I’ve been thinking more about the implications of the recent price changes in the desktop 3D printing market.
prediction
Exclusive Interview: Elegoo Co-Founder Kevin Wang on Their 10-Year Journey
It’s Elegoo’s tenth anniversary, so we had a chat with Cofounder Kevin Wang.
The Desktop 3D Printing Market is Splitting Between Consumers and Enthusiasts
There’s a way for desktop 3D printer operators to determine their place in the coming consumer shift.
The Fate of Old 3D Printers: Why Donations Are No Longer an Option
There could be a spot in the local landfill for your aging desktop 3D printer.
Elegoo’s $199 Centauri Redefines Budget 3D Printing, Challenging Open Gantry Systems
Let’s take a deeper look at Elegoo’s incredible price breakthrough from earlier this week.
Ups and Downs for 3D Printing in 2025
Well, it just happens to be the first day of the year. What might happen in the next 364 days?
End-of-Year Reflections: Rising Competition, Quality Standards, and Accessibility
My goodness, it’s the end of the year once again, and time for some reflection on the state of 3D printing.
Lessons From 2024 and What Innovators and Engineers Can Expect From 2025
The task ahead is clear: cross-functional collaboration, systems interoperability, and business-digital strategy alignment.
From MakerBot to Bambu Lab: There’s Always a Better 3D Printer Coming Next
After years of seeing amazing desktop 3D printers emerge year after year, I see a pattern. I’ve been fiddling with desktop 3D printers for almost 15 years now, beginning with my first device, the venerable MakerBot CupCake. It took several days to assemble it from wires, boards, motors, and pieces of wood, and successfully printed… Continue reading From MakerBot to Bambu Lab: There’s Always a Better 3D Printer Coming Next
QUALUP SAS Introduces Predictive AI and Rotating Nozzle for High Temperature 3D Printing
QUALUP SAS introduced two interesting new features on their Qu4 HT high temperature 3D printer.
Transforming Goals in 3D Printing: The Rise of User-Friendly Desktop Printers
I’m seeing what I think is a bit of a transformation of the desktop 3D printer market: buyers are beginning to have different goals.
The Hidden Hurdle in High Throughput 3D Printing: Post Processing Challenges
High throughput 3D printing is going to have a major problem in coming years.
Autodesk AI Acquisition Hints at Future 3D Strategy
Autodesk acquired AI-powered Wonder Dynamics, suggesting they may be on the prowl for additional AI acquisitions.
Speculations on Bambu Lab’s Next 3D Printer
There have been many hints of Bambu Lab nearing an announcement of a new 3D printer, but what could it be?
Could Your Next Chair Be 3D Printed? Exploring the Viability of 3D Printing in Furniture Production
Could furniture be the next big application for 3D printing?
Sora: How OpenAI’s Latest Innovation Could Transform 3D Design and Printing
OpenAI announced something quite startling last week, and it has significant long-term implications for 3D printing and design.
New Studies Linking Microplastics in Plants May Trigger Shift in 3D Printing Materials
There’s more evidence of microplastics causing negative effects, which will eventually affect 3D printing.
Eight Hopes for Desktop 3D Printing in 2024
It’s 2024, and many people are making predictions.
From High Hopes to Harsh Realities: The Struggle of 3D Printing Companies in Attracting Investment
I’m reading an interesting post by 3D Alliances about the hope for 3D print company stocks in 2024.
Integration, Expansion and Smarter Factories: AM in 2024
Leaders from hardware and service companies across the entire AM spectrum speak with VoxelMatters about what the short term future holds.
Forecasting the Future: Are 3D Printing Companies Really Facing Decline or Poised for Growth?
I’m reading a financial forecast for 3D printing and it doesn’t seem to match the current state of the industry.
Accelerating Additive Manufacturing: PhysicsX’s AI Simulations Promise a Design Revolution
A seemingly minor investment announcement might have big implications for additive manufacturing.
Rethinking Construction: The Potential of Generative Design for 3D Printed Buildings
I’ve been thinking about a new concept for designing 3D printed buildings that just might change the way we work and live quite a bit.
Silicon Valley’s Open Source Shift: Implications for 3D Printing
A story about open source trends might become disturbing for the 3D print world.
Race to the Bottom: The Changing Dynamics of the Desktop 3D Printer Market
The race to the bottom is over. Or is it?
Big Implications from Bambu Lab’s A1 Mini
I’ve been thinking about Bambu Lab’s latest 3D printer announcement, and there are several important implications.
Could Resin 3D Printers Face Future Bans? Safety Concerns Arise
Could desktop resin 3D printers be banned in the near future?
What Will the 3D Printing Industry Look Like in Ten Years?
Consolidation, innovation and the drive toward production-ready additive manufacturing could bring another order-of-magnitude change in the industry over the next decade.
The 3D Printer Race to the Bottom Becomes The Professional Squeeze
The race to the bottom is over, and there will be considerable movement in the 3D printer market in coming years.
3D Printing in the Years Ahead: A Glimpse into the AI-Powered Future of Desktop Printers
Last week I forecasted what a typical desktop FFF 3D printer of 2026 might look like. This week let’s go further ahead.
Predicting Future 3D Printer Features: 2026 Standard Specifications?
After yesterday’s story about how desktop 3D printer buying strategies are shifting, I thought about what kind of machines might be offered in the near future.
From Concorde to Hypersonic: How AM Helps Change Our Future
Velo3D published a video that exemplifies the ways 3D printing is changing the world.
9 Ways AI Could Affect 3D Printing
AI is upon us, but what might it affect in the 3D printing universe?
The Future of 3D Design: Exploring an AI-Driven Workflow for Physical Product Creation
A Reddit contributor described an astonishing 3D print workflow that just might become a normal approach in the future.
UltiMaker Software Integration: Unraveling the Future of their Combined Environments
I’ve been wondering how UltiMaker will tie together their software environments, which could be quite interesting.
The Future of 3D Model Repositories: Shifting Markets and Potential Changes
After Prusa Research’s announcement of a Printables monetization feature earlier this week, I had some thoughts about the future of 3D model repositories.
AI Meets 3D Scanning: How Scan to 3D Could Transform the 3D Printing Process
I’ve realized there is yet another way to leverage AI for 3D printing that might be easy to do.
Accelerating the Future: How High-Speed 3D Printers Are Changing the Game
It seems the 3D print world is rapidly shifting to high-speed devices, and this change will significantly impact many aspects of the industry.
Food 3D Printing: Why It’s Not in Our Kitchens Yet
We’ve all wondered about food 3D printing and why we don’t really have it in our kitchens, but there’s more to the story.
Accelerating 3D Printing: How New Firmware is Ushering in a High-Speed Era
Get ready for an avalanche of high speed desktop 3D printers.
The End of an Era? The Future of Easily Upgradeable Desktop 3D Printers
Could desktop 3D printers become less upgradeable in the future?
3D Printing in Kitchens: A New Research Paper Predicts Widespread Use
A new research paper predicts widespread use of 3D printers in kitchens to prepare food.
Could Faster 3D Printers Spell the End of the Bedslinger?
Could the Bedslinger 3D printer design disappear?
Shifting Expectations: The Line Between Mass Production and Customization
Small steps forward are taking us to an additively manufactured future.
Western vs. Asian 3D Printers: When AI Changes the Equation
AI will shake up the 3D printing industry in more ways than you might realize.
Critical Video Published About Prusa Research: “Dear Prusa Research… We Need To Talk.”
A very controversial video has emerged directing strong criticism at Prusa Research.
Say Goodbye to Tedious 3D Printer Calibration with Automated Filament Calibration
How about we actually do all the necessary calibration for 3D printing automatically?
Zero-Emission Steel Production: How Can Additive Manufacturing Assist?
A research paper on a future zero-emission steel future has implications for additive manufacturing.
Could Desktop Resin 3D Printing be Affected by Regulations in the Future?
There could be a massive problem for desktop resin 3D Printing in the future.
Text to 3D: The Massive Implications of Luma AI’s Imagine 3D Technology
This week Luma AI announced a new 3D model generation technology, that while crude today, will ultimately dominate in the future.
AI Tools Will Change 3D Printing in a Way You Don’t Expect
After looking at several AI tools recently, I’ve realized there is another fundamentally important way AI will affect the 3D printing world.
Formnext 2022: Back To Normal… Or Not?
We just completed the epic Formnext exhibition and have some thoughts.
What Happens After We Reach The Bottom of Desktop 3D Printers?
There’s often said to be a “race to the bottom” with desktop 3D printers. What happens when we get there?
Big Implications from GE Additive’s Series 3
This week GE Additive announced a very different 3D printer that could dramatically change manufacturing.
Are 3D Print Materials In Jeopardy Due to The Russo-Ukraine War?
Could we see problems in the supply of 3D print materials in the near future?
When Is Construction 3D Printing Going To Catch On?
Construction 3D printing should eventually be a massive business, but when, exactly, will this occur?
AM Apocalypse? What Happens When Shipping Costs Drop?
I’ve been doing some thinking about what might unfold in the next year or so.
Book of the Week: The AI Cookbook
This week’s selection is “The AI Cookbook: A taste of the future” by Paolo Rosson.
Could 3D Print Materials Costs Drop?
Recent events in the plastics industry suggest that we could see drops in pricing for 3D printer materials — or not.
Ten Juicy 3D Print Corporate Acquisition Targets
Here we present ten 3D print companies that just might be of interest by other, larger companies.
The Eventual Disappearance of 3D Printing is Inevitable
Today we talk a lot about 3D printing or additive manufacturing, but perhaps that will eventually fade away.
Beyond Generative Design: Where 3D Modeling May Go
I caught a glimpse of a potential future for 3D modeling tools, and it’s breathtaking.
Book of the Week: Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything
This week’s selection is “Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything” by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith.
3D Printing as Exponential Technology
Charles R. Goulding reviews The Exponential Age, which places 3D printing at the forefront of transformation.
Post-Pandemic CapEx and 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at how capital expenditures will increase after the pandemic and how they could benefit 3D printing.
The Five Great Challenges Additive Manufacturing Must Overcome
What are the remaining barriers to mass use of additive manufacturing?
Fine Tuning Additive Manufacturing With AI
What will a meltpool look like? That’s what researchers can now predict with some accuracy.
Book of the Week:Things Fall Together
This week’s selection is “Things Fall Together” by Skylar Tibbits.
Book of the Week: The Future Is Faster Than You Think
This week’s selection is “The Future Is Faster Than You Think” by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler.
3D Hubs’ 2020 Trends Report Available
3D Hubs released their periodic Trends Report, and this edition packs a lot of very interesting data.
The Economist Tackles 3D Printed Crime
A new report from The Economist describes the state of 3D print crime.
3D Printing: On Mars
If you’ve ever wondered why some keep trying to 3D print objects in space, I have a video for you.
Reading Between The Lines At Ultimaker
An interview with Ultimaker’s new CEO reveals some of their future directions.
US Department of Defense Releases New Additive Manufacturing Strategy
The US Department of Defense has released a detailed strategy for their use of additive manufacturing technology in coming years.
We May See Very Large Metal 3D Printers In The Future
It’s likely we will see increasingly larger 3D printers in the future.
2021 Predictions For 3D Printing
Charles R. Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look ahead to a new year in 3D printing with nine predictions of what’s to come in 2021.
Speculations On 3D Printing In 2030
It’s the start of a new year, and time for predictions. But this time I’m going for broke and predicting not what might happen in 2021, but instead in 2030!
ROBOZE CEO: 3D Printing From 2020 Pandemic Reaction To 2021 US Move
Alessio Lorusso, Founder and CEO of Italy-based ROBOZE, shares a look at 2020 and a look ahead to 3D printing strategies for 2021.
RIZE CEO Focuses In On 3D Printing Realities For 2021
RIZE’s CEO offers some insights into 3D printing safety and a look ahead for 2021.
Made To Measure: Amazon’s 3D Scan Fashions Could Lead To More 3D Printing
Amazon announced a new product they call “Made For You”, and it could lead to astounding changes in the 3D print industry and consumer market.
Ultimaker To Focus On 3D Printing Ecosystem And User Journey In 2021
I caught up with Gregory Elfering, President of Ultimaker Americas, for a discussion of Ultimaker’s 2020 reflections and 2021 trends and predictions.
How Could Additive Manufacturing Replace Traditional Manufacturing?
I’m reading a piece on Shapeways’ blog entitled “Will Additive Manufacturing Replace Conventional Manufacturing?” and have some thoughts.
The Reason Why Creality’s Belt 3D Printer Is Important
There’s a reason why Creality’s CR-30 belt 3D printer needs attention.
Book of the Week: Made in the USA
This week’s selection is “Made in the USA: The Rise and Retreat of American Manufacturing ” by Vaclav Smil.
The Future of Additive Manufacturing
An interesting talk at the third episode of the ongoing 3DEXPERIENCE: A Virtual Journey revealed some hints about what may happen in additive manufacturing’s future.
Watch Out, Belt 3D Printers Are Coming
Having written a couple of stories focusing on belt 3D printers recently, I have some thoughts about their future.
What Might We Expect To See In The Prusa MK4? Part 2
I’ve been doing some thinking about a potential Prusa MK4 3D printer and have some ideas about what we might see.
What Might We Expect To See In The Prusa MK4? Part 1
No, there have been no announcements regarding a new “Prusa MK4” 3D printer. But what might be included in a MK4?
Mass Customization Is Coming
With the arrival of the new Superstrata 3D printed bikes, I’m wondering whether we’re now at the moment when mass customization begins to grow in the minds of consumers.
A Future Nano-Cutting 3D Printer?
Researchers have developed a new method of cutting tiny 2D materials, but could this be the foundation of a new type of 3D printer?
Perspectives In Desktop 3D Printing: BCN3D
Desktop 3D printing has come a long way over the years; we catch up with BCN3D for a look at various perspectives of the business.
Is this The Time For The 3D Printing Industry To Double Down?
Charles R. Goulding considers the path forward for 3D printing in the time of big tech.
Discovering Future AI Features For 3D Printing
I’m reading the lengthy PhD thesis from Ivanna Baturynska, who has extensively investigated the possibility of using advanced AI techniques to optimize 3D print jobs.
Could The Pandemic Cause 3D Printer Company Tranformations?
After seeing 3D printer companies make fundamental transformations in their business models, I’m wondering if this is a trend.
4 Things We’re Learning About 3D Printing From The Crisis
After seeing the flurry of activity in the 3D printing community to address the COVID-19 crisis, I had some thoughts about how things may change in the industry.