My Printer

  • Digital SEA: Austal USA Launches Secure 3D Printing Platform Hosted by US Navy

    So far in 2026, the most significant shift in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry is also the subtlest: after years in which various enterprises, organizations, and government agencies have trended in this direction, we’re finally starting to see the emergence of fully-fledged, digitally-enabled industrial networks that include AM as a centerpiece. This is AM in the context of a genuine industrial internet of things (IIoT) buildout.

    Given the US Navy’s exuberance for accelerating the development of digital manufacturing processes, it should probably come as no surprise that Austal USA, one of the Navy’s key partners in its industrial base efforts, is playing a leadership role in this buildout. Austal USA has just announced the official launch of the Digital SEA (Secure Exchange for Additive) software platform, which was first announced last November.

    Austal USA has approached the revamp of US domestic maritime defense manufacturing capacity from multiple directions, by forming relationships with new, untraditional suppliers, expanding its own operations, and helping the Navy build an AM CoE in Virginia that the shipbuilding giant operates. The launch of Digital SEA can be viewed as something of a finishing touch on that initial phase of activity, providing a digital clearinghouse that unifies all of the progress Austal USA and the Navy have made thus far, and enabling future additions to the Navy’s industrial base programs to benefit from that progress as well.

    According to Austal USA, the company has already helped the Navy use AM to develop over 70 parts scheduled for fleet installation, but the launch of Digital SEA should help that catalog expand even faster. Reinforcing that the platform’s launch is part of a broader shift driving the whole SaaS-for-manufacturing market, Austal USA developed Digital SEA in partnership with leading software service enterprises, including Sabel Systems, C3 AI, and EdgeTI. Attendees of Sea-Air-Space 2026 this week can learn more about the new platform at Austal USA’s booth #1717.

    In a press release about Austal USA’s launch of Digital SEA, Austal USA’s interim president, Gene Miller, said, “The development and implementation of Digital SEA is a breakthrough for the maritime industrial base’s [AM] objectives and directly supports the Navy’s submarine fleet. It reflects our commitment to advancing the submarine industrial base — not only through [AM] leadership, but also through our role in building modules for both Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines at our Mobile facility.”

    Madeleine Locke, Program Manager at Austal USA, said, “Without an efficient way to share data and collaborate across the industrial base, we lose two of [AM’s] greatest advantages — speed of delivery and a distributed, redundant production capability. By closing those gaps, and by bringing together a strong team of industry and technology partners, we can directly enhance production capacity and ensure the Navy’s submarine and surface programs are supported with greater agility and resilience.”

    Whether it’s for surface vessels or submarines, shipbuilding seems to be just about the most difficult capability for a nation to rebuild. That has presented the US Navy with a virtually unprecedented challenge in its industrial base acceleration campaign. But, if there’s one thing that the branch has gotten right, it’s its diagnosis that the problem is primarily one of achieving change management across an international ecosystem of organizations.

    Thus, while it has taken years for the Navy, Austal USA, and all the rest of the relevant players to get to the present point, the consensus that the public-private partnership has successfully cultivated means that there’s now a living, breathing example of what can happen when the majority of an entire sector is all on the same page surrounding large-format AM. The most important lessons for everyone else aren’t even technological, so much as organizational and cultural.

    At the same time, from a more purely technological perspective, Digital SEA will be an indispensable test for the feasibility of keeping supply chains secure, even as they’re being made more accessible. Demonstrating that this is a viable option in the realm of critical national security infrastructure could permanently reshape how AM is viewed by the stakeholders responsible for managing major economic pillars.

    The most exciting part is that, if the endeavor proves successful, the Navy (and Austal USA, etc.) will have created a model that can be duplicated much more easily than it was created in the first place. Companies like Austal USA could then find themselves in a position where branching out from their core areas of expertise into offering more general digital technology integration services starts to look like a realistic possibility.

    Images courtesy of Austal USA

  • Rice Researchers Use Microwaves to 3D Print Electronics

    Rice University researchers have found a way to 3D print using focused microwaves. Published in Science Advances, Professor Yong Lin Kong and his team believe the technology could be used to 3D print electronics through heating inks without damaging substrates. By focusing the heating area precisely, only the electronic ink can be heated at one particular location.

    Until now, this has been one of the biggest challenges in 3D printing electronics: the heat needed to make the ink functional often damages the material underneath it.

    Professor Kong said,

    “The ability to selectively heat the printed materials enables us to spatially program the ink’s functional properties, even when surrounded by temperature-sensitive material. This allows us to integrate freeform electronics onto a broad range of substrates, including biopolymers and living biological tissue, all within a desktop-size printer without the needs of complex facilities or labor-intensive manual processes.”

    They call their process near-field microwave 3D printing (NFP). The process builds on the Meta-NFS device developed in conjunction with National University of Singapore researcher John Ho. This is a metamaterial device that creates directed near-field microwave energy. The system can focus that energy into a heating zone as small as the width of a human hair, allowing very precise control during printing.

    Coupled with the microextrusion of nanoinks, local microstructure can be controlled, leading to programmable properties in circuits. Ceramics, thermosets, metals, or other doped inks can therefore be made either on the surface or selectively hardened within other structures. Particular sections can be annealed, and different materials can be joined selectively. Layers could also be joined more thoroughly. This also means different materials and functions can be built directly into the same structure during printing, rather than assembled later.

    The team hopes that a desktop unit will now be able to make entire circuits at scale. Unlike traditional electronics manufacturing, which often relies on centralized facilities and complex assembly, this approach could simplify how electronic devices are made.

    Photograph of 3D architectures printed by the layer-by-layer deposition approach using Meta-NFS. Image courtesy of Rice University.

    As a test, strain sensors made from ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene were printed to form a circuit that can be used in the body. They’re also working on sensors that can be eaten, soft robots, and complex devices. Meta-NFS 3D printing is now a core foundation for Kong’s group in developing fundamentally new classes of electronic devices for a broad range of applications that did not exist before. For instance, the group is developing ingestible electronic systems for personalized diagnostics and treatment, designing bionic devices that interface with biological organs, and creating next-generation 3D printed soft robots and drones with highly integrated electronic functionality.

    Highly selective and rapid volumetric heating of 3D printed materials with a Meta-NFS. Image courtesy of Rice University.

    Kong says that,

    “Meta-NFS 3D printing enables us to develop new classes of hybrid electronic devices that could not have been built — or even envisioned — with previous manufacturing approaches, providing us with a new capability to address unmet societal needs.”

    As this allows for volumetric heating and the volumetric construction of new structures, made of annealed inks, this gives us a truly new capability. This could be a very advantageous process for enclosed 3D printing of sensors and complex devices. The body 3D printing sensor market could be considerable. This could also be used to make compact wearables for skin use. Glucose and health monitoring alone are a significant market there. Perhaps this could be used to make circuits at scale at much lower cost than alternatives. Our houses, lamp posts, and bridges are almost all dumb; resilient, enclosed circuits could make them monitor themselves or people in general. This is therefore a notable step forward in 3D printing that could lead to the democratization of enclosed-sensor 3D printing.

  • 3D Printed Weapons Keep Showing Up in Crime

    In the past few weeks, activity around 3D printed weapons in the U.S. has increased across several fronts. States including California, Colorado, New York, and Washington are moving forward with new laws, courts are deciding how digital gun files can be regulated, and law enforcement continues to report arrests tied to 3D printed firearms and other dangerous uses. While making firearms can be legal in some cases, much of the recent activity is focused on how 3D printed guns and their files are regulated, shared, and handled by law enforcement. Because so much is happening with laws and arrests, some of the more unusual cases stand out more. 

    States Push New Laws

    Several states are trying to tighten the rules around 3D printed guns, an issue that has been building for months as lawmakers look for ways to deal with untraceable “ghost guns” made outside of the traditional channels. Officials say many of these weapons are difficult to track and have shown up in criminal cases, which is driving much of the recent push. The focus is not just on the weapons themselves, but also on the digital files that make these guns possible.

    In Colorado, lawmakers are pushing a bill to limit 3D printed ghost guns, as part of a broader effort to address untraceable firearms that officials say have become harder to track and regulate, including requirements for serialization and restrictions on how these weapons can be made and assembled. However, they are still debating how strict the proposal should be.

    In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have been pushing for stricter rules after a series of high-profile cases involving ghost guns. Their focus has been on limiting access to online files used to produce these weapons and increasing penalties that are tied to their use.

    Washington State, meanwhile, has passed a law targeting 3D printed firearms, 3D printed gun parts, and the digital files used to make them, adding restrictions on both the production of these weapons and the distribution of the files used to make them.

    California is taking a different approach, filing lawsuits against websites that host these types of files, and arguing that they make it easier to produce guns outside the existing rules and should be held responsible for their distribution.

    Glock designed its civilian-purchased pistols to be easily modified. Image courtesy of the City of Chicago.

    Courts are also starting to play a larger role. In a recent decision, a federal appeals court found that regulating the distribution of 3D printed gun files may not violate the Constitution. This could give states more room to control how these files are shared online.

    At the same time, California has filed lawsuits against websites that host 3D printed gun files, arguing that they enable unlawful manufacturing. These cases could help set boundaries for how digital designs are treated going forward.

    Federal agencies have also been paying close attention in the last few years. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), for one, has been warning about the danger of machine gun conversion devices (MCD) since at least 2024.  Easy to manufacture and illegal for decades, MCDs can turn a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon—delivering hundreds of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are small components—usually made from metal or plastic—that can be easily attached to a handgun or rifle to convert it from semi-automatic to fully automatic. While possessing or manufacturing MCDs is illegal in the U.S., their production has exploded in the last two years, largely because it is very easy to create them with 3D printers, and they are often sold online or printed at home. 

    Recently, WKRN news talked to the ATF field office in Nashville about the growing use of 3D printers to create conversion devices, like Glock switches. Officials have said these items are increasingly showing up in investigations and are difficult to trace, which is driving concern, especially if they end up in the hands of violent offenders or serial shooters.

    Enforcement and Arrests Continue

    At the same time, police continue to report cases involving 3D printed guns. For example, in Massachusetts, police in Dartmouth seized ghost guns and a 3D printer after arresting a man who was not allowed to own firearms. Officers said they found rifles without serial numbers, a 3D printer used to make parts, and digital files tied to gun production. 

    Dartmouth police said they seized ghost guns and a 3D printer after a man was arrested. Image courtesy of the Dartmouth Police Department.

    In Louisiana, a man in Breaux Bridge was arrested for using a 3D printer to make illegal switches. Authorities pointed out that manufacturing or possessing devices that convert firearms into fully automatic weapons without proper federal registration is illegal under both state and federal law. However, these devices are increasingly being made and shared.

    Also, in Pennsylvania, police in Sunbury reported finding close to two dozen 3D printed gun switches along with other weapons, including grenades, during an investigation. Authorities said the case involved a mix of firearms, drugs, and equipment tied to making gun components. 

    Similar cases have been reported outside the U.S., as usual. In the U.K., police in the West Midlands made six arrests after seizing a 3D printed gun during a raid, in what they described as a serious case involving illegal firearms production. The bust was part of Operation Target, a 24/7 mission to tackle serious and organized crime across the region.

    Brazilian authorities, led by the Brazilian Federal Police, dismantled a major global 3D printed weapons network under Operation Shadowgun, arresting a figure known as “Zé Carioca,” a young engineering student who was also a key developer and distributor tied to open-source gun designs and online communities. Investigators say the group operated across borders, using encrypted platforms, VPNs, and cryptocurrencies like Monero to fund and distribute files and parts that were tied to ghost guns. The raid not only removed one of the most influential figures in the 3D printed weapons scene in South America, but also exposed how decentralized and international these networks have become, local law enforcement said. Ultimately, it led to panic now that users realized they could, in fact, be tracked.

    Material seized during Operation Shadowgun, including Zé Carioca’s balaclava. Image courtesy of the Brazilian Federal Police.

    Overall, these cases show how 3D printing is increasingly being used in illegal and criminal situations. It’s undeniable that the technology itself has countless positive and legitimate uses, but when it comes to 3D printed weapons, a lot of the attention focuses on how it can be misused to make untraceable firearms and parts that end up in the hands of criminals, being used outside the law. To law enforcement, that is becoming a real and growing problem. 

  • UltiMaker to be Exclusive North and South American Distributor for Tectonic 3D Filament

    UItiMaker will be the exclusive distributor of Tectonic3D filament in North and South America. Tectonic makes high-performance materials for defense available on desktop 3D printers. It has been working with UltiMaker for a number of years, and already has ten print profiles available on UltiMaker systems.

    UltiMaker President of the Americas Jim Franz said,

    “Tectonic-3D’s commitment to advanced material innovation perfectly complements our mission to provide a reliable, industrial-grade production platform. By becoming the exclusive U.S. distributor, we are giving our customers direct access to the most advanced filaments on the market, backed by the seamless integration and support they expect from UltiMaker.”

    Tectonic 3D CEO Ken Kempinski stated,

    “We look forward to building upon our partnership with UltiMaker. Our materials are designed to push the boundaries of what is possible in additive manufacturing. We are extremely excited to expand our collaborations with Ultimaker on their S and Factor series printers.”

    Tectonic has high-performance materials for rail, aerospace, and industrial applications. Some of the strongest desktop 3D printer materials available are made by the firm. It also has high-temperature materials for high-temperature systems such as the miniFactory. But, in desktop materials that pack a punch, the company is ascendant.

    Whether for MRO or applications such as drones, Tectonic’s filaments are being used close to the point of need to make high-performance parts with desktop systems. The company’s materials have high stiffness and Continuous Service Temperature PET, PA, and PP materials with Carbon and Glass Fiber in them. They also make a specific family of lightweight drone materials. Meanwhile, its Vulcan series of PEKK, PEI, and PPSU are used for high heat applications. They also have specialized materials such as TPC.

    Tectonic seems to be well. Furthermore, with all of the movement towards manufacturing at the edge and making at the point of need, its materials will be in much higher demand in the coming months, especially in the US. Plus, Ukraine is showing that desktop 3D printers can be war winners. If I were Tectonic, I would have worked with Philips Federal to distribute my product to the government. I may have given them exclusivity if they demanded it. But, if I could have, I would have gotten them and Dynamism or MatterHackers, for example.

    Tectonic Signing an Agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Defense

    I’m not sure what the UltiMaker distributorship is going to achieve, and why Tectonic gave it to them. Prusa Research is ramping up 3D printer manufacturing in the US and finding more and more defense customers. Wouldn’t that have made more sense? I love UltiMaker, and I used to work there way back when. But, the firm looks like it’s in dire straits. A defense-centric strategy for them makes sense. Indeed, defense and medical are the only real avenues open for the firm. And I do hope that they do well in the US defense market, and in Europe as well. UltiMaker traditionally has good machines that work well and last a long time. They’ve made a lot of quality systems, and I hope that there is a place for them in the marketplace. The Netherlands is to spend up to $300m making drones for Ukraine, perhaps this link up means that the two companies, both with Dutch arms will end up printing a lot of these?

    And a filament and printer tie-in really may make sense for some projects and customers. But, perhaps this may alienate other manufacturers. If it doesn’t, it may be easy for them to get UltiMaker to distribute the material, and that may work for them. If Tectonic is loyal and kind, that would be great as well. And perhaps this could be the beginning of a path towards high-quality desktop printers for defense from UltiMaker?

  • HP’s MJF 1200 Targets Entry-Level AM — And Could Shift the Competitive Landscape

    HP has launched an entry-level MJF solution, the HP Multi Jet Fusion 1200 3D Printer Solution, which will be available in 2027. What is the 1200 exactly? What does it mean for the market, and what will it do for HP?

    The 1200 is a sub-$60,000 PA12-centric 12-liter MJF system with a build volume of 12 liters, officially unveiled live at RAPID + TCT 2026. Not just a printer, it comes with an unpacking station, Magics Print for HP by Materialize, and a live viewer tool. The system is meant to work without extra gas or other requirements for the site and on standard electrical outlets. Initially, it launches with HP 3D High Reusability PA 12, “enabled by Evonik,” a great material with strong economics. That material can reuse up to 80% of surplus powder. The material costs around $100 per kilo. The overall economics of the material should be better than most on offer. The powder can lead to strong, well-defined parts and should suit most applications. Some PA 11 would be nice, but perhaps this will follow. It’s unclear whether Evonik is somehow sponsoring this system to get an exclusive powder on board, or if HP just went with a popular powder with good business economics.

    A genius feature of this printer is that it comes with a service contract that costs about 10% of the system’s value. This is, of course, a goldmine for HP, and I’ve been telling vendors in the space to offer service contracts with next-day replacement for years, as it turns the boring economics of box selling into a lucrative business. 10% sounds like a lot, actually, so I hope that’s not off-putting to some. HP has designed many components to be user-replaceable, and in the main markets says replacement parts can be delivered the next day while service people arrive within three business days. The latter sounds a bit slow, but if they can ship parts the next day, that can solve my issue. This will work well for most.

    Alex Moñino, the GM of HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions, said that the company’s focus is “on bringing industrial-grade capabilities closer to where ideas take place.”

    “By lowering cost per part and simplifying workflows, we are making it easier for customers to adopt additive manufacturing and scale it across new applications. This commitment to innovation and lowering TCO.”

    Alex Moñino, Senior VP and General Manager, HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions, as HP debuts new 3D printing products at RAPID + TCT 2026. 

    Indeed, lowering cost per part has been a consistent HP focus for many years now, with Alex and Francois echoing the need to continue doing this to drive the market forward. The company says that the workflow is easy, while unpacking and mixing can be automated. The Magic’s tools should let nesting and build prep go well. This focus on simplicity should make adoption easier and let more people in the office use the system.

    What is the 1200?

    So what is the 1200? It’s something that will make entry-level LPBF much more attainable and accessible for companies, especially those that trust and work with HP. It enlarges the entry-level LPBF market. If it works as advertised, it can bring more new users into the HP system. At the same time, small labs, designers, machine shops, and university departments could use this system without being able to afford a larger one. In this sense, it could enlarge the overall market. The 1200 is also a very definite shot across the bow of Formlabs. Priced similarly, it is clearly targeting the Fuse 1. If a healthy competition ensues between the two, then the 1200 suggests the overall market could grow well off the back of a competent duo duking it out with well-functioning systems.

    HP unveils the Fusion 1200 printer on the RAPID + TCT 2026 show floor. 

    What is the 1200 for HP?

    The 1200 shows that, ten years into HP, it is still committed to additive. The 1200 shows that the company is serious about expanding its additive business and growing its installed base. This kind of product can get a kid in college interested in LPBF, have her try it out in her first job on a larger system, and then use the smaller system to go into production with her own startup years later. It is significant because it can get people into MJF at a lower price point and also lets people consider it as a system for different sites. So for the main production site, we use larger systems, but at this overseas location, we just put in a 1200. It also makes it much more likely that designers and inventors will use MJF to commercialize inventions and take them to market. MJF can now be a solution where your prototype can be the same file as your first series. Later, if you should scale, you can outsource it and expect the same performance and part to come out, even though your partner uses bigger systems. Then, later, you can produce some parts in-house again with your fleet of 1200s before scaling up to larger systems in-house. Importantly, this system forestalls competition from below from Formlabs either through people opting for many smaller systems or through Formlabs eventually growing in capacity and capability.

    This system could be a real winner for HP if it performs well and delivers good process economics. We know this is why MJF wins in many service bureaus. It’s just the most profitable process for most. If people leave MJF, it’s because of material needs, a particular material or part that works better elsewhere, or because HP’s ancillary costs are simply too burdensome. This could therefore be a good system for HP’s revenues, but also a good system to grow MJF and HP’s overall offering.

    What does the 1200 mean for Competitors?

    The news is not great for Sinterit, whose SUZY model is well regarded, but it is now the relatively unknown entrant amid two more prominent firms. The SUZY could remain open and accessible, making it a more logical choice for universities and research. But, design agencies and manufacturers may be swayed by the name and ease of use of the HP system.

    Formlabs has a fight on its hands. The Boston-based firm is formidable and delivers well-functioning, integrated software, materials, and system offerings. The firm’s positioning has been stellar, with it pioneering the PRO desktop segment and then putting the Fuse at the right price point between small systems and larger full units. This excellent positioning means it has pioneered within its own offering. So essentially, it has built its own market with its own value proposition, defining and building out a new category. Formlabs has never had to play defense, and didn’t face a horde of Chinese competitors. It has been able to build its own business, its own way. This also means that the firm has never had to play defense. We saw at EOS that a shift towards meeting a new player is very difficult to do organizationally and culturally. Good farmers don’t always make good hunters. This may therefore be difficult for Formlabs. The joint battle should be good for everyone else, though.

    For Chinese firms on the desktop, this makes it less likely that they’ll enter polymer LPBF right now, right? The space looks more crowded, but there’s not enough growth to make them all pile in. With people making $10,000 kit metal LPBF machines and that market seeming to grow to the moon, it’s more likely they will play there than in polymer.

    For Farsoon, this may represent a real threat from below. The company is winning on flexibility, open materials, and cost. For some players, a few 1200’s may be more sensible than an entry-level Flight system. This is a particular threat to the 252P and may deter people from entering into business with Farsoon. An early choice for HP may let people remain there. It’s unclear if Farsoon will come up with something to counter the 1200. The company seems content to try to dislodge EOS from some customers and open up some industrial use cases with larger machines. Even though Farsoon is not close to the Chinese government, it is still Chinese. This means it can’t rely on industrial largesse as much as BLT or Avimetal, but it is still barred from certain markets. And the Chinese market is currently squarely focused on industrial production. With services currently driving each other out of business in China, it’s unlikely any entrepreneur will seriously consider buying an entry-level system there. A lot of parts can be had at below cost, so why invest?

    Farsoon, therefore, seems very production-focused and is leaning more towards the metal side of the business than before. By using many parts and architectures across both metal and polymer systems, the company is likely to stick to architectures that support both. Especially because metal printing guys seem a bit allergic to the $10K systems from MetalBase and ScrapLabs. This may cause it to focus less on entry-level and more on the 403-sized systems.

    What does this mean for the market?

    This is a great thing for the market. I can really see this system and Formlabs breaking open an untapped segment of the 3D printing market. Entrepreneurs, businesses, and products made locally and iterated quickly could be easily scaled with this tool. If the 1200 works as advertised, the system could be a boon for small businesses and departments alike. There are hundreds of thousands of machine shops and factories that could benefit from well-working LPBF as a capability. How many will convert at what price point is not yet known. But for machine builders, factories, industrial automation professionals, inventors, and entrepreneurs, this could really open new avenues for growth. Something like a glasses business done locally or in a hospital, 3D printing with SLS for guides is much more accessible now. This could also work really well for some Orthotics and Prosthetics applications, as well as assistive devices. I really like it for sporting goods as well, and think this may enable people to start businesses making custom tennis racket handles, thumb splints, and the like. I really like this as a development, and it stands a chance of really enlarging our market.

    Featured image courtesy of HP. All other images courtesy of Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com.

  • RAPID 2026 in Pictures: The Coolest & Craziest Things on the Show Floor

    Last week, North America’s premier 3D printing trade show, RAPID+TCT 2026, came to Boston. I spent two days trekking the show floor, trying to see as much as I could, from new machine releases and software integrations to partnership announcements and more. I’ll break down more of my discussions later, but for today, I wanted to quickly share some of the coolest, and the craziest, things I saw at RAPID.

    3D printed foosball at the 3D Systems booth

    Modular Quadruped Centaur

    We’ll start with a little nightmare fuel—the modular quadruped Centaur by PANAM in Space, though I prefer to call him a next-generation Horseman of the Apocalypse.

    Please tell me this isn’t the freakiest thing you’ve ever seen on four legs. But wait! It also comes apart to form two two-legged demon robots! The back end is the Centaur’s power supply, so if it’s running low on charge, you can just detach that part, and add a different one to the front end, so you don’t have to stop what it’s doing.

    The team told me that four legs will make this much sturdier than any bipedal robots. The Centaur could cover more ground, and different types of terrain, than robots on wheels or two legs are able to handle.

    “A quadruped with some AI training will be able to cover a lot more complicated ground.”

    The idea is that the Centaur would be AI-powered, so it would be self-sufficient. The version at the booth was 3D printed out of plastic filament, but they are looking into printing a metal version some day.

    The company’s real focus is a polar coordinate metal 3D printing system for building modular, stackable rocket modules to form the basis of a city in space; they’re also developing a smaller electron beam-powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) system for the commercial market as well.

    I asked about the possible applications for something like this, and learned that due to its size, the Centaur could theoretically carry medical-grade lasers into areas where it wouldn’t be as easy for a human medical professional to traverse.  But really, it could be used to complete whatever labor you wanted it to, like filling a warehouse with goods…until, of course, the robots rise up, take over the planet, and follow the Centaur as their leader.

    Pantheon’s Motorcycles

    From four legs to two wheels! According to its website, Canadian company Pantheon Design loves “the idea of 3D printing a motorcycle in one day that they could go race the next.”

    The company says that its HS-Pro, featuring a 400 x 400 x 300 mm print bed, can fabricate a motorcycle frame in one week, offering “2kg per day of productivity in Carbon Reinforced Polymers.” The printer can process PA-CF, PA-GF, PETG-CF, and 95A Flex materials, and also features an active 60°C chamber temperature, a patent-pending nozzle contact probing strain gauge, and a 7″ HD touchscreen.

    “Pantheon parts can replace aluminum components in many cases,” the company wrote on its website.

    “We designed a functional equivalent for additives and printed them in various processes.”

    I think this looks more like a dirt bike than a motorcycle, but it’s still cool.

    Mobility Devices for Kids

    New York-based Stratasys reseller CADimensions offers industrial design, simulation, training, manufacturing, and 3D printing services. The company also partners with non-profit ARISE, which provides support and services for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

    According to a sign at the CADimensions booth, ARISE offers a wide range of programs, from housing services and equine therapy to the Adaptive Design Program (ADP). This program uses everyday materials to create custom, practical, low-cost solutions, like adaptive equipment and assistive technology, and provides them to children and adults who may not otherwise have access.

    “Each week, a group of community members with different backgrounds come together to design and build tools to help people with disabilities participate in everyday life,” the website states.

    CADimensions is an official supporter of ARISE, offering design and assembly assistance, as well as 3D printed parts. The example the company had at its booth was the Wild Thing Mobility Chair for young children.

    It can get expensive trying to keep kids in wheelchairs and other mobility devices that fit, because they grow so fast. To solve this challenge, ARISE decided to retrofit Hot Wheels Wild Thing battery-powered vehicles for kids under 5 with mobility issues. CADimensions provided some of the 3D printed parts for the powered mobility devices

    “The freedom these children enjoy through their new mobility tools is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face,” the sign at the CADimensions booth declared.

    3D Printed Snare Drums

    The Polymaker booth featured something pretty unique: a set of snare drums by Voxel Percussion.

    Based in Akron, in my home state of Ohio, Voxel Percussion uses 3D printing, laser cutting, and post-processing to give its drums their unique look. Each one is customized, featuring complex geometries and intricate textures. According to the website, the bespoke, epoxy-strengthened drum shells can be printed in just about any color you want.

    Voxel Percussion also makes custom laser cut drum inserts, which can be used to give your drum a unique tone. Additionally, the company also offers 3D printed shakers, and “Groove Buddies,” which are “small gestures that can be mounted to your cymbal wingnut.”

    These drums were neat to see, but depending on where you were in relation to the Polymaker booth, they often made it hard to hear. If someone put a pair of sticks in my hand and told me to go to town on the kit, I probably would have too. But the first time I heard them being played, I was so startled that I almost fell off of my chair.

    Drones, Drones, & More Drones

    Something you saw all over RAPID this year were 3D printed drones.

    At the Impossible Objects booth, the company had a wall of 3D drones on display, which were printed on its incredibly fast CBAM 25 system. As you can see, Impossible Objects claims that it can print 10,000 drones a month with its composite-based AM technology.

    Drones at HP booth

    HP also had plenty of drones at its RAPID booth. Applications Engineer Emily Levin said “there’s a couple value propositions of Multi Jet that are super important” when it comes making drones, such as the ability to create complex geometries and ultra-thin walls. Because they were seeing so much adoption of MJF for this particular application, the company now has a dedicated drones team.

    “At HP, we’re not selling drones, it’s not designed to be a product, it’s designed for us to understand what our customers need from us,” Levin said, noting that every design iteration helps inform the team so it can better meet customer needs.

    She said that, depending on the design, HP can print up to 140 small drones in one build, “so it’s extremely scalable.”

    We also saw a Blueflite “last mile delivery” drone hanging above the booth. Its wings, landing gear, and body panels were all 3D printed with MJF technology.

    “The interior of the wings are all latticed, so it has extremely lightweight properties but is also extremely strong.”

    Blueflite drone

    If you’re interested in drone 3D printing, you should attend our UAS Additive Strategies online event on “The Future of Drone Manufacturing.” It’s coming to a computer screen near you on June 30th!

    HP’s Dual Tone Technology

    Speaking of HP, I also think its new Dual Tone technology is cool. It’s historically meant extra work, and even extra money, to add logos, text, or visual cues like QR codes to 3D prints. Dual Tone is a new capability that enables parts to appear in distinct white and dark gray tones right off the printer.

    “Walking around here [RAPID], any industrial printer you see, what do they have in common? They all come out one color,” said Brian Ingold, Head of Applications and Business Development at HP Additive. “What we are doing with this technology is printing visualizations on parts.”

    Ingold explained that HP has “two agents” in their machines, and to enable Dual Tone, they just add more detailing agent wherever they want the visualization to go. This is especially helpful for adding QR codes to parts, which usually has to be done with engraving or some kind of post-processing.

    “You can also do individual part numbers,” Ingold said. “So from a traceability perspective, you can have serialized production and have an individualized part number right on the part.”

    Using Dual Tone for MJF, HP can embed personalization, information, and contrast right onto the printed part. You can also really get creative with AI use here; Ingold said while designing a prosthetic socket, he added the Boston city skyline to the part just by typing that request into the software.

    “We don’t want to launch a process that’s hard to do. We want to make it very accessible, so a patient, or a consumer going into a service bureau, can add it on really easily.”

    This is obviously just a small sampling of some of the great 3D printing innovations I saw on the show floor at RAPID this past week. Stay tuned for more!

    Images courtesy of Sarah Saunders

  • 3D Printing News Briefs, April 18, 2026: Educational Grants, Bambu X1, & More

    In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, SPE announced a collaboration to expand 3D printing education through its equipment grant program. Bambu Lab has retired its X1 Series of FFF 3D printers, and ISRO acquired a Spacetime 4D Akasha300 3D printer.

    SPE Collaborating with 3DSHQ to Expand Educational Grant Program

    Image: SPE Foundation

    The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), a division of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), is collaborating with U.S. based 3D Supply Headquarters (3DSHQ), which offers 3D printing hardware, materials, services, professional development, and technical support to businesses, consumers, and educational institutions around the country. Together, the two will work to expand the SPE Foundation‘s 3D Printer Grant Program for educational systems, which is open to educational institutions at all levels. 3DSHQ will provide FlashForge Adventurer 5M Pro 3D printers, materials, logistics support, and technical assistance to the winning schools. The organization also develops instructional videos to guide educators on the setup, operation, and maintenance of 3D printers, and these will also be made available to grant recipients. By pairing 3DSHQ’s technical expertise with the SPE Foundation’s plastics education leadership, the program will offer educators and their students hands-on experience in 3D printing. The first grant recipient to benefit from this new collaboration is Akron Public Schools (APS), in my home state of Ohio. They will receive eight new 3D printers to replace outdated equipment and expand STEM learning, providing instruction in CAD, plastics manufacturing, and prototyping.

    “This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in our commitment to plastics education. By working with 3DSHQ, we’re increasing access to advanced manufacturing tools while ensuring educators and students have the support needed to use them effectively from day one,” said Eve Vitale, SPE Foundation Executive Director.

    Bambu Lab Officially Retires X1 Series of FFF 3D Printers

    Image: Bambu Lab

    In 2022, Chinese 3D printer OEM Bambu Lab launched a Kickstarter campaign for the X1 3D printer, promising an affordable price, 20,000 mm/s² acceleration, 500 mm/s speed, automatic calibration, built-in camera, a dedicated neural processing unit, and a multi-color printing system that supported four filament spools. While it may have seemed too good to be true, the campaign ended up being the third most successful Kickstarter ever for 3D printing hardware. Since then, the company has continued its meteoric rise, and recently announced the retirement of its X1 Series, including the X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E. Manufacturing of these systems has already ended, and the replacement is the P Series, consisting of the $599 P2S and $399 P1S. However, the company has promised that software and firmware bug fixes will be available through May of 2027, security patches will continue into 2029, and spare parts and service for the X1 Series will be available under best-effort terms for five more years.

    “The EOL of the X1, X1 Carbon and X1E marks the end of a chapter – but not the story. Machines already in users’ hands will keep working, supported until March 31, 2031 – spare parts, security updates, technical support included,” Bambu Lab wrote. “During the 5-year service period, related spare parts will remain available through our Online Store and in authorised service centers. However, some parts may sell out earlier, so we recommend purchasing replacements in a timely manner.”

    Spacetime 4D’s Akasha300 Supporting Prototyping & Materials Research

    The Akasha300 3D printer is a high-temperature, multi-material extrusion system developed by Spacetime 4D for aerospace and industrial applications / Spacetime 4D

    Kerala, India-based additive manufacturing startup Spacetime 4D recently delivered its Akasha300 3D printer to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), specifically its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). The addition of the industrial-grade, high-temperature system will strengthen ISRO’s in-house capacity for 3D printing complex aerospace components, which fits in with India’s self-reliance objectives. The LPSC will use the printer to support both advanced materials research and rapid prototyping for aerospace and space applications. The multi-material Akasha300 is a material extrusion printer, centered around a dual-extrusion architecture that’s said to operate at nozzle temperatures of up to 350°C; Spacetime 4D has plans to upgrade this to 550°C. The system also features a heated build platform that gets up to 110°C, and an enclosed, temperature-controlled build chamber that maintains up to 80°C. All together, these features should make it a good printer for the demanding requirements—both structural and thermal—of aerospace components made with materials like PEEK, PEKK, and carbon fiber-reinforced composites.

    Showcasing the increasing synergy between startups, academia, and government institutions in India’s space technology sector, the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (STIIC) at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) supported Spacetime 4D’s development of the Akasha300 system. The high-temperature printer is positioned as a research platform rather than a tool for the typical production line, and ISRO, which previously acquired AddUp’s Magic 800 DED system, will use the Akasha300 to experiment with next-generation materials and complex part designs. This will enable the scientists and engineers at ISRO to achieve rapid design iteration of propulsion system components and satellite hardware with materials that match flight-grade standards. On a broader scale, this shows how India’s deep-tech ecosystem is being positioned next to other, more established international organizations.

  • RAPID Roundup 2026: New Machines and Market Moves

    RAPID + TCT 2026 wrapped up yesterday, but the show floor proved there’s a lot happening across the additive manufacturing (AM) space, especially when it comes to new hardware and partnerships.

    From large-format systems to new metal machines and fresh collaborations, companies used the event to show where they’re headed next, and in many cases, to make a push into new markets.

    New Machines Across the Board

    One of the more interesting debuts came from UnionTech, which introduced its MUEES430 PRO, a new metal AM system. The move shows that Chinese OEMs are continuing to expand their global presence, especially in the metal sector.

    UnionTech booth at RAPID + TCT.

    The system is designed for larger, industrial parts, with a build size that puts it closer to production-focused machines rather than entry-level metal printers. It also supports multi-laser configurations, which can help speed up production and improve throughput. In simple terms, it’s built for companies that want to move beyond prototyping and into making real parts at scale.

    Across the show floor, several other Chinese manufacturers were introducing new systems across different categories. Snapmaker presented the U1, pushing further into more capable, multi-use machines. The company has built its name on modular systems that combine 3D printing, CNC, and laser engraving, and the U1 continues that approach with a more industrial feel, aimed at users who want flexibility in a single platform rather than separate machines.

    Chinese firms SUNLU and Inslogic also announced the FilaDC I10, a system that blends filament printing with more industrial-style capabilities. The machine is designed to push beyond standard desktop FDM, with a focus on stronger materials and more consistent output, closer to what users would expect from entry-level industrial systems. Which basically means it sits somewhere between a typical desktop printer and a more production-oriented machine, showing how hybrid approaches are starting to fill that gap.

    SUNLU and Inslogic Team Up to Announce the FilaDC i10 at RAPID + TCT in Boston. Image courtesy of SUNLU.

    One of the hardest printers to miss was BigRep’s large-format ONE.5X, a system designed for industrial-scale parts. While the machine was announced ahead of RAPID, seeing it in person made it clear BigRep is leaning into bigger, more production-ready applications. The ONE.5X is built for large components and continuous output, aimed at industries that need size and throughput more than fine detail. In simple terms, it’s about making big parts reliably at a scale beyond prototyping.

    BigRep showcased its ONE.5X printer at RAPID + TCT.

    Creality also had a booth at RAPID this year, showcasing two machines that came out ahead of the event but were nonetheless exciting to see in person. In addition to its K2 Pro Combo printer, Sermoon P1 3D scanner, and Falcon T1 laser engraver, the company also had its relatively new SPARKX i7 and CFS (Color Filament System). Also seen at TCT Asia last month, the printer and its combined CFS are said to reduce filament waste by 50%.

    Creality SPARKXi7 printing live at RAPID+TCT 2026.

    Speaking of cutting down on material waste, Creality also showcased its Filament Maker M1 and Shredder R1, which were launched just weeks ago. The R1 processes prepared 3D printing waste into reusable material, and the M1 mixes, extrudes, and spools filament. This is said to be the first desktop system for users to recycle and make their own filament.

    Partnerships and Market Moves

    While the machines usually steal the show, partnerships were also a big part of the AM ecosystem at RAPID.

    Inkbit announced a collaboration with Stratasys Direct as it moves into wider industrial use. Inkbit develops its own polymer 3D printing systems, using a vision-controlled process that relies on cameras and software to monitor and correct each layer in real time. This approach helps improve accuracy and consistency, making it better suited for repeatable production rather than one-off prints.

    Stratasys booth at RAPID+TCT 2026.

    The partnership with Stratasys Direct is about getting that technology into real manufacturing environments. By working with an established service provider, Inkbit gains access to customers and applications that go beyond testing and into actual part production.

    Prusa booth at RAPID + TCT.

    Meanwhile, Prusa Research brought its Pro SLX and AFS systems to the U.S. for the first time. Best known for its desktop printers, the company is now pushing further into more industrial applications. The Pro SLX is designed for higher-end resin printing, while the AFS system focuses on automated farm-style production with multiple machines working together. Together, they show how Prusa is trying to move beyond individual machines and into more complete production setups. RAPID gave the company a chance to show that shift more clearly.

     

    There’s still a push to make 3D printing easier to use, through lower-cost systems, simpler workflows, and machines that don’t need complicated setups.

    At the same time, scale keeps coming up. Large-format printers, bigger resin systems, and new metal machines are all targeting the same goal: making parts that aren’t just prototypes, but actually usable at size.

    And partnerships are playing a bigger role, too. Instead of doing everything themselves, companies are working with service providers and local partners to get their technology into real production environments and really fast.

    Images courtesy of Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com unless otherwise noted.

  • Bryson DeChambeau Moving Forward and Backward With 3D Printed Clubs

    In 2024, we wrote about golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who turned to 3D printing to make custom clubs for himself. Rather than find a big-name sponsor (he was temporarily without), he made his own. That was great news for Avoda Golf. Its owner, Tom Bailey, got DeChambeau to test his clubs. Bryson liked them so much that he had them customized for his US Open Win. His performance at the Masters was less stellar, but he still managed to get all eyes to look at him. The talk was about his club length and his play. He finished outside the top 50 one day.

    Bryson then turned to 3D printing, noting that print time is 8 hours, with an additional 4 hours for post-processing. The Athletic. quoted him saying that, there is “a robot that measures a club’s geometry and material properties, making sure they comply with the USGA’s standards.” The idea back then was that the clubs were much more forgiving to mishits. He still liked the clubs positively, saying that they gave him a great second shot. He also complained about the USGA process needed to make the clubs conform.

    He reportedly used a 3D-printed five-iron at the Masters. He also took wedges with a bubble form on them and more weight. He mentioned that the clubs are now ready. He went on to say that,

    “There’s this nature that I have about myself where innovation is a habit of mine, and I really find and take pride in that ability to learn — even through failure, even through making a bad decision or a good decision — what I can get from that,”

    It seemed before the event that Bryson was teasing his 3D printed clubs. Bit by bit, he let information leak out, seeming to prime his audience for new public availability. Now, however, with a disappointing performance, this seems to be out of the question. Indeed, some may even blame the 3D printed clubs for his lower-than-expected performance.

    Bryson DeChambeau and his “caddy,” actor Kevin Hart, at the 2026 Masters Tournament. Image courtesy of Bryson DeChambeau via Instagram.

    If Bryson launched his own 3D printed golf club brand, it would be a really important moment in sports. On the one hand, it would be a boost for 3D printing to have the input of a Pro lead directly into his own brand of clubs. But, beyond this, Bryson is trying to build his own brand. Now, this is actually kind of a blast from the past. Lacoste, for example, was a die-hard, tenacious player with the nickname the Crocodile. That led to his eponymous Lacoste brand. Over the past decades, however, even the biggest athletes in the world have chosen Nike’s money over having their own brands. Christiano Ronaldo and Steph Curry have big company-enabled sub-brands, but going it alone entirely is really not attempted anymore.

    If Bryson succeeds, this could open the floodgates for more athletes to truly build their own brands. Here we have a branding hiccup and a failure to launch. This is exactly the kind of thing that would not happen if Bryson were with Adidas or another brand. They would take care of slick launches. There’s something endearing about Bryson’s approach here and the way he’s doing it. There is clearly a learning curve. And it isn’t working now. But if Bryson manages to get the narrative on track, he may yet launch a very valuable 3D printed brand of clubs.

    Bryson DeChambeau after winning the 2024 US Open. Image courtesy of Bryson DeChambeau.

    His own input and experience make this a very authentic experience. And it may lead to an excellent set up clubs as well. His winnings give him the financial independence to continue this development. If he does so and it gives him an edge, it could propel the clubs to success. We know that with additive, you can enlarge a sweet spot, you can reduce vibration, improve balance, change the way the club head moves in the air, change the impact point of the ball on the club, change how the ball spins, and much more. The possibilities point to huge advantages for whoever unlocks them. But, will “the scientist” get it right? We don’t know. But Bryson would be wise to study the story of Lacoste. Lacoste didn’t always win, but he always went for it 100%, and this endearing quality made him beloved and enabled him to leverage his fame into a brand. Perhaps the Scientist should therefore lean more into that.

    Images from Bryson’s Instagram.

  • Former Spy/Congressman to Head New Federal Division at Construction 3D Printing Powerhouse ICON

    Earlier this year, the Department of Defense (DOD) broke ground on its biggest additive construction (AC) project to date, aiming to complete ten new barracks at Texas’s Fort Bliss US Army Post well before the end of 2026. DOD teamed up with Texas-based AC firm ICON, its longtime partner in AC scale-up, a track record that includes completion of the US military’s first-ever 3D printed barracks, also in Fort Bliss.

    ICON’s work on the ten barracks, which are expected to house 500 soldiers once finished, is part of a nearly $63 million Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement awarded to the company in January, bringing the total value of all ICON’s government contracts over the years to over $360 million. That number is all the more impressive considering that ICON has only just this month announced a dedicated division for defense and general government work, ICON Prime, which is headed by Will Hurd, a former member of the CIA clandestine services, a three-term US Congressman, and a US Presidential candidate in 2024.

    In between his retirement from Congress in 2020 and the launch of his presidential campaign in 2023, Hurd served on the board of OpenAI. During his time in Congress, he served as chair of the Information Technology Subcommittee in his first term, chairing the first US House hearing on AI in 2015. ICON has been distinctly ambitious on the role of AI in its workflow, announcing an AI program for home design back in 2024.

    ICON’s large-scale 3D printers in operation, building multiple military structures simultaneously on-site.

    Hurd has been making the rounds with media outlets following the announcement of his new role, telling Axios that he and ICON Prime are aiming to build 900 barracks over the next five years. In addition to its work building barracks for various US military branches, ICON has also been a major recipient of funding from NASA related to lunar construction R&D.

    In a press release about ICON’s launch of its Prime division, and the choice of Will Hurd as president of the division, the co-founder and CEO of ICON, Jason Ballard, said, “ICON was founded to radically rethink how the world builds. With ICON Prime, we are bringing together our robotics, software, and materials innovations into a defense and space tech unit to help government partners build faster, more resilient infrastructure at a lower cost. We want to bring robotic construction to bear on the nation’s most pressing readiness and national security challenges. Will Hurd brings extraordinary experience at the intersection of technology, national security, and public policy, and his leadership will help scale this work at a critical moment.”

    Hurd noted, “Advanced construction technologies are no longer peripheral to national security, they are foundational to military readiness, force projection, and interplanetary exploration. ICON is the pioneer in robotics and advanced materials that have fundamentally changed how we build more resilient structures from military installations to disaster response. The need to swiftly build at lower cost is real, and the opportunity to scale where we need it most has never been greater.”

    ICON’s CEO, team members and military personnel at a 3D printed construction site. Image courtesy of ICON.

    Even in an industry in which hiring heavy-hitters with government experience, or appointing them to the board, has become fairly commonplace, this hire stands out. Will Hurd has wide bipartisan respect and well-earned legitimacy in precisely those areas that will be at the center of his work at ICON, which should result in policymakers taking AC more seriously as a tool for addressing the mounting difficulties in US construction.

    I think what might be most striking about the hire is that Hurd isn’t your typical anti-regulation conservative, especially when it comes to AI. He’s, in fact, played a major role in laying the foundation for existing US law on AI, and has argued that solidifying rules on IP ownership and implementing workforce development initiatives to reskill workers for an age of machine learning should be among the pillars of an effective national AI strategy.

    Close-up of one of ICON’s robotic gantry systems at a defense site.

    This is exactly the sort of thinking required to transform deep-tech potential into commercial reality, especially in an industry as strictly regulated as is construction. However realistic the goal of 900 barracks within five years may or may not be, it certainly sounds far more plausible now that Will Hurd is involved.

    I think the most interesting thing to pay attention to will be how ICON can leverage its success in the military and space to gain more traction in attracting federal funding for residential projects. That’s probably still a few years down the road, but, at the moment at least, ICON certainly appears to be the company that can achieve that pivot.

    Images courtesy of ICON