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  • AMCRC to Give $3.25 Million to SMEs & Startups Adopting 3D Printing in Australia

    Australia’s Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) is set to give $3.25 million in funding to Australian startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs. The money will go to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing by these businesses. This seems like a good move by AMCRC to build out the industrial base of Australia generally, and to increase the number of firms that can use additive in the country.

    The program is called STARTER and it will, dollar for dollar, match money put up by the companies. Each project runs from 3 to 12 months, and is looking at prototyping as well as end-use part production. Sustainability, supply chain, and shorter lead times will also be watchwords. The idea is that these projects will be easy to do for these small firms and lead to knowledge and capability increases.

    AMCRC Managing Director Simon Marriott said.

    “Many SMEs and start-ups recognise the potential of additive manufacturing, but they don’t always know where to begin or have the capability to assess where it can create value for their business. The STARTER Project Funding Program gives businesses a practical pathway to work alongside researchers, test ideas and evaluate how additive manufacturing can improve efficiency, flexibility and competitiveness.

    “Businesses are using additive manufacturing to reduce lead times, overcome production bottlenecks, improve supply chain resilience and bring new products to market faster. This program is about helping Australian companies explore those opportunities in a practical, commercially focused way.”

    AMCRC Managing Director Simon Marriott.

    Each funding package for matching funds is between $20,000 and $75,000, meaning that between 42 and 162 businesses can be helped through the program. In total, this should see Australia spend an additional $6.5 million on implementing additive. The overall project size ranges from $40,000 to $150,000.

    Companies can apply for the program here, and can work with AMCRC-connected research bodies to implement the projects. This seems like a very sensible thing to do altogether. Small businesses are real jobs growth engines. Large businesses tend to outsource a lot and, in their maturity, not really splurge on hiring. Think about being Nike: it’s hard to see how 100 new people can make an impact there, but a better shoe design or a slightly better World Cup ad will have a huge impact. I guess they could throw people at the problem, but generally these companies rely on geniuses, old hands, experts, and those who have generated trust internally or those that are there already, A small business, on the other hand, will hire their first sales person, finally a dedicated marketeer, a new R&D person, someone new to man the store, etc. So not only are they a growth engine in overall jobs, but they also hire people with advanced degrees and those leaving school at the same time. This means that the mix of people they hire is also good for the economy.

    So, by spreading additive to these small businesses, AMCRC is doing well to stimulate the economy. These versatile firms can also make decisions much quicker than larger firms. If a founder is on board, then the firm will go in the direction that she points, and quickly too. This means that if it works well, 3D printing could more quickly be adopted and expanded in the firm. A small firm is much more likely to take risks in new markets, and with new processes as well. So the focus here seems more than sensible.

    Usually, such programs lead to people buying kit that they don’t know how to use well, or the money is spent on reports. So I hope here that it really goes towards implementation and skill transfer. Australia’s remoteness and moderate market size means that a lot of goods are needlessly expensive there. A lot of firms become a sole importer or representative of a brand and hike processes unnecessarily, while the sheer size and low volumes also raise costs. This all compounds the potential usefulness for 3D printing on the continent. 3D printing just makes sense more often than elsewhere. Wait times for parts being longer also adds to the utility. So especially for MRO and spare parts, in the broadest sense, Australia could disproportionately benefit from additive. And the business that could benefit most of all are those small businesses that can’t keep all their spares in stock and rely on a limited number of machines, tools, or processes. So that is a good sign for this implementation. Furthermore, other large countries such as Canada and Brazil should look into similar programs, as they too could disproportionately benefit.

    Images courtesy of AMCRC

  • A 3D Printed Diving Suit Lets Cyborg Cockroaches Swim Underwater

    Cockroaches have been surviving on Earth for more than 300 million years. They can crawl through tiny cracks, climb almost any surface, and adapt to harsh environments. Now, researchers have found a way to help them survive underwater too.

    A team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and Waseda University in Japan has developed a tiny 3D printed diving suit for cyborg cockroaches, allowing the insects to stay underwater for up to three hours while carrying electronic backpacks. The work combines 3D printing, robotics, and biology in a new type of biohybrid system that could one day help inspect flooded infrastructure or search areas that are difficult for conventional robots to reach.

    The research was published in the journal Nature Communications in a paper titled “An amphibious cyborg robot with a miniature diving suit.” The study was led by Hirotaka Sato of Nanyang Technological University.

    Unlike robotic insects, which are built entirely from scratch, cyborg cockroaches are living insects equipped with lightweight electronics. The backpack can include a battery, sensors, and wireless controls that allow researchers to guide the insect as it moves through its environment. Rather than controlling every movement, the system gently steers the cockroach while relying on its natural ability to crawl, climb, and navigate obstacles on its own.

    “By fitting a cockroach, which is a terrestrial species, into this diving suit, we allowed it to survive and operate in oxygen-deprived environments,” the researchers wrote in the paper. “Transforming it into an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water.”

    The new addition is a miniature diving suit designed to help cockroaches breathe underwater for longer periods. The lightweight wearable traps a pocket of air around the insect’s breathing openings and includes a tiny oxygen-generation tank, measuring just 10 by 10 millimeters, made from a 3D printed PMMA-like photopolymer resin. Instead of carrying a limited oxygen supply, the device generates oxygen through an electrochemical reaction, continuously replenishing the air pocket while the insect is submerged.

    How the insect diving suit works. Image courtesy of NTU Singapore and Waseda University.

    The oxygen-generation tank and two tiny 3D printed spiracle connectors (small fittings that attach to the cockroach’s breathing openings and direct oxygen through silicone tubes) form the core of the system. A custom flexible waterproof shell and the silicone tubes complete the wearable, allowing the cockroach to remain underwater for up to three hours while moving normally. According to the researchers, 3D printing made it possible to produce the miniature components with the size and shape needed for the wearable device.

    Rather than simply helping cockroaches swim underwater, the researchers expect amphibious cyborg insects to reach places that are difficult or dangerous for traditional robots. As they write in the paper, the system could allow biohybrid robots to “operate seamlessly across terrestrial and underwater environments.”

    To evaluate the system, the researchers sent the cyborg cockroaches through a series of underwater experiments, including fish tanks and 3D printed tube-shaped obstacle courses designed to simulate flooded environments. The insects swam, walked underwater, and crawled through the submerged passages while carrying their electronic backpacks. Even with the diving suit attached, they moved only slightly slower than they did on land, while their underwater survival time increased from just a few minutes to as long as three hours.

    “This is important because real disaster sites can be challenging after heavy rain or flooding, blocking access routes in the rubble, drains and narrow gaps,” said Sato, a professor in NTU Singapore’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “By expanding the operating parameters of our cyborg insects to include underwater travel, we believe they can enhance search-and-rescue efforts.”

    That could include inspecting flooded pipes, tunnels, sewers, or disaster areas where small, mobile systems have an advantage over larger robots. Because cockroaches can already crawl through tight spaces and climb over obstacles, giving them the ability to go underwater opens up even more places they can explore.

  • 3DPOD 305: Automating AM with Grenzebach’s Oliver Elbert

    Oliver Elbert‘s over ten years in additive manufacturing have been spent automating LPBF. For large, high-volume, or critical parts, Grenzebach has provided custom automation solutions. Depowdering, powder handling, sieving, heat treatment, part handling, resurfacing, QA, and Grezebach Additive can automate all of these processes. The company could give you a 3D printing factory or automate that key step important to your safety, reliability, ot cost. We talk to Oliver about his journey, what Grenzebach does, how it sees the market, and where it is headed. We also talk more generally about automation and producing at scale.

    This episode of the 3DPOD is brought to you by HeyGears, an innovation-driven 3D printing solution company devoted to taking digital manufacturing to the next level for individuals and businesses around the world. HeyGears’ extensive expertise and self-developed resin, 3D printing hardware, software, materials, and service platforms mean they can offer complete, easy-to-use, and reliable 3D printing workflows for all types of users, from beginners to advanced professionals looking to get things made. Learn more about them at HeyGears.com.

     

  • AMPulse Asia: Chinese IPOs, Defense Deals, and Dental 3D Printing Lead APAC Roundup

    The second half of June brought a wave of additive manufacturing activity across China, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia. From Chinese IPOs and funding rounds to defense, aerospace, construction, dental, and medical advances. Here are 11 developments worth watching.

    China

    Yuding Additive Manufacturing files for a STAR Market IPO to raise about RMB 1.8 billion

    Yuding Additive Manufacturing (煜鼎增材), a metal AM company founded by a team led by academician Wang Huaming and Beihang University and registered in Xiongan, filed for an IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market to raise about RMB 1.8 billion to expand large-format metal additive manufacturing capacity for aerospace and nuclear applications. The Shanghai Stock Exchange accepted the application on June 23, 2026.

    Jiangsu Runice 3D raises €12 million to expand production of core printer components

    Jiangsu Runice 3D Technology (锐力斯) raised about EUR 12 million (nearly RMB 100 million) in a round led by Cowin Capital to scale production of core printer components such as hot ends and extruders, expand a second Dongguan site, and build out digitized manufacturing.

    Strlaser launches a 1,000W ultra-thin fiber laser for high-reflectivity metal printing

    Strlaser (思创激光), a Sichuan-based laser maker, launched a 1,000W ultra-thin fiber laser for metal additive manufacturing, featuring anti-back-reflection technology for high-reflectivity materials such as copper and aluminum.

    SHINING 3D launches the Ceramix-Nano chairside ceramic 3D printer

    SHINING 3D (先临三维) launched the Ceramix-Nano, a chairside ceramic 3D printer for dental clinics, with a scan-to-cementation workflow that the company says takes about 30 minutes.

    SHINING 3D Dental launches Ceramix-Nano chairside ceramic 3D printer with 30-minute workflow. Image courtesy of Shining 3D.

    Japan

    Polyuse passes 300 construction 3D printing projects in Japan

    Polyuse (ポリウス) surpassed 300 construction 3D printing projects in Japan, with about 40 of its Polyuse One systems installed since the model went on sale in September 2025.

    South Korea

    Holosmedic wins Vietnam approval for its biodegradable 3D-printed mesh

    Holosmedic (홀로스메딕) received approval from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for its biodegradable, 3D printed Holosmedic Mesh, a craniomaxillofacial bone-reconstruction scaffold, marking its second ASEAN clearance after Thailand.

    VF Space raises a Pre-A round to commercialize wire-laser metal additive manufacturing

    VF Space (브이에프스페이스), a South Korean startup, raised a Pre-A round from MYSC and Harang Technology Investment to commercialize its wire-laser additive manufacturing (WLAM) technology, which uses metal wire instead of powder, for shipbuilding, aerospace, energy, and defense.

    Metal 3D printing equipment based on its proprietary Wire Laser Additive Manufacturing (WLAM) technology. Image courtesy of VF Space.

    Daegun Tech shows its metal powder-bed fusion systems at ME2026 in Bangkok

    Daegun Tech (대건테크), a South Korean metal AM maker, exhibited its industrial metal powder-bed fusion printers at Manufacturing Expo 2026 in Bangkok, promoting them for defense, aerospace, medical, and mold applications across Southeast Asia.

    Link Solution extends its defense 3D printing partnership with the ROK Army

    Link Solution (링크솔루션) extended its defense 3D printing agreement with the ROK Army 7th Logistics Support Group. The unit has operated Link Solution’s container-based AM Fab field printing system since 2024, producing discontinued repair parts and drone components.

    India

    PTC Industries clears up to Rs 1,800 crore fund-raising to expand aerospace metals capacity

    PTC Industries, an Indian aerospace-materials group whose Aerolloy Technologies subsidiary runs metal additive manufacturing alongside titanium and superalloy casting, received board approval to raise up to Rs 1,800 crore (about US$210 million) through a qualified institutional placement, a preferential issue, or convertible warrants to expand manufacturing capacity.

    Australia

    AML3D commissions its first two ARCEMY X systems at Newport News Shipbuilding

    AML3D completed commissioning of its first two ARCEMY X systems at Newport News Shipbuilding, a roughly A$4.5 million (about US$3 million) order that triggered final payment. The wire-arc systems will support U.S. Navy submarine and aircraft carrier programs under the Maritime Industrial Base plan, which aims to deploy up to 100 large-format metal 3D printers and produce about 1,600 additive parts annually by 2030.

    AML3D Arcemy printer. Image courtesy of AML3D

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Prepared by AMPulse

  • Mimaki & Cleeks Golf Club Collaborate for Miniature 3D Printed Golf Bag Collectibles

    Japan-headquartered Mimaki Engineering launched its first full-color inkjet printer in 1996. Not long after, the company established its US-based Mimaki Inc. operating entity, which manufactures digital printing and cutting products, including industrial inkjet printers. Mimaki USA installed its first 3D printer, the 3DUJ-553, in the Americas in 2018. Since then, the full-color printer has been used to fabricate everything from artwork to gaming collectibles and even sports miniatures.

    Recently, Mimaki partnered with the Crewe Alexandra football club to make a 3D printed miniature of the club captain. Now, it’s 3D printing a series of full-color, highly detailed, miniature golf bag collectibles through an exclusive collaboration with Cleeks Golf Club, a professional, franchise-based team. These limited edition prints are from the club’s Art of Golf cultural series: a collection of artist-designed golf bags used by Cleeks’ professional golfers during the 2026 LIV Golf tournament.

    “Built to tour standards and played in competition, the bags carry individual creative perspectives directly onto the course,” the Art of Golf website explains.

    “Art of Golf is about expanding what golf can be. We use the golf bag as a canvas to celebrate artists, cultures and creative voices from around the world, bringing a new dimension to the sport and creating experiences that resonate beyond traditional golf audiences,” explained Jonas Mårtensson, General manager, Cleeks Golf Club.

    “These collectibles capture that idea perfectly. They’re not simply miniature golf bags; they’re miniature works of art. Mimaki’s technology has allowed us to faithfully reproduce each artist’s vision and create something that fans can take home while preserving the integrity of the original work.”

    There are 14 events in the LIV Golf tournament, which runs through the end of August. Crowds in the US, Spain, Korea, and Mexico have already been impressed with the 3D printed mini golf bags, and Mimaki is helping with the design and 3D printing of more bags for upcoming rounds in the UK and US. In total, 14 different artists from the Art of Golf collection designed 14 different miniature golf bag collectibles—one for each event.

    According to the Art of Golf website, “Each artist is invited to respond to golf as a system built on discipline, repetition, and pressure. The golf bag becomes the artist’s canvas, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a functional object used under real tournament conditions.”

    Most of the golf bags in the Art of Golf series are made by an artist who’s local to the region of the various tournament events. So each design is reflective of the artist’s language, as well as the culture in the area surrounding the golf course. For instance, the design for the sixth bag incorporates the Northern Cardinal and Flowering Dogwood for Virginia.

    Using traditional production methods to make the miniature golf bags would have meant reducing the amount of color, simplifying the shapes, and lots of manual finishing. That’s why Cleeks Golf Club went with 3D printing.

    Each 15 cm golf bag is 3D printed in one piece on the photorealistic, full-color 3DUJ-553 system. There is no assembly or painting required, and only a little post-processing. Mimaki’s flagship 3D printer can produce more than 10 million unique colors, and enables texture, fine detail, and color transitions, which makes for visually stunning golf bag collectibles.

    Each one of the 14 golf bag designs is printed in a limited quantity of just 25, for a total of 350 models that people can purchase as a keepsake at the LIV Golf tournament events.

    “When it comes to high-quality collectibles, this project perfectly exemplifies the capability of our 3D printing proposition – namely short-run, highly precise, full color output consistent from one piece to the next and delivered in a matter of hours,” said Matthew Stark, 3D Segment Manager at Mimaki.

    “The reality is that for projects like this, 3D printing is really the only viable option. Aside from the time and cost associated with conventional methods, the level of realism and fine detail we’re able to achieve would be impossible with techniques like traditional hand model-making.”

    Additionally, Cleeks Golf Club also commissioned Mimaki to make a half-scale 3D printed reproduction of the players’ bags for each of the designs in the Art of Golf series. The 50 cm models are not for sale, but are instead displayed as a showpiece at each clubhouse for LIV events.

    Here are the dates and locations for the rest of the 2026 LIV Golf tournament:

    • July 23-26, LIV Golf UK, JCB Golf and Country Club, Rocester, England
    • August 6-9, LIV Golf New York, Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey
    • August 20-23, LIV Golf Indianapolis, The Club at Chatham Hills, Westfield, Indiana
    • August 27-30, LIV Golf Michigan, The Cardinal at Saint John’s, Plymouth, Michigan

    Any golf fans attending the remainder of the events can see the 3D printed golf bag miniatures for themselves, and even buy one if they’re looking for a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

    We’ve seen 3D printed art, and 3D printed sports equipment—even golf clubs. It’s nice to see the two brought together in this unique way.

  • 3D Printing News Briefs, July 4, 2026: AMUG, Metacrystals, Coral Reefs, & More

    We’re starting this 4th of July 3D Printing News Briefs with some AMUG news, and then moving on to business with DSH Technologies and materials with Markforged. We’ll end with some interesting 6G research and 3D printed coral reefs in India.

    AMUG Announces Board of Directors for 2026-2027 Term

    AMUG’s newly elected and appointed board members: Top row (from left)—Dallas Martin, Daniel Landgraf, and Daniel Braley; bottom row (from left)—David Leigh and Bruce LeMaster.

    The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced the results of the recent board elections and appointments for the 2026-2027 term. After three years of service, current AMUG President Shannon VanDeren and Treasurer Robin Van Bragt will assume ex officio roles on the board, as Immediate Past President and Immediate Past Treasurer, respectively. William “Dallas” Martin was elected President, Daniel Landgraf was elected Vice President, and Daniel Braley was elected Director of Membership, while the board appointed David Leigh as Treasurer and Bruce LeMaster as Director at Large. All five have received the AMUG Distinguished INnovator Operator (DINO) Award, and their multi-year terms began this week. Martin is a Senior Engineer in AM at Toyota, while Landgraf is Vice President Global Sales, Marketing & Business Development at 3D Spark. Braley is Senior Manager – Engineering & Depot Solutions for V2X Modernization & Sustainment, Leigh is Director of the Center for Additive Manufacturing & Design Innovation at The University of Texas at Austin, and LeMaster operates as an independent contractor.

    The other AMUG Board Members for 2026-2027 are:

    • Secretary: Heather Natal, GoEngineer
    • Director of Education & Conference: Alex Roschli, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Director of Marketing & Events: Kim Killoran, Stratasys
    • Director of Sponsors & Exhibitors: Thomas Murphy, New Jersey Innovation Institute

    DSH Technologies Transforming Powder Metallurgy with Membership Program

    DSH Technologies, the international authority on debinding and sintering services, is increasing its commitment to powder metallurgy production with its new membership program, DSH Advantage. Meant for MIM and sinter-based AM shops, OEM captive parts makers, and industrial manufacturers, the DSH Advantage program offers proactive, structured guidance, troubleshooting help, and access to laboratory services to help improve yield and eliminate production downtime. Participants will enroll in a monthly program led by the company’s Chief Metallurgist, Bryan Sherman, to get access to expert support and process control for metal parts manufacturing. DSH Advantage is technology-agnostic, designed for quick ramp-up, and should integrate right into any metals operation. The company says the program results in “higher first-pass yields and reduce rework” for better cost savings in production.

    “DSH Advantage was built to solve the real, day-to-day challenges that MIM and sinter-based additive manufacturers face when moving from prototypes to production. By marrying deep metallurgical expertise with powerful instrumentation and process, we’re helping customers make better parts faster, and protect their margins while doing it,” said DSH Technologies President Stefan Joens.

    Markforged Brings Functional Color & Industrial Strength to Factory Floor

    Markforged recently announced the release of Onyx GF for its FX-series industrial printing platforms. This is a chopped glass fiber-filled nylon material that pairs the trusted stiffness and strength of the Onyx material family with functional color for manufacturing environments. Color is one of the fastest, most reliable visual signals in fast-paced manufacturing facilities for communicating critical operational information, like part classification and hazard warnings. With Onyx GF, which is available in six highly visible colors, operators can deploy color-coded tooling, safety indicators, and error-proofing fixtures on the factory floor. The color is embedded within the material formulation, so you don’t need to do any secondary painting, label applications, or related post-processing. Additionally, the excellent tensile strength, surface finish, stiffness, print reliability, and dimensional accuracy from the Onyx family have been carried over to Onyx GF. It’s naturally non-conductive, which makes it great for applications that need strong electrical isolation, and can be reinforced with Continuous Carbon Fiber using the CFR process for advanced structural jobs.

    “Bringing color to the factory floor is about far more than aesthetics; it is about unlocking a new level of operational velocity, safety, and error-proofing for our customers. Until now, manufacturers often had to choose between the industrial-grade performance of materials like Onyx or the use of brittle, weaker materials like ABS or PLA. With Onyx GF, we are removing that compromise entirely. We are delivering the same trusted mechanical foundation our users rely on every day, but with the immediate communication benefits that functional color provides. This allows teams to scale visual management seamlessly across their entire enterprise,” said Jon Bond, General Manager of FFF at Markforged.

    Researchers Make 3D Printed Metacrystal Panels to Guide Wireless Signals

    A passive 3D printed metacrystal panel redirects radio waves around obstacles and toward users, offering a low-cost way to improve indoor/outdoor wireless coverage without adding base stations, wiring or powered electronics. Illustration: Aalto University / Mahdi Asgari

    Normally when you have a weak Wi-Fi or mobile signal in places like basements or large buildings, people just throw more electronics at the problem. But as we get closer to a 6G mobile network, this can be costly and unsustainable. The higher-frequency channels of 6G should add much more data bandwidth than 5G, but they’re blocked more easily by obstacles like walls. Researchers at Aalto University have come up with a fairly low-tech solution: passive, 3D printed smart panels of metacrystals that can guide wireless signals and radio waves around these barriers without using a power supply, electronics, or active tuning. These panels have several potential advantages: they could handle multiple incoming waves at the same time, operate simultaneously over different frequency bands, be installed on furniture, ceilings, or walls, and even fully absorb unwanted signals. Most reconfigurable intelligent surfaces need complicated control circuits and tuneable elements, but 3D printing metacrystals enables the fabrication of custom panels for specific environments.

    “When a room is too dark, you can bring in more lamps – or use simple mirrors to guide the already available light. This is what these metacrystals do, but with radio waves. Unlike previously proposed single-layer intelligent surfaces, these volumetric metacrystals can be designed to control multiple incoming signals or frequency bands independently — a key requirement for realistic wireless communication,” explained doctoral researcher Mahdi Asgari.

    You can learn more about their work in the published paper.

    India’s “First” 3D Printed Artificial Coral Reef Modules Deployed

     

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    In the coastal waters off Ramanathapuram, an ambitious marine habitat restoration initiative is underway. Last month, what’s reported to be the first 3D printed artificial reef modules in India were sunk in the Gulf of Mannar. It was the last leg of a project, carried out over 213 artificial reef sites in Tamil Nadu, that was funded by both the state government and the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The concrete 3D printed modules each weigh about 1 tonne, and were created by the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre and Indian automation firm Tvasta. They have multiple folds, crevices, and attachment surfaces to help enhance biodiversity. While they were fabricated with no iron reinforcement, the modules do feature material innovations meant to increase porosity and create substrates specifically for marine organisms. Traditional fishing communities in nearby districts cooperated with the implementation of the program, which will help scientists evaluate the ecological performance and durability of the modules.

    “The objective so far has been fish habitat restoration and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities,” explained Dr Joe K Kizhakudan, who leads the Visakhapatnam Regional Centre. “These new-generation modules provide immense possibilities because they allow greater structural complexity, higher surface area, and species-specific habitat design.”

  • Red, White, and Blue: Star-Spangled 3D Prints to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday

    I often do roundups of free 3D printed models for holidays, like Christmas, Halloween, and even the 4th of July, which all of America will celebrate tomorrow. Because I’ve written so many of these over the years, I sometimes have a hard time coming up with catchy titles, which obviously you need for articles like this one.

    I was not feeling very creative today, so I asked my husband if he had any ideas. He suggested “Party Your Prints Off,” which I thought was funny but too generic, though certainly in line with all the “‘Murica!” cookouts to come this weekend. While I ultimately went another way, “Declare Your 3D-Pendence” was definitely my favorite of his suggestions. But no matter the title, 3D printing is a great way to celebrate Independence Day!

    4th of July patriotic earrings

    I love these patriotic earrings by Thingiverse user ddubya3187! If you check his profile, you can see several of his other earring designs as well. The 3MF file is optimized to work with a multicolor Flashforge AD5X 3D printer with a 0.25 mm nozzle.

    “Star spangle yourself this 4th of July with the coolest accessory at your family’s bbq. Ring the 250th celebration of our nation’s freedom from the grip of the English monarchy.”

    USA Shoelace Charm

    You’ll have the best-dressed kicks at the barbecue with this 3D printed shoe charm from Cults 3D user 3D_P_LAYER. Designed to easily slide onto standard shoelaces, it’s recommended to print the charm with PLA and 0.16 mm layer height, for better detail. This one does need small supports, but it takes less than an hour to print two of these charms. Use multiple colors for the best visual effect!

    “Perfect for personalizing your shoes for the 4th of July, sporting events, or everyday wear to show your American pride.”

    USA Heart Clicker Keychain

    I do love a good 3D printed clicker, and this heart-shaped flag one by MyMiniFactory user ValeriaMomo-Mattia3D is perfect for the 4th. There are STL files for any desktop 3D printer, but optimized 3MF ones for Anycubic, Bambu Lab, and Creality printers specifically. It doesn’t need glue or supports, and it comes with a ball chain so you can turn it into a clicky keychain. Finally, “4TH JULY” is embossed on the side.

    “For multi-color prints, we suggest filling the bed to minimize PLA waste from color changes.”

    Compact LET Joint Kaleidocycle 4th of July Firework

    This movable print by Thingiverse user BYU_CMR isn’t quite the same as a fidget, but I don’t think I would ever stop playing with it. There aren’t a lot of details about this one, but there are three print files to make it. The seams need to be set to random, and the wall generator needs to be “Arachne.”

    Flappy American Flag

    Flexi prints are also fun to play with, like this floppy, articulated American flag from Cults 3D user Bearded_Printer. Created in Bambu Studio, the 3MF file has a 0.2 mm layer height configured, as well as 3 wall loops. Alternately, a zip file is also included, with the model split into different colors so it’s easier to paint in the slicer.

    “Also included is a blank flag so if you which to paint your own, you’re more than welcome to.”

    If you don’t use the 3MF file, he’s added instructions for painting the model in either Orca or Bambu Slicer.

    Uncle Sam Hat Magnets

    We go back to MyMiniFactory user ValeriaMomo-Mattia3D for this last print: a set of magnetic Uncle Sam top hats! There are three different sizes—small, medium, and large—for whatever display or space you’re working with, from office whiteboards to your home refrigerator. You don’t need any supports for these. If you want that iconic red, white, and blue color palette, you should fill the bed in order to minimize material waste from color changes.

    “Despite the size difference, all versions are designed to accommodate the same round D8x2mm magnet, ensuring compatibility and easy replacement.”

    From all of us here at 3DPrint.com, have a safe and happy Independence Day weekend, and as always, happy 3D printing!

  • UCLA 3D Prints Zinc-Ion Battery With Seven Times More Energy

    Just days after researchers at the California Institute of Technology unveiled a 3D printed design for lithium-ion batteries, another university team has announced a different battery breakthrough using additive manufacturing (AM).

    This time, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) developed a 3D printed hybrid zinc-ion battery that can store more than seven times as much energy as similar devices. The team says the technology could one day help store electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

    Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, the hybrid zinc-ion battery combines features of both batteries and supercapacitors, allowing it to store large amounts of energy while delivering it quickly. These batteries use zinc, a material that is cheaper, easier to find, and typically considered safer. That has made them a promising option for storing renewable energy, where cost and safety are usually more important than keeping batteries small and lightweight. Batteries used to store electricity from solar and wind farms also need to last for years and recharge quickly. The challenge has been storing enough energy to compete with other battery technologies.

    “The future of energy storage won’t be defined by a single technology,” said co-corresponding author Maher El-Kady, an assistant researcher in UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and co-founder and Chief Science and Technology Officer of Nanotech Energy. “At some point, we will need to look for something to complement the current options for grid-scale energy storage. What we’ve done in this study essentially gives us zinc-ion hybrid devices that can store nearly one order of magnitude higher capacity.”

    The findings were published in the journal Small in the paper titled “High Mass-Loading Vanadium Oxide on 3D Printed Carbon Lattices for Zinc-Ion Supercapacitors.”

    A UCLA-led research team developed a 3D printed electrode with a hollow structure that expanded the capacity of hybrid zinc-ion energy storage devices. Image courtesy of Maher El-Kady / UCLA.

    A New Design

    Instead of creating a new battery chemistry, the UCLA team decided to redesign one of the battery’s main parts. The researchers first 3D printed a lightweight lattice on an Elegoo Mars 3 Pro resin printer. After printing, the structure was heated at high temperatures until it became a conductive carbon framework. That carbon lattice acts as the battery’s electrode. The team then coated it with vanadium oxide, the material that stores and releases energy. Because the lattice contains billions of tiny pores, it provides a huge internal surface area while still leaving room for zinc ions to move through the battery.

    “The method we used lets us build any 3D scaffold, layer by layer, and control its microstructure,” said co-corresponding author Ric Kaner, a UCLA distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry and of materials science and engineering, holder of the Dr. Myung Ki Hong Endowed Chair in Materials Innovation, and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. “We can actually have billions and billions of these tiny holes, producing an enormous internal surface area. That means we can store a lot of charge.”

    The researchers say that combination helped the battery store more than seven times as much energy as similar devices while retaining 82% of its capacity after 1,500 charge and discharge cycles.

    More Than Just a Better Battery

    The study also describes a second innovation made possible by 3D printing. The team designed a sealed electrochemical test cell that could make battery research easier. The test cell was designed in Onshape and printed on a Bambu Lab X1 Carbon using transparent filament. The device is used to measure the performance of experimental batteries, and the team says it improves on one of the most common testing methods used in laboratories today. Instead of building custom testing equipment for every experiment, researchers could use the standardized design to evaluate and compare new battery technologies more consistently.

    High mass-loading vanadium oxide on 3D printed carbon lattices for aqueous zinc-ion energy storage. Image courtesy of Maher El-Kady / UCLA.

    Lithium gets most of the attention, but it isn’t the only option. Zinc is cheaper, easier to find, and generally considered safer because zinc-based batteries are less likely to overheat. That is why researchers have long seen them as a good fit for storing electricity from solar and wind farms, where low cost and long life matter more than keeping batteries small and lightweight.

    The biggest challenge has been storing enough energy to compete with today’s lithium-ion batteries. Zinc-ion batteries simply haven’t been able to hold enough energy to compete with today’s leading battery technologies. The UCLA team believes its new 3D printed design could help change that.

    “It’s a concept that we hope can be useful to other researchers in the field by helping them obtain more consistent measurements and reliable data for their devices,” said first author Sophia Uemura, who recently earned her Ph.D. from UCLA. “One of the exciting things about 3D printing is how accessible it has become. In this case, anyone with access to a 3D printer will be able to make a test cell like ours and adapt it for their own work.”

    The UCLA and Caltech projects take different approaches. One focuses on lithium-ion batteries, while the other aims to improve zinc-ion technology. Both, however, rely on 3D printing to create battery designs that would be difficult to manufacture any other way. Together, the studies suggest researchers are beginning to use additive manufacturing not just to make battery parts, but to rethink how batteries are built.

  • VulcanForms Lands Major State Backing in Massachusetts Manufacturing Push

    Massachusetts is making a major bet on industrial 3D printing. As part of a new $52 million package of state tax credits to support business expansion, the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council awarded more than $21.2 million to metal additive manufacturing (AM) company VulcanForms. The incentives will support the company’s plans to build a manufacturing facility of up to one million square feet in Devens, Massachusetts, where it expects to create 1,063 new jobs.

    It was the largest award approved in this funding round, which included 11 business expansion projects across the state. That is what makes this announcement stand out. Massachusetts is not funding another research project or pilot program. It is investing in large-scale manufacturing built around metal 3D printing.

    A factory built around AM

    VulcanForms already operates advanced manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts. The new Devens expansion would become another major production site, allowing the company to increase output for aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, and consumer applications. The brand has built its business around manufacturing finished metal parts at production scale. The new campus would also rank among the largest manufacturing investments centered on metal AM in the United States.

    VulcanForms has created digital production systems based on its industrial 3D printing technology. Image courtesy of Joseph Seif.

    Programs like Massachusetts’ Economic Development Incentive Program are performance-based. The $52 million represents state tax credits, not direct funding. In return, the 11 companies are expected to invest more than $1.4 billion of their own money into new facilities, equipment, and expansion projects across Massachusetts while creating and retaining thousands of jobs. VulcanForms’ planned Devens campus is part of that investment. In fact, the size of the VulcanForms award tells us that state officials believe AM can deliver those returns.

    “The Economic Development Incentive Program is one of the state’s most effective tools for supporting business expansion and job creation,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “From robotics and artificial intelligence to advanced manufacturing and life sciences, these companies are making long-term commitments to grow here. That’s a strong vote of confidence in Massachusetts as a place where innovation can scale and businesses can succeed.”

    Manufacturing has become a bigger priority in the U.S. in recent years. Governments have pushed for more products to be made at home and for stronger supply chains. Metal 3D printing is becoming part of that effort because it can produce complex parts quickly and closer to where they are needed. There are no guarantees that every investment will succeed. But by supporting a project expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, Massachusetts is showing confidence that industrial 3D printing can play a bigger role in U.S. manufacturing.

    The announcement also comes just months after VulcanForms raised $220 million in private funding to expand its manufacturing platform. In recent weeks, it has strengthened its leadership team by appointing a new Chief Technology Officer as it prepares for its next phase of growth. In recent weeks, it has strengthened its leadership team by naming former Relativity Space executive Michael Kenworthy as its new Chief Technology Officer. Kenworthy has also held leadership roles at GE Aviation, Divergent, and Seurat Technologies, bringing experience in scaling advanced manufacturing technologies for aerospace and industrial production. The Devens project is the company’s biggest step yet. Together, those moves point to a company preparing for its next stage of expansion.

  • The SLS Market: Game of Trucks

    This is truly an exciting moment in the SLS market. With HP‘s release of the 1200 and Formlabs‘ release of the X1, we can see the SLS market heating up. I think that a great analogy to how this market will play out can be found in commercial vehicles. Whereas so far choices have been made mainly on volume, going forward, we will see more differentiation and specialization. Before, SLS machines were kind of sold like we were in an ice cream parlor. So much choice, but it boiled down to small, medium, or large. To me, deskside SLS is now at a point where different machines will serve different markets. We will see true change in operator profile, behavior, and utilization. What, therefore, is the future of the PBF-LB/P market? It’s a Game of Trucks.

    Road Trains (SLS Factories)

    The MGM C509 Quad Road Train is a colossal heavy-haulage combination operated by Australian logistics company MGM Bulk. Image courtesy of MGM Group.

    At the very tip of the market sit the Road Trains, big trucks that would be impractical in European cities and unusable in most other places. But, in the Australian outback, long journeys, straight roads, and isolated communities make huge truck-trailer combinations of up to 50 meters feasible,

    3D printing workflow. Image courtesy of Grenzebach

    Likewise, large, productive polymer manufacturing setups composed of several large multilaser systems are strung together by Grenzebach and others to produce very specific items at very specific quality levels. Rather than a service spitting out all sorts of stuff in PA12, this is a specific manufacturing solution tailored to one product, one industrialization, one industry, one use case. We don’t often see these in the wild, but they make millions of parts. Sometimes in materials that we don’t see anywhere else. Sometimes they’re like a line, and other times it’s more of a round-robin thing with robots connecting batch processes. Highly automated, highly customized, these road trains are going to become more popular, but never popular, costing millions to set up. They require quality, integration, and lots of capital to set up. Let’s call this the SLS Factories segment.

    DyeMansion, EOS & Grenzebach successfully implemented the first-ever automated AM production line for polymer parts at scale at BMW Group. Image courtesy of Grenzebach.

    Big Rig Versus Cab-overs and Rigids (Continuous Production, Full Frame, Large Part)

    The big rig in the US is a heavy semi-truck that looks like it was built in a world where CFD, wind tunnels, and even aerodynamics don’t exist. European variants of the same class come in a cab-over-engine (COE) configuration, reducing overall vehicle length while looking squished. Generally, in the US, trailer length is limited, while in Europe, it’s the length of the truck and trailer that is limited, making US trucks bigger and leading to more compact European models. Trips in the US are longer and mostly on highways, which makes US trucks more comfortable to stay in, while European ones are more maneuverable and comfortable to ride.

    The Peterbilt 579 UltraLoft (UL) is a flagship on-highway Class 8 truck. Image courtesy of Peterbilt.

    European trucks like Scania, DAF, and Volvo are more suave, designed by committee, safer, more reliable, more comfortable, and fuel-efficient. A US Peterbilt or Kenworth is a shiny, chrome-fueled homage to cars of the past. European trucks want to fit in and look appliance-like, eight-tonne dust busters. while the US ones want to wow, dominate, crush, and speed by. Both these variants are purpose-built for their environment and market.

    DAF starts production of XG Electric and XG⁺ Electric. Image courtesy of DAF.

    Japan has smaller trucks that are rigid without a separate trailer, using a cab-over truck layout. They don’t really have sleeper units. Although reliable, they offer significantly fewer features and less comfort and are meant for less extended and intensive use. Typically, they cost less and are meant for regional trips, a much more austere place to be, and are optimized, for example, for unloading car parts via the side.

    Hino Motors truck. Image courtesy of Hino.

    Continuous Production

    Likewise, in this segment, I expect a split. We will see highly productive, continuous production systems similar to the Farsoon HT1001P machine, where the 1000 × 500 × 450 mm build cylinders can be swapped automatically, with a new, preheated cylinder inserted in their place. This is, of course, much more efficient than the one-box approach, in which an expensive machine tool frequently spending its time heating up and cooling down. Add these times to the fact that the thing recoats two-thirds of the time, and we really don’t have a 3D printer market; it’s a recoater that spends a lot of its time preheating and cooling down. We sell recoaters not 3D printers.

    Farsoon, therefore, with its CAMS approach, cools down outside the machine tool and keeps the laser on for much longer. This is clearly more efficient, and to me, twin-scan, continuous-production variants with more optics will become standard for those who want to produce many small parts at the lowest per-part cost. This will be especially useful if the part is your final product and requires few post-processing steps. This approach requires a lot of automation in the machine, however, and will incur high additional costs. And if your complex machine breaks, you may as well go home.

    Big Rig comparison (metric units). Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com/Joris Peels.

    Full Frame

    What if you already have a considerable number of post-processing and conveyancing steps? What if you have to color, coat, or scan a part repeatedly? What if it needs to be inserted in another component, or it is a semi-finished product? Or what if quality and monitoring are of the utmost importance? Then you will look towards the P500 and future full-frame machines like it, which just produce small parts well. Together with Volkmann and other units, robots and the like, a round-robin type of production system will be made with multiple units. Less scaled than the factory and less of a line than the continuous production solution, these systems may very well be expensive and give unparalleled accuracy, surface quality, and repeatability.

    Large Part

    Comparison of leading industrial SLS platforms, showing build volumes, laser configurations, power, system weight, and machine footprint. Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com/Joris Peels.

    As we see in metals, we can also see large parts of systems emerge. The P700, in part, and the HT601P Series are like this. Here, companies want high-temperature performance, some kind of less-than-horrible performance in PEEK and the like, and the ability to make big parts. Here, one large part may be printed, and keeping it from warping or deforming is key. These will be specialized, but in areas like aerospace, large build volumes and the ability to make the largest parts with SLS will matter a lot to those who care about drones, hypersonics, and the like.

    In this way, we can now see parallels between a functional diversification based on utility. In this light, we can see that we are increasingly moving towards a more user-inspired SLS market. Join us next time when we talk about Sprinters and Kangoos!