I’m reading a fascinating report by Joel Simon on his work to “generate” the design of a school.
research
BMW’s Inflatable 3D Prints
A story on designboom talks about some very intriguing ideas from automaker BMW.
3D Printing Trends Updated
3D Hubs released their latest trends report today.
Plant-Based 3D Printing Material Developed by ORNL
The power of 3D printing lies in the materials
Cartilage Filament for Bioprinting Developed
Researchers at Penn State have developed an unusual way to bioprint cartilage.
Repairing Potholes with 3D Printers?
I’m watching an unusual video of a strange concept: fixing potholes with 3D printers on board drones.
Photochromic 3D Printing Under Development
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed what might be called “Photochromic 3D printing”.
Wohlers Issues 2018 Report
There are an increasing number of industry reports on the 3D printing industry, but one report is the most well known.
Fictiv’s View of 3D Printing
Fictiv released a survey of their community that sheds some light on 3D print practices.
Sculpteo Releases Annual 3D Print Survey Results
3D print service Sculpteo performs an extensive annual survey of the industry.
Finally: Automatic 3D Print Material Optimization?
New research may show a path towards completely automated tuning for 3D printing.
Yet Another Fascinating Approach Enabled by 3D Printing
I’m reading a story on how 3D printing technology enabled a new kind of product testing.
MIT and BMW Just Developed 3D Printed Liquid Inflatables
Fans of inflatable bouncy castles and comfy car seats have reason to rejoice because 3D-printed inflatables are now a thing!
Finally: Automatic 3D Print Material Optimization?
New research may show a path towards completely automated tuning for 3D printing.
Breakthrough: Fine Detail Voxel 3D Scanning and Printing
Researchers from MIT have developed a new technique to enable highly detailed multimaterial 3D prints from 3D scanners.
Could Cheaper Carbon Nanotube 3D Printer Materials Be On The Way?
A new development might lower the cost of 3D print material that uses carbon nanotubes.
3D Printable Glass?
Research from the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie suggests the possibility of cold 3D printed glass objects.
Could We Propose Thermoelectric Filament?
I’m reading some interesting research from MIT researchers, who have developed a substance with vastly improved thermoelectric properties.
BigRep Working on Unusual Extruder
According to insiders, it seems that BigRep is secretly developing a potentially revolutionary new 3D printer extruder.
Resin Print Recycling Method Invented: Is The Planet Saved?
A method has been discovered that allows moderate recycling of photopolymer 3D prints.
Union Tech’s Marking Experiment
There seems to be rising interest in 3D print marking schemes.
Thermorph: A New 4D Printing Concept
Researchers at CMU’s Morphing Matter Lab have developed a technique for 4D printing that could prove popular.
Trumpf’s Automated 3D Metal Printing Future
Automation is becoming very important for 3D printer manufacturers.
Microsoft’s Project Zanzibar Platform Introduces a Portable Tangible User Interface
Seamlessly bridging the physical and digital worlds has proved to be a significant challenge for even the world’s most advanced electronic manufacturers.
More Interesting Stuff in 3D Hubs’ Q2 Report
3D Hubs once again released their quarterly report today, and as always there are interesting observations.
Intelligent 3D Scanning Could Open Up New 3D Printing Applications
Some interesting research at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 3D scanning may offer some very intriguing possibilities.
Wi3DP Releases Report on Diversity in 3D Printing
Diversity in the 3D printing industry has long been the focus of Women in 3D Printing.
The Materials World Just Opened Up Wide
I’m reading a paper that describes a new method of creating previously impossible metal alloys.
AR CAD Software Uses 3D Printing to Make Design Interactive (Possibly Awkward)
Modeling a 3D object and prepping it for 3D printing on a 2D screen sounds counterintuitive… because it is.
Soft Bonding: The Future For Soft 3D Prints?
I’m reading about an interesting new process for bonding soft materials that may have an application for 3D printing.
3D Printing and Casting In One Step
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have developed an unusual method of combining two manufacturing processes.
Metal 3D Printing Goes Small in a Big Way
Metals. Humans have been developing innovative ways to use these electric-conducive, often shiny, malleable materials for centuries.
Aurora Labs Seeking Dramatic 3D Metal Printing Speeds
Australia-based Aurora Labs has published their roadmap for ultra-fast 3D metal printing.
Could Supersonic Spray Become a Standard 3D Print Post Processing Approach?
I’m reading an interesting research report on Phys.org that describes a method of applying a surface finish to metal parts.
3D Printed Magnets!
Canadian researchers have discovered a method of producing unusual magnetic objects using 3D printing techniques.
About That Color Changing Technology
There seems to be lot of news surrounding MIT’s announcement of a color changing 3D printing technology, but how could you use it?
An Experiment in 3D Printed Security
I’m looking at an interesting experiment to provide a security mechanism for 3D prints.
The Tiny Lunar 3D Printers of the Future
I’m watching an interesting TEDx video on interplanetary architecture and realized something applicable to Earth-bound 3D printing.
How Long Does a 3D Printer Last?
3D Hubs released their quarterly report on 3D printing trends and it got me thinking about machine lifetimes.
Do Metalenses Have a Place in 3D Printing?
I’m reading about a new technology called “meta lenses”, and wondering how it might benefit 3D printing.
Recyclable BioPlastics Are Not Necessarily Energy Efficient
A research report puts doubt on the notion of “eco friendly” 3D printing.
3D Bioprinters Are the Latest in a Line of Medical 3D Printers
3D printers have quickly changed from new technology to manufacturing miracle to household toy — you don’t need much more than a printer and a computer to create amazing 3D items from plastic, metal or even glass.
It’s Not Just The Material That Counts In 3D Printing
A new research paper suggests there is much more to 3D printing than simply the choice of materials.
The Challenges Of The Volumetric 3D Printing Process
A research paper this week describes an incredible new and very rapid 3D printing process, but it seems there may be challenges in implementing it.
MIT’s Laser Powered 3D Printer: Is This The Speed We’ve Been Waiting For?
Researchers at MIT have devised a method of dramatically speeding up plastic extrusion 3D printing, but is it enough to make a difference?
New Algorithm Hopes to Speed Up 3D Printing
Researchers at the University of Michigan have apparently developed an algorithm to speed up 3D printing operations.
That 3D Printed Key Project: Is This Concerning?
A project has published a method of generating 3D printed keys. Is this concerning?
The Q4 3D Hubs Report Gets More Interesting
Each quarter 3D Hubs publishes a fascinating report on 3D printer use, and this report is no exception.
Another Angle on Graphene 3D Printing?
I’m reading a fascinating report on a new way to work with miracle material graphene.
The Green Part Treatment for 3D Printed Glass?
I’m reading an article on Forbes describing a new process for 3D printing glass that could be quite useful.
HRL Laboratories Enables 3D Printing Impossible Metal Alloys
This is quite interesting: a new approach to enable 3D metal printing of metal alloys that were previously extremely difficult to use.
Incredible Breakthrough in 3D Face Scanning
UK researchers have developed a very effective method of producing reasonably accurate 3D models from a single, 2D image.
Analyzed: Remixing 3D Models on Thingiverse
Thingiverse was perhaps the first repository of 3D models dedicated to 3D printing and making. Now we know a lot more about it.
3D Printed Body Piercing Project Suggests Future Human Augmentation
A bioprinting project hopes to enable a new world of biodegradable human implants.
Controlling Support Structures in BioPrinting Applications
Researchers have developed a unique way of handling support structures in bioprinting.
An Excerpt from Wohlers Report 2017
Earlier this year, ENGINEERING.com had the opportunity to review Wohlers Report 2017. To provide further insight into the report, here we’ve published an excerpt from the report.
The Deeper Truth of 3D Printing Particle Emission Analysis
New research offers additional information about 3D printer particle emissions and some hints on how best to reduce them.
Could Room-Temperature Nanolasers Change 3D Printing?
A new form of laser has been developed, and I’m wondering what it may do to future 3D printers.
Bioprinting Architecture Method Developed
Research that could lead to true human organ 3D printing begins with a method of reliably 3D printing shapes.
Methods of Ensuring 3D Print Success and Detecting Compromised 3D Models
An interesting research paper provides three ideas on how to detect flaws in 3D prints.
FlowRep: Just What 3D Printing Needs?
Researchers at UBC have developed an incredible system for capturing 3D models from static images.
Efficiently Leveraging 3D Printer Resolution for Highly Complex Object Designs
Researchers from MIT have developed what appears to be a revolutionary 3D design system that could enable far more effective leveraging of 3D printing technology.
Herding Bacteria Brings Power to 3D-Printed Micromotors
3D printing at the nanoscale isn’t new, but its applications are still being discovered.
Telescoping 3D Prints?
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a computational technique that could solve issues in 3D printing and enable entirely new classes of printed parts.
Disney’s Compliant Mechanism System
Entertainment giant Disney has published an interesting study on a system they’ve developed to assist in the design of “compliant objects”, which could be very useful in 3D printing.
3D Printed Toys are Financially Feasible, Just Not How It Was Imagined
A study published in Technologies examines the effect of 3D printed toys, specially at MyMiniFactory.
3D Hubs Dramatically Revamps their Trends Report and Reveals More Truths About 3D Printers
Each quarter 3D Hubs has published an extensive statistical report on 3D printer trends based on their comprehensive usage data, but this time it looks significantly different.
Water Displacement 3D Scanning? Will This Work?
I’m reading a research paper on a very unusual method of 3D scanning solid objects.
Microwave Heating Method Strengthens 3D Printed Parts
Researchers have developed an interesting method for strengthening 3D printed parts by an application of microwaves.
UL Confirms Suspicions of 3D Printer Safety
Over the past few years we’ve always advised those with desktop 3D printers to ensure appropriate ventilation is present.
Ultrasonic 3D Printing: Not 3D Printing, But Still Interesting
I’m reviewing a video of a new concept called, “ultrasonic 3D printing”.
Custom Composite Materials on a Desktop 3D Printer? It’s Possible!
I’m reading through an experiment by Instructables’ Charlie Godfrey, where he’s managed to 3D print composite materials on a desktop 3D printer.
The Promising DiAM Metal 3D Printing Process
Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a very attractive new method for rapidly 3D printing in metal.
Roboze Experimenting With Metal-Plated 3D Printed Parts
Italy-based Roboze has been marketing high-temperature desktop 3D printers for a while, but this experiment may make the prints even better.
Stepping Through Sculpteo’s Annual 3D Printing Survey
Each year Sculpteo performs an interesting survey of the 3D printing community and the results this year show some interesting trends.
New Gel Could Enable More Complex Living Tissue 3D Prints
Researchers at the University of Florida have created a gel medium specifically for 3D printing medical implants.
Is There Something To The “3D Printed Buildings” Concept After All?
Recently I’ve seen several new “3D printed construction” projects emerge, and I’m wondering if there really is something to them.
MIT and Steelcase’s New Rapid Liquid Printing Tech: So Many Questions!
Steelcase partnered with MIT to develop a radical new method of 3D printing.
Dissolvable Supports for 3D Metal Printing?
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a very interesting method of providing dissolvable supports for 3D metal prints.
The Coming Proliferation of High Speed Sintering?
In the last few years, a number of exciting new technologies have emerged in the 3D printing industry that promise the integration of additive manufacturing (AM) into the larger world of manufacturing
A Chocolate 3D Printing Breakthrough?
I’m looking at a Reuters story about a Belgian company that’s created a 3D printed chocolate service, and there seems to be something quite interesting visible.
Sweet: Experimental Sugar 3D Printing Process Developed
An experimental 3D sugar printing process has been developed, but not for the reason you think it will be used.
Siemens Contemplating “Swarm” 3D Printing?
A report on Forbes details work undertaken by Siemens to develop a “mobile robotic 3D printer” concept.
How to Speed Up 3D Printing?
Researchers at Binghamton University have explored ways to theoretically increase the speed of filament-based 3D printing systems.
The First Step Towards the Ultimate 3D Printer?
Researchers at the Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science have devised a system that can apparently position individual atoms.
Meet the EU’s LASSIM Project
The EU is sponsoring a project that is attempting to create the “world’s largest hybrid manufacturing machine”.
Could Biological Means be Used to Dynamically Create New Materials?
I’m looking through a scientific paper where researchers used metabolic activity to “print” a new material.
Method for Selectively Polishing 3D Prints Proposed
Researchers are refining a very simple process for smoothing 3D prints.
Evidence of Gaseous Corruption in 3D Metal Printing
A study by LPW Technology reveals some of the complexities of performing 3D metal printing with powder processes.
Significant Speed Up For 3D Metal Printing Developed
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a unique 3D metal printing process that could dramatically speed up metal printing.
Soluble Support For Moulds? Experiments Are Underway
The rocket scientists at E3D-Online have been doing some rather interesting experiments with their soluble support material.
3D Printed Human Skin Moving Towards Real Life Use
Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have developed what appears to be a practical method for 3D printing human skin.
An Experiment From Formlabs Portends a Colorful 3D Printed Future
Formlabs has executed a very interesting experiment in hydrographics using their 3D printing equipment.
Coming Soon: Super Stretchy 3D Print Materials
Researchers in Singapore have developed new elastomeric materials that could be used in 3D printing applications.
MIT Develops 3D Porous Graphene 10 Times Stronger, But Lighter, Than Steel
Graphene. That awesome meta-material that was identified in 1916, imaged in 1948, grown on substrates in the 70’s, and finally manufactured in 2014, has yet to be incorporated into any consumer market applications.