dramatically increase the strength of 3D printed parts.

Prusa Mini Phoenix: Prusa Mini Survives House Fire

A Prusa Mini 3D printer was in a house fire and somehow survived.

Snapmaker Orca Project: Advanced Open-Source Slicing for 3D Printing

Snapmaker announced the Snapmaker Orca Project.

Community Backlash Could Accelerate Bambu Lab’s Shift to Consumer-Centric 3D Printing

Community reaction to the Bambu Lab controversy may inadvertently result in the situation they fear most.

Desktop 3D Printing at a Crossroads: Will the Market Split Between DIY and Consumer?

I’ve been thinking about this past weekend’s Bambu Lab controversy, and have some thoughts.

OpenSCAD Embraces Multicolor 3D Design with New Geometry Engine

OpenSCAD is soon to have color capabilities.

Introducing Dune 3D: A New Open-Source CAD Tool for Simplified 3D Design

There’s a new open-source 3D CAD tool on the loose: Dune 3D.

Affordable Full-Color 3D Printing? PolyDye Offers a DIY Solution

I’m looking at a new 3D print accessory project, PolyDye.

7 Free AM Simulation Tools You Might Not Know

Some lesser-known 3D printing simulation software with examples of implementation.

ManyFold: A Decentralized, Open Source Platform for 3D Model Distribution

A new open source tool may eventually revolutionize how 3D models are distributed.

Fuzzyficator Introduces Nonplanar Fuzzy Skin for Top Surfaces in 3D Printing

The Fuzzyficator can make fuzzy skin where 3D print slicers cannot.

New Open Source WAAM Framework Could Reducing Costs of Robotic 3D Printing

Researchers have developed an open source architecture for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing, “WAAM”. WAAM is a popular 3D printing process, particularly for large-format devices. The idea is to feed standard welding wire feedstock to a toolhead, where a high-energy electrical arc instantly melts the metal. The toolhead is mounted on a robotic arm, which moves… Continue reading New Open Source WAAM Framework Could Reducing Costs of Robotic 3D Printing