Construction 3D printing pioneer WASP is set to open Shamballa, a large-scale open-air laboratory for sustainable living and additive manufacturing, in Spring 2026. Located in Northern Italy, the 8-hectare site will host self-sufficient 3D printed structures and agroforestry initiatives, marking the culmination of a decade-long vision. The Shamballa project, first introduced by Italy-based WASP (World’s […]
A recent study published on Springer Nature introduces a computational framework that links structural optimization and environmental sustainability in large-area additive manufacturing (LAAM). Researchers from Tampere University, Cranfield University, the University of Jaffna, and the Technical University of Denmark applied this methodology to wind turbine rotor blade mold fabrication, using fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. The system evaluates […]
A team at the Bioengineering Institute of Technology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, has developed a DIY coaxial 3D bioprinter by modifying a Creality Ender 3 Pro desktop 3D printer. The open-source system costs under €600 and enables simultaneous extrusion of two hydrogel bioinks through a coaxial nozzle. The device was validated by printing mesenchymal stem […]
Researchers at Pusan National University in South Korea have developed a 3D printing-based diagnostic method that detects thyroid cancer using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on human serum. The technique bypasses the need for traditional biomarkers by analyzing spectral patterns with a convolutional neural network (CNN), achieving 93.1% sensitivity and 84.0% specificity. Results were published in […]
The British Army 3D printed first-person view (FPV) attack drones on the front lines during a recent military exercise. Major Stephen Watts, Officer Commanding F Company, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Regiment, led a team that built the drones during Exercise Bull Storm in Kenya. The effort tested whether soldiers can successfully fabricate and deploy FPV […]
US chip design software provider Synopsys has officially completed its acquisition of engineering simulation specialist Ansys, uniting two major companies in semiconductor design and simulation. Announced in January 2024, the deal combines Synopsys’ leadership in silicon design and IP with Ansys’ renowned simulation and analysis tools to accelerate the development of AI-powered systems. “Today marks […]
AML3D, an Australian metal 3D printing company, has signed a two-year, non-exclusive distribution agreement with Arc Additive, a Scotland-based supplier of large-scale wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) systems. The agreement appoints Arc as AML3D’s distribution partner across the UK and Europe. It follows AML3D’s late-2024 capital raise and AU$5 million investment to establish a European […]
A team of researchers at the University of Melbourne has developed a low-cost prototype of a liquid-based geometric waveguide combiner for augmented reality (AR) applications. The device replaces complex fabrication steps used in conventional optical combiners by integrating silicone oil and PolyJet 3D printing in a simplified production method. The work was published in a […]
Mantle, a U.S.-based developer of automated toolmaking systems, has launched its latest software update, Top Definition, enabling the direct 3D printing of mold features as thin as 0.2 mm. The update, released over the air to all customers on July 29, 2025, marks an 80% reduction in minimum feature size and comes as the company […]
Help choose the 2025 3D Printing Industry Awards winners – sign up for the Expert Committee now! Japanese architecture studio Lib Work has introduced a 3D printed home that departs from the concrete-based approach used in most additive construction projects. Built in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture, the 100 sq m (1,076 sq ft) single-story residence, known […]
Elmet Technologies, the U.S.-owned tungsten and molybdenum manufacturer, has been granted U.S. Patent No. 12,359,290 for a method of producing tungsten heavy metal alloy powders. The patented process enhances additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy applications by improving powder morphology, flowability, and densification. This innovation marks Elmet’s fifth U.S. patent in the field and enables the […]
Irja Hepler, a Ph.D. student in structural engineering at the University of Maine (UMaine), is developing a simulation model to predict thermal stresses that arise during 3D printing. Her research addresses a persistent problem in additive manufacturing: when printed materials cool unevenly, they can warp or lose structural integrity. By simulating this behavior in advance, […]
U.S. 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems has announced the commercial release of its NextDent 3D printed denture solution for the U.S. market. Introduced in February 2024, the jetted, multi-material, monolithic (one-piece) dentures combine NextDent Jet Denture Teeth and NextDent Jet Denture Base materials into a single prosthetic, delivering enhanced break resistance and highly realistic aesthetics. […]
Researchers at Aalborg University have developed a computational topology optimization framework that accounts for sintering-induced deformation in metal binder jetting (MBJ) manufacturing. The method, designed to reinforce structures during the design phase, addresses distortion caused by gravity and material shrinkage during sintering. The study, titled a topology optimization framework considering sintering in design for metal […]
A review published in Nature Communications by researchers at the University of Colorado and Georgia Tech outlines how additive manufacturing (AM) and computational design are enabling a new generation of high-performance composite materials. The paper surveys developments in 3D printing techniques for composites enhanced with nanoparticles, short fibers, and continuous fibers, alongside optimization methods for […]
Formnext Asia Shenzhen is set to return to the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from 26–28 August 2025, with organizers and industry partners announcing a renewed focus on building a more collaborative additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA). At a recent press conference, Messe Frankfurt and partners including the Hong […]
Phase3D, a Chicago-based developer of quality assurance software for 3D printing, has expanded its Fringe Inspection system to support Renishaw’s 500 series—including the 500Q, 500D, and 500Flex. The newly launched Fringe Inspection 500 Kit, developed in collaboration with research institution HRL Laboratories, supports the goals of the DARPA SURGE initiative, a U.S. Department of Defense […]
Singaporean architecture firm Park + Associates, in collaboration with CES_InnovFab—a developer specializing in large-scale 3D printed construction—has completed QR3D, the country’s first multi-storey 3D printed residential building. Conceived as the personal residence of Park + Associates’ founder, Lim Koon Park, the project serves as a full-scale prototype to evaluate the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) […]
Massachusetts-based metal 3D printer manufacturer Desktop Metal (DM) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company has also agreed to sell its foreign subsidiaries, ExOne GmbH, EnvisionTEC GmbH, ExOne KK, and AIDRO s.r.l., to an affiliate of Anzu Partners, pending Court approval and customary closing conditions. DM’s bankruptcy was filed in the Southern District of […]
Researchers from Melbourne’s RMIT University have developed a new titanium alloy that is nearly one-third cheaper to 3D print than standard Ti-6Al-4V. The team outlined their methodology in a recent Nature Communications study titled “Compositional criteria to predict columnar to equiaxed transitions in metal additive manufacturing.” This paper presents a time- and cost-effective approach to […]
