My Printer

  • APES Partners with Great Lakes Semiconductor to Scale Advanced, Additive Chip Packaging

    Terminologically, additively manufactured electronics (AME) occupies similar space in the realm of tiny components that additive construction (AC) occupies when it comes to large components: it’s a single phrase that in fact refers to a kaleidoscope of applications that continues to constantly diversify. The same way that AC covers a range of use-cases, from Wal-Mart warehouses and subsurface structures to self-sufficient farmhouses, AME subsumes everything from RF antennas to rapidly iterated PCB prototypes.

    While it might not get the same level of attention as use-cases like next-gen wearables, advanced chip packaging may ultimately prove to represent the most singular growth opportunity for the AME market segment. In that sense, Advanced Printed Electronics Solutions (APES) of New York is the future of electronics 3D printing. That future just got pulled a little closer to the present with APES’ announcement that the company has partnered with Great Lakes Semiconductor (GLS) to incorporate the APES Matrix6D platform into the GLS Fab-as-a-Service (FaaS) model.

    APES unveiled its Matrix6D platform at last year’s RAPID + TCT show, and 3DPrint.com’s Joris Peels described it like this:

    “The Matrix6D is a modular 3D printing solution featuring movable maglev conveyor platforms that travel beneath various print heads. These build platforms are propelled from one tool head to another via magnetic levitation. At each station, different steps can be performed. For example, a polymer housing might be deposited by one tool head, after which the build is transferred to a circuit 3D printing head, then milled by another head, and finally returned to the polymer deposition station to complete the housing.”

    The Matrix6D platform

    The idea is to maximize both the design capabilities and the production flexibility of electronics manufacturing by making the capital equipment involved as modular as possible. This aligns perfectly with the GLS Pocket Fab strategy that underlies the FaaS business model. As the company explains on its website, “GLS operates a model where it provides wafer production capacity and backend services on an on-demand subscription basis to startups, OEMs, and governments… [which] reduces customer capital expenditure risk, encourages ecosystem innovation, and ensures consistent revenue for GLS, thereby mitigating industry cyclicality.”

    Beyond the electronics industry proper, there’s obviously significant potential for FaaS and Matrix6D in defense, but GLS initially seems to be most focused on the automotive sector, including a wide variety of sensors and wireless communication devices. Automotive is a particularly attractive target vertical for the flexibility enabled by AME, given how sensitive to consumer demand changes the sector is and how disproportionately impactful semiconductor shortages have proven to be for automakers.

    According to the two companies, they’ll start working together immediately at APES’ lab in Fishkill, New York, where GLS also has its headquarters. By Q3, the partners will move the operations to GLS facilities, with the objective ultimately being “to co-locate” the services provided by the two brands.

    Advanced chip packaging has so much potential as a 3D printed electronics growth opportunity primarily because chiplets — semiconductor devices made out of a system of small chips (System in a Package, or SiP) as opposed to System on a Chip, where all the functions are integrated into one die (SoC) — have been revolutionized by the ability to move chip design from 2D to 2.5D and 3D. Previously, you could only stack chips side by side; in the chiplet era, you can stack them vertically.

    While it may not sound like it, that change has been enough to completely transform how semiconductor devices are designed, and the semiconductor industry is still only just getting started in terms of testing out the concept. To illustrate just how seismic that change has been, chiplets are credited with being largely responsible for China’s ability to catch up to the West in semiconductor manufacturing.

    Thus, while GLS and APES may begin by attending to the automotive sector, there is virtually limitless opportunity for the two companies to expand into all other areas of the semiconductor industry. Combining design freedom with production flexibility is precisely the formula that any national semiconductor ecosystem needs at this point in order to maintain relevance globally. If GLS and APES can even modestly follow through on that promise, it would be about as big a win for AME as one could hope for.

    Images courtesy of APES

  • Bambu Lab Says 2025 Was a Breakout Year: 10 Million Monthly Users and Real Business Growth

    Chinese 3D printer maker Bambu Lab reported strong results for 2025, showing that the company’s push into community and small-business 3D printing is working. The numbers suggest consumer 3D printing is moving beyond hobbyists and becoming a real side business for many people.

    Joel Telling joins Bambu Lab CEO Dr. Tao for a demonstration at Formnext. Image courtesy of Bambu Lab via LinkedIn.

    Bambu Lab revealed that its MakerWorld platform (a place where people share 3D models and printing ideas) now has about 10 million monthly active users. That’s a huge number in just two years since the platform launched.

    Some highlights from the 2025 MakerWorld data include 10 million monthly active users and 2.6 million original models uploaded to the platform. More than 7,000 new models are added every day, created by around 280,000 designers, each publishing an average of five or more models. In particular, about 4,000 models have been downloaded and printed more than 1,000 times, showing strong engagement and repeat use across the community.

    This level of engagement shows that people aren’t just browsing; they are actively designing, printing, and reprinting.

    Additional data also point to how fast Bambu Lab printers are spreading: download figures for its BambuHandy control app suggest app activity roughly tripled from 2024 to 2025, with close to two million app downloads in 2025. This is a possible sign of a sharp increase in machine use.

    Beyond Hobby Use

    MakerWorld data shows that users are spending some serious time printing. More than 30,000 users print an average of seven or more hours per day, which is the equivalent of a full working day. On a weekly basis, more than 130,000 users print for six or more hours per week. In total, users logged over 290 million print hours in 2025. The platform also reports an 83% user retention rate after one year, which is very high for an online community.

    Interestingly, people aren’t just trying 3D printing once and stopping. They’re coming back and using their machines regularly.

    Bambu Lab’s MakerWorld. Image courtesy of Bambu Lab.

    Bambu Lab’s data also reveals that real work and small business activity are happening on MakerWorld. Many heavy users spend more than seven hours per day printing, which the company says is like “full-time employment” in some cases.

    Popular printed items range from household items and tools to decorative pieces and cosplay props. In fact, the top popular categories of models show what people are actually making household items like holders, organizers, and décor; fun DIY and hobby prints and tools, and custom parts, as well as customized merchandise and cosplay accessories

    For a growing group of users, 3D printing is becoming a way to make money by selling products, custom parts, or designs.

    Expanding Its Audience

    Interest in Bambu Lab grew a lot in China in 2025. Search query data shows that interest in the company name grew more than 300% year-over-year, while general interest in 3D printing also went up by a lot, so that’s a sign the market is expanding quickly.

    Analysts also point to strong sales growth for Bambu Lab’s machines, with some estimates showing that printer unit sales tripled from 2024 to 2025. Partnerships with large tech platforms and participation in major events may be part of the reason the brand is attracting more mainstream attention.

    To reach more people, Bambu Lab announced a strategic partnership with Chinese tech giant ByteDance. During China’s Spring Festival Gala (the country’s massive Lunar New Year television event watched by hundreds of millions), Bambu Lab will distribute more than 6,600 3D printers through ByteDance’s Doubao platform. By connecting its brand to one of the most widely viewed events of the year, the company is bringing 3D printing into the national spotlight.

    China’s Spring Festival Gala. Image courtesy of China Daily.

    Bambu Lab may have started out as a hardware company, but its 2025 results show it has grown into something bigger; it’s now a full digital community and business platform built around 3D printing. Instead of simply selling printers, it now supports a broad creative and commercial network, which is truly wonderful.

    In fact, this matters because it suggests the future of consumer 3D printing is not just about better printers, but about stronger digital platforms and communities.

    Bambu Lab’s ecosystem goes beyond file sharing. MakerWorld now includes crowdfunding tools that let designers fund bigger projects and make money from their designs. The company has also launched products like CyberBrick — 3D printable toys with reusable electronics — looking to open up new creative uses and reach more users.

    Bambu Lab’s CyberBrick. Image courtesy of Bambu Lab.

    The success of MakerWorld and the clear movement toward regular use and business activity suggest that consumer 3D printing has matured. It’s no longer just about “tinkering on weekends or after work.” For many people, it has become a tool for creation, work, income, and, quite importantly, community. And Bambu Lab’s 2025 results show a company shifting 3D printing from a niche hobby to an accessible manufacturing tool for millions.

  • 3DPOD 294: Digital Casting and More with Ben Wynne, Intrepid Automation

    Ben Wynne is focused on bringing digital automation into traditional casting and heavy manufacturing through his work at Intrepid Automation. He explains how the company connects design, tooling, robotics, and production data into integrated workflows that improve quality, repeatability, and traceability. By layering software and automation onto established foundry processes, Intrepid aims to help manufacturers modernize, address labor constraints, and respond to reshoring and defense-driven demand without abandoning their core industrial capabilities.

    This episode of the 3DPOD is brought to you by Siemens. With AI-enabled technologies, deep-domain expertise, and trusted partnerships, Siemens is converting today’s technological leaps into measurable benefits for customers, partners, and society. AI is no longer a feature; it’s a force that will reshape the next century.

     

  • 3D Printing Financials: Materialise Reports Strong Finish to 2025, Led by Medical Growth

    Materialise (Nasdaq: MTLS) closed out 2025 with a solid fourth quarter, showing stronger profitability, steady revenue growth, and continued momentum in its medical business. While some parts of the company are still facing market pressure, the overall message from leadership was clear: the company is financially strong and focused, and is positioning itself for long-term growth.

    Brigitte de Vet-Veithen from Materialise speaks at AMS 2025. Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com

    For the fourth quarter of 2025, revenue rose 6.8% year-over-year to €70.2 million ($82.9 million). Adjusted EBIT reached €4 million ($4.7 million), compared to a loss of €1.2 million ($1.4 million) in the same period last year. Net profit more than doubled to €6.2 million ($7.3 million).

    CEO Brigitte de Vet-Veithen told investors during an earnings call: “In the final quarter of 2025, we reached a major milestone with our successful Euronext listing and the announcement of a strategic share buyback program. These steps clearly demonstrate our commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value.”

    Medical Continues to Lead

    Materialise’s Medical segment once again led the company’s growth.

    Fourth-quarter medical revenue increased 16.3% to €37 million ($43.7 million), marking another quarterly record. For the full year, medical revenue grew 15.4% to €134.2 million ($158.4 million). The segment now represents roughly half of the company’s total revenue.

    During the call, de Vet-Veithen highlighted a major milestone: “In the fourth quarter, we surpassed the historical milestone of 700,000 patients treated with Materialise personalized solutions. More than 17,000 patients have been treated in 2025 alone.”

    This result reflects years of work in personalized medical devices and surgical planning software.

    Materialise Mimics software for medical. Image courtesy of Materialise.

    Materialise also released a new version of Mimics Flow, part of its Mimics platform. The update introduces additional AI algorithms, a new licensing system, and subscription pricing options. According to the CEO, the goal is clear: make it easier for customers to scale personalized healthcare solutions and align pricing with long-term usage.

    The Medical segment’s adjusted EBITDA margin reached 35% in Q4, a strong result that shows both growth and better efficiency.

    Software Stabilizes and Shifts to Subscription

    Materialise’s Software segment remained steady in the fourth quarter. Revenue declined slightly year-over-year to €11 million ($13 million), but profitability improved strongly.

    Adjusted EBITDA rose to €1.7 million ($2 million), with margins improving to 15.5%.

    And the company continues transitioning its software business to a cloud-based subscription model. Recurring revenue now represents about 82% of total software revenue, up from 74% the previous year.

    De Vet-Veithen highlighted that 2026 will complete that transition: “Our Materialise Software segment will complete the transition towards a cloud-based subscription business model in 2026 and will continue its investments in a broader AM software ecosystem.”

    One important piece of data from late 2025 was the introduction of CO-AM Brix, a low-code automation tool designed to simplify complex additive manufacturing workflows.

    “We’ve seen the impact of CO-AM Brix firsthand in our own production of fixed insoles, our custom 3D printed robotics. In producing these insoles, CO-AM Brix enabled us to automate almost the entire process from order to print. Nesting time dropped from 45 minutes to just 1 minute. Bill processing became 20x faster. Total build time fell by 15% and error rates fell from 10% to under 0.1%,” said the CEO.

    Materialise U.S. medical 3D printing facility. Image courtesy of Materialise.

    Manufacturing Still Facing Headwinds

    The biggest challenge remains the Manufacturing segment. Fourth-quarter manufacturing revenue declined 2.4% to €22.2 million ($26.2 million). For the full year, revenue dropped 13.2% to €92.5 million ($109.2 million), with the segment posting a negative adjusted EBITDA margin. This drop reflects lower prototyping activity and softer industrial conditions in Europe.

    On the call, when asked directly whether Manufacturing would likely decline again in 2026, de Vet-Veithen noted: “Yes, that’s a correct assumption. So we assume that the current trends that we see driven by the weaker industrial climate, in particular in Europe, will continue to weigh on the manufacturing results, in particular on the prototyping segment.”

    At the same time, she pointed to progress in aerospace and defense, including new contracts with Airbus Defense and Space and participation in the SONRISA aviation initiative.

    These projects will take time to add to revenue, but they show a shift toward higher-value production work instead of basic prototyping.

    Margins Improve Despite Flat Revenue

    For the full year 2025, total revenue was essentially flat at €267.6 million ($315.9 million) compared to €266.8 million ($315 million) in 2024. However, margins improved: gross margin increased to 57.1%, adjusted EBITDA rose to €32.4 million ($38.3 million), and adjusted EBIT increased to €10.6 million ($12.5 million).

    CFO Koen Berges said the company was able to turn steady revenue into stronger operating results: “These results demonstrate our ability to strengthen profitability even in a challenging macroeconomic environment.”

    Net profit for the year came in at €7.7 million ($9 million), lower than 2024 due in part to unfavorable currency exchange effects.

    Mimics Core. Image courtesy of Materialise.

    Materialise ended the year with €134 million ($158.2 million) in cash and cash equivalents. Net cash improved to roughly €70.8 million ($83.6 million) compared to the end of 2024. Free cash flow for 2025 totaled €15.6 million ($18.4 million).

    The company also announced plans to spend up to €30 million ($35.4 million) buying back its own shares after adding a second stock listing in Brussels.

    Overall, De Vet-Veithen said the company is in a solid financial position: “With €134 million of cash and cash equivalents on our balance sheet, an improved net cash position and consistently positive operating and free cash flow, we are financially strong and well positioned to further drive innovation and capture emerging market opportunities.”

    2026 Outlook

    Looking ahead, Materialise expects total 2026 revenue to be between €273 million ($322.3 million) and €283 million ($334.1 million). Adjusted EBIT is expected to reach between €10 million ($11.8 million) and €12 million. What’s more, the company expects continued double-digit growth in Medical, completion of the Software subscription transition, and continued pressure in Manufacturing due to macroeconomic conditions.

    Still, leadership remains confident in its strategy.

    As de Vet-Veithen closed the call, she added a personal note relevant to the additive manufacturing community.

    “We look forward to continuing our dialogue with you through investor conferences, one-on-one meetings, or calls. And I’m also looking forward to meeting some of you in person at the upcoming AMS conference.”

    With Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) 2026 happening this week in New York, Materialise arrives with improving profits, strong medical growth, and a focused strategy, despite ongoing weakness in the industrial market.

  • The 3D Printing Pioneers’ Journey from HZG Group: From Bavaria to the World

    In Lichtenfels, two hours’ drive north of Munich, there is a globally recognized 3D printing center with a modern infrastructure and many companies focusing on this future technology. At the end of the 1980s, the region was one of the first in Europe where 3D printing became established.

    This is due in no small part to the founders of Concept Laser, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog, who are also the founders of the HZG Group. Through their joint efforts, they founded the technology company Concept Laser and built it into one of the global market leaders in the field of metal 3D printing.

    After selling their company, Kerstin and Frank Carsten Herzog returned to their entrepreneurial roots. Together with the HZG Group team, they are investing specifically in promising start-ups in the field of additive manufacturing.

    In Lichtenfels, they also operate their own development and application center, “naddcon,” where they work with the most exciting technologies that 3D printing currently has to offer.

    “The portfolio of our first start-up fund is complete,” says Frank Carsten Herzog. “Since our launch 2022, we have screened over 2,700 start-ups and invested in promising business ideas. We have also participated in the first follow-up rounds of our start-ups.”

    Frank Carsten Herzog, Founder and Managing Director of the HZG Group. Copyright: Sebastian Buff

    In the US, Rapid Liquid Print, a spin-off of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Axtra3D from industry veteran Gianni Zitelli are part of the HZG Group’s portfolio. For the HZG Group, the decisive factor in selecting the startups was that they must have the potential to bring about lasting change in the industry. Above all, however, the technology must inspire and stimulate the imagination: How can this innovation be introduced in a beneficial and profitable way in an established environment and further developed in a forward-looking manner?

    Implementing efficiency gains

    HZG is focusing on the key drivers that will bring 3D printing technology into industrial production: lightweight construction, functional integration, and simplification by combining many individual parts into a single component. The automated design and manufacture of fixtures, as well as the use of digital intelligence such as component and construction process simulation, bring about lasting change to the production process. This also includes process monitoring, and building on this, artificial intelligence for additive manufacturing in the future. This will not only take the controllability of the technology to the next level, but also further improve the robustness and reliability of the technology and thus of the manufacturing process.

    The naddcon team supports customers along the entire additive manufacturing value chain. Copyright: Fotostudio BeWe – Stefanie Brehm

    Herzog: “We are still at the beginning of the possibilities of 3D printing for the industry. There is still room for leaps forward in all areas.” On the other hand, it is also clear that after years of hype, the market for additive manufacturing now seems to have cooled down significantly and become more realistic. How does HZG assess the situation? Despite all due sobriety, Frank Herzog is convinced of the opportunities in the market: “In the long term, we believe that a consolidated, specialized AM market will establish itself and play an important role in the industrial environment. The startups in our portfolio are ideally positioned to play a leading role in this development.”

    More than ever, it is important to focus on the market and customer needs. Frank Carsten Herzog: ”We tell all our portfolio companies: Accept that you are developing a product for a real market need – not just for your founding idea. That means being close to the customer, listening, and really understanding the daily challenges in production.“

    The naddcon manufacturing facility. Copyright: naddcon

    This is an approach that the HZG Group also pursues with its own development and application center. naddcon Managing Director Christian Steinhage says: ”We look at 3D printing along the entire process chain and have an overview of the potential we can leverage with the technology in various industries. In most cases, customers are not experts in 3D printing, but approach us because they are curious to find out whether the technology can help them become more efficient. We will find out together with our customers.”

    HZG Group is a Bronze Sponsor of Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) 2026, a three-day industry event taking place February 24–26 in New York City. The conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the global AM ecosystem. As a sponsor, Arcway will support discussions focused on scaling additive manufacturing, industrial adoption, and emerging production technologies. Registration is open via the AMS website.

  • Automation Alley To Compete With Service Bureaus

    Automation Alley is a Michigan-based innovation cluster trying to foster collaborative learning and development around technology and manufacturing. Project DIAMOnD (Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing on Demand) is an Automation Alley initiative in on-demand production. Connecting 3D printers and businesses, the project has gotten $22 million from Oakland County and Macomb County. The project has purchased 550 3D printers to date. The project said they cost $20,000 each. The printers seem to be Markforged, but many images show colored objects that can´t be made by these printers, so maybe it’s a bunch of different ones?

    I’m a bit confused by this, actually, since for $1 million, you could have funded a filament production line making low-cost materials in Michigan. That could have made parts low-cost and made spools of filament available for less than a $4. Meanwhile, for the rest of the money, they could have set up a production line producing 3D Printers in Michigan. Or they could have bought 13,000 Prusa Core One printers for the remainder of the money?

    The project wants to expand access to additive manufacturing across the region is now opening up more broadly its DTC digital 3D printing service. Now, commercial customers can order parts for metal and polymer 3D printing from the service.

    Automation Alley COO Pavan Muzumdar said,

    “The Digital Transformation Center was built to help companies move from experimentation with additive manufacturing to real production. By opening the DTC to businesses beyond our membership network, we’re removing another barrier to adoption of this powerful technology and giving more companies a low-risk path to validate products, scale production and compete using additive manufacturing. Not every company needs to own a fleet of industrial 3D printers to benefit from additive manufacturing. The DTC allows businesses to access production-grade capabilities on demand, while maintaining control over their designs and process knowledge.”

    As well as the initial 3D printers, the network now offers access to large format Material Extrusion, powder bed fusion, and DED. The company may have a SAF machine. The DTC also has post-processing equipment. The unit can prototype and manufacture while offering instant quoting. The prices are meant to be competitive.

    I´m thoroughly bewildered by this. A nonprofit receives government funding to set up distributed manufacturing. Now, from a central location, they´re operating like a service bureau. What does this mean to local businesses offering 3D printing as a service in the area? Will increased competition mean that local and regional 3D printing businesses will actually make less money? Or will this somehow make parts cheaper and expand the number of parts being made? How will this drive growth in the region?

    I´m going to believe here that Automation Alley has the best intentions, but this just seems like it’s very unfair. If I were a 3D printing service in Michigan and on the hook for leases or loans for my equipment, I wouldn’t be jumping for joy at this advance in manufacturing. There are plenty of service bureaus out there, and some of them aren´t doing too well. I think there could be another solution set that makes sense. If they worked on training, design training, or making some part of the process fundamentally cheaper, it would have a much greater impact. $22 million is an awful lot of money, and this could have fundamentally altered the economics of Material Extrusion for the region. Orders could have been pooled to give local manufacturers huge deals on manufacturing runs, for example. I’d be very curious to see how many parts will be made for $22 million in the end. I’m skeptical that the approach chosen will find diamonds in the rough or put diamonds on the fingers of Michigan manufacturers.

  • Additive Manufacturing’s Next Chapter: From Prototype Tool to Operating Model

    Additive manufacturing is shedding its legacy reputation. While it remains the go-to for prototyping, its potential now extends beyond. Today, it’s increasingly used to support real production requirements, helping teams move faster from concept to part while improving flexibility when timelines and supply chains tighten.

    This evolution signifies more than incremental gains in printer speed or material options. It also reflects a shift in how leaders view additive: less like a specialty process and more like infrastructure. Leaders – under pressure to deliver quickly – can shorten decision cycles from design through procurement to production, often without the friction of tooling.

    From prototypes to production

    One of additive’s greatest advantages is the continuity, resilience, and scalability it provides to the workflow. Without changing the underlying digital file, teams can validate a geometry, adjust performance characteristics, and scale production runs. Increasingly, what begins as a quick prototype can evolve into repeat orders of the same part. The same CAD file can be used, eliminating the need for retooling – critical when the repeat orders reach hundreds at a time. With the same base 3D printer and the same file, the same part can be made with consistency anywhere in the world at the press of a button.

    That continuity and scalability matters because it minimizes the challenges of transition that can slow organizations down. When a design leaves engineering and enters a very different world of quoting, tooling, supplier selection, and long lead times, these processes can introduce delays. Additive streamlines those steps by making iteration a regular part of the operating rhythm rather than an exception, providing a longer, more flexible bridge to production volumes, and often now serving as a viable production solution that can be rapidly localized to demand.

    What’s fueling additive’s shift from niche to necessary

    The momentum behind additive is not coming from a single breakthrough. It is the convergence of several advancements that collectively make additive manufacturing more accessible and more dependable, including:

    • Advanced materials: Heat-resistant polymers, composite resins, and other high-performance options are expanding the applications of additive manufacturing.
    • Advanced software: Better process control and additive-specific workflow tools are helping teams sustain consistent outcomes.
    • Lower entry costs: Functional parts are becoming more economical.
    • Faster lead times: Waiting for tooling or machining capacity is no longer a barrier. Teams can move from design to part in days, not weeks.
    • Smarter sourcing decisions: Engineering and procurement teams are improving by experimenting with new materials and specifying additive requirements.
    • Consistent quality of parts: Part consistency has increased alongside a broader understanding of how to spec for repeatable production.

    The practical result is that additive is becoming a lever not just for innovation, but for responsiveness, a way to keep programs moving when conventional manufacturing constraints create drag.

    Additive’s growth in aerospace and defense

    Aerospace and defense (A&D) is one of the clearest examples of why additive is moving into a more central role for manufacturing. In fact, additive is expected to be the fastest-growing manufacturing process in 2026, as A&D programs expand their use of qualified additive suppliers for rapid prototyping, lightweighting, sustainment applications, and access to advanced materials. These programs live at the intersection of speed, quality, and extreme performance requirements, where a delayed component can stall an entire schedule and a marginal part cannot be tolerated.

    Additive is already producing parts that operate in demanding environments, ranging from payload components and test fixtures to propulsion-related designs that face intense thermal and mechanical loads. Engineers are also using additive to consolidate assemblies into fewer parts, reducing joints and fasteners, often improving durability while simplifying logistics and inventory.

    A&D also highlights another additive advantage: digital control and flexible production. In sensitive, regulated environments, additive can support centralized control of design files while enabling distributed production across vetted suppliers, reducing dependency on physical tooling and improving response time when priorities shift.

    Just as important, A&D’s focus on traceability, certification, and quality assurance is advancing additive maturity, helping move it from possible to repeatable at scale.

    Beyond A&D: additive as a resilience play across industries

    While A&D offers a clear view of what additive can deliver, many other industries are putting it to work in practical operations. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting additive to move faster and solve technical and supply chain challenges that legacy processes struggle to address.

    In production line assembly equipment across industries, this can look like printing line changeover components on demand to reduce costly downtime – or even more specifically in energy and industrial equipment, additive can be used to produce corrosion-resistant parts designed to withstand extreme operating conditions. Even within aerospace, the technology continues to redefine the “possible,” delivering complex geometries, unprecedented lightweighting, and structural stability that traditional subtractive methods simply cannot replicate.

    Across these examples, the shared thread is not a novelty. It is agility and innovation under pressure.

    How to scale additive to its full potential

    To successfully scale additive manufacturing, manufacturers must move beyond merely acquiring machines to developing a robust system for consistent production. This is where digital infrastructure shines, leveraging the vast, on-demand capacity of an online marketplace to assess manufacturability, match jobs to specialized suppliers, and streamline procurement while preserving quality and traceability.

    When manufacturers treat additive as part of the operating model, it stops being experimental. It becomes a strategic capability that helps organizations move faster, localize smarter, and adapt as requirements change. The winners will be the teams that operationalize additive as a repeatable pathway from design to production, not a one-off solution.

    Authored by Mike Cavalieri, Senior Vice President of Marketplace Operations

    Xometry is a Bronze Sponsor of Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) 2026, a three-day industry event taking place February 24–26 in New York City. The conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the global AM ecosystem. As a sponsor, Xometry will support discussions focused on scaling additive manufacturing, industrial adoption, and emerging production technologies. Registration is open via the AMS website.

  • AMS 2026: The Gift of a Good Strategy

    First things first, folks: if you’re planning on attending AMS 2026, February 24-26 in NYC, and you haven’t registered yet, you can do so here. We’ll consult some ghosts of AMS’s past to get some perspective on what you can expect from the conference!

    Why Strategy?

    Before that, though, why do strategies matter for the additive manufacturing (AM) industry, in the first place? 3DPrint.com‘s Executive Editor Joris Peels wrote an excellent piece on this late last year.

    At the end of the article, Joris sums up, “Some 3D printing businesses are failing now because of bad luck. They need money where there isn’t any to be had. Others have just not executed well enough on their promises. Others have performance, but not enough is expected to follow to get people to part with more money. But, there are also a lot of businesses in additive that never had a strategy. Do you?”

    That simple, concluding question epitomizes how AM companies, even those who think their business strategy is already fine, can benefit from attending AMS.

    Financial Strategies

    Participation in AMS by investors from firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and Stifel set the tone for the event and distinguish it as the only conference where the business of AM is always front and center. This makes it a perfect place to gain the perspective necessary to help formulate your enterprise’s financial strategy. 3DPrint’s Vanesa Listek does a great job covering such topics, including in this article about AMS 2024.

    AMS 2024 “Investment Strategies” panel with moderator Tyler Benster and panelists John Hartner, Osman H. Ahmed, and Hugo da Silva. Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com.

    In that write-up on 2024’s Venture Capital session, Vanesa noted, “The panelists also discussed the challenges and opportunities of the market’s fragmentation. With many players and technologies competing for attention, uniqueness and customer focus have become even more relevant. …[According to the panelists,] partnerships and consolidations [have the potential] to address customer problems more effectively and stand out in a crowded market. Looking ahead, the speakers gave a decisive nod to the roles of software and artificial intelligence in unlocking new capabilities and improving design and manufacturing processes.”

    Clearly, all those angles continue to be just as relevant as ever, highlighting how AMS enables attendees to stay ahead of the curve. As was already mentioned, finance runs deeply throughout all the sessions at the show, but it is most prominently featured on the afternoon of AMS 2026 Day 1 (February 24), in the Public Markets and Printing Money sessions, as well as in the evening session about AM Investment Strategies on Day 2 (February 25).

    Business Development Strategies

    This is probably my favorite angle to the whole conference. It’s what fascinates me about watching the industry evolve, day by day. There’s really so much good stuff to go home with, throughout virtually every moment of the conference, when it comes to business development, as I described in this article about AMS 2024.

    But for anyone who is most interested in business development, I think you’ll want to check out the following:

    • Session 1: AM at Scale (9:40-11:25 AM Eastern), on Day 2 (February 25)
    • Session 3: Aerospace and Defense (2:55-4:30 PM), also on Day 2
    • The CEO Roundtable, 2:00-2:45 PM, on Day 3 (February 26).

    Again, I think that perspective on business development is one of the show’s real highlights, as Joris Peels covered in this article on AMS 2025.

    Aaron Pearson also wrote a great article covering similar themes about last year’s show.

    Technological Strategies

    Finally, AM is, of course, a constantly transforming technological field at the same time that it is an industry. Thus, just because AMS is heavy on business, that doesn’t mean it’s light on discussions of tech. Helping the industry navigate the intersection between both sides of the equation is one of the things the show does best.

    With that in mind, attendees who are most specifically interested in technical questions won’t want to miss programming like Session 2: Automation and Software (1:40-2:50 PM) on Day 1; the panel “Really Big Parts for Energy” on Day 2 (10:35 AM); and the talk immediately following (11:15 AM) by Joseph Crabtree of AMT, “The Commoditization of Hardware and the Rise of AI in AM.” I’ll also be moderating a panel on “Additively Manufactured Electronics at Scale” on Day 3 at 11:25 AM. Right before that, at 11:10 AM, we are honored to have Scott Miller, Director of Technology at NextFlex, present on “Additively Manufactured Electronics Technology, Opportunity, and Industrial Base.”

    AMS 2025 “Enablers to Scale Healthcare in AM” panel with moderator Naomi Nathan and panelists Amy Alexander, Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, and Jenny Chen. Image courtesy of 3DPrint.com.

    The most intriguing content from a technological perspective, though, may be Session 2: Healthcare (1:00-2:05 PM) on Day 2. Scott Dunham of Additive Manufacturing Research will share his forecast for the dental market segment, after which there will be panels on dental and oncology.

    3DPrint.com’s Sarah Saunders did a masterful job detailing the relationship between deep tech and building a business case in her coverage of last year’s healthcare session.

    Everyone Gets a Strategy

    No matter what part of the AM industry you’re in, you need a strategy, and there’s a good chance AMS 2026 can put you on the path to developing the right one for you, or simply refining the one you already have. Don’t forget to register here before midnight EST tonight!

    This piece was originally seen in AMS: The Preprint. 

  • Printing Money Episode 36: Recent 3DP/AM Deals and More with John Barnes (TBGA & MPW)

    Welcome to Printing Money Episode 36!  For this episode Danny is joined by a new guest, John Barnes (Founder and President, The Barnes Global Advisors, Founder and CEO, Metal Powder Works (MPW.ASX). From career foundations in industrial development John has built both an AM consultancy and a metal AM powders company. We are thankful to have his perspective here.

    This episode starts with a look at John’s background and what’s brought him to this point. Then, Danny and John review the MILAM 2026 event which occurred earlier this month in Tampa Bay.

    From Tampa the conversation heads to Australia as a nexus for the global metal AM powder market.  John and Danny dive into dynamics driving that.

    After the low-down down under, the conversation turns to Printing Money’s why and wherefore — 3DP/AM deal analysis around the globe from VulcanForms and Hadrian in the USA, to SWISSTO12 and Additive Drives in Europe, to Snapmaker in China, and more.

    The best quote of the episode is actually a paraphrase from Seinfeld, as John drops “The whale is the largest mammal in the world, but it doesn’t have to be!” seamlessly amidst incisive deal analysis.

    Danny and John will continue the discussion in person at AMS 2026 this week in New York City.  Meanwhile, please enjoy Episode 36 and check out our previous episodes too.

    This episode was recorded February 17, 2026.

    Timestamps:

    00:12 – Welcome to Episode 36 and welcome to John Barnes (TBGA & MPW)

    01:14 – John Barnes’ career, in his own words: Sandia, Lockheed/Skunkworks, CSIRO, RTI

    06:25 – TBGA founded in 2017, MPW founded shortly thereafter

    07:44 – Can 3DP/AM materials companies be parts producers?

    09:45 – MILAM 2026 review: A displacement between capabilities and use?

    13:35 – Dissociating sustainment from new builds

    15:00 – An impressive sense of urgency (at MILAM 2026)

    17:12 – DoW inefficiencies stymie return on investment

    21:21 – The global metal AM powder market

    24:59 – The ASX (Australian stock market) applicability for metal AM powder companies (MPW, 6KA, 3DA, TTT, etc)

    25:22 – Scaling, and the value proposition for metal AM powders

    30:00 – 6K Additive IPOs in Australia

    30:33 – Metal Powder Works’ path to public markets in Australia

    35:55 – List in Australia, scale operations in the United States

    37:10 – MPW.ASX raises AUD 15M in follow-on offering

    38:21 – Hadrian receives investment for advanced manufacturing facility

    38:39 – VulcanForms raises $220M from Eclipse, 1789 Capital and more

    43:08 – Machina Labs raises $124M from Lockheed Martin, NVIDIA, and more

    45:44 – Additive Drives $20M+ round

    48:09 – Uptool raises $6M from Khosla, Bessemer, Kleiner Perkins, et al.

    50:47 – Kickstart this: Snapmaker raises a more classical Series B

    52:38 – SWISSTO12 raises EUR 73M (not all equity)

    54:48 – Perseus Materials receives strategic investment from Lockheed Martin

    57:53 – Vulcan and Burgmaster merge to form MASTREX for very low cost metal LPBF

    1:03:27 – Thingiverse to be acquired by MyMiniFactory

    1:03:53 – Reasons for optimism for the metal AM market

    1:04:52 – Thanks again to John, thanks for listening, and see you at AMS this week!

    1:05:19 – Disclaimer

    Disclaimer:

    This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing stated on this podcast constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by the hosts, the organizer or any third-party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.  The information on this podcast is of a general nature that does not address the circumstances and risk profile of any individual or entity and should not constitute professional and/or financial advice. Referenced transactions are sourced from publicly available information.

    Danny Piper is a registered representative of Finalis Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This material has been prepared for information and educational purposes only, and it is not intended to provide, nor should it be relied on for tax, legal, or investment advice. Investors should consult with their own tax, legal, and financial professionals before investing. Real estate investments are generally highly risky. They can be volatile, unpredictable, illiquid, and are subject to ebbs and flows and market shifts. Investors also risk the loss of all principal investments.

  • From Print Farm to Toy of the Year: ZB Designs’ Plastic Empire Takes 3D Printed Fidgets Mainstream

    Zack and Berkley Bailey, Co-Owners of ZB Designs, started their business with one 3D printer as a side hustle while still in college. On February 13, 2026, in New York City, their 3D printed Wigglitz was named Collectible Toy of the Year at The Toy Foundation’s 26th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. The Baileys were up against global giants like Pokémon, Disney, LEGO, and Hot Wheels.

    The Baileys created Wigglitz: tiny articulated, collectible toys with hundreds of designs. Their print farm of over 3,000 Bambu Lab X1C printers in Utah not only cranks out thousands of prints a day, but also keeps the company nimble. By designing and producing toys in house, ZB Designs can offer fresh, unique designs for their fans to collect much faster and without the cost of traditional manufacturing.

    3D printing farm at Wigglitz. Image courtesy of Wigglitz via Instagram.

    If you have kids and a 3D printer, you know that tiny flexi prints are all the rage in 2026. While articulated creatures have been around for years, starting with 2017’s Dr. Lex Flexi Rex and McGybeer’s 2019 Cute Octopus, they didn’t really take off until Bambu Lab made multicolor printing easy. The X1 Carbon made starting a 3D printing business profitable, allowing makers to crank out plates full of colorful fidgets to sell at festivals, markets, and on Etsy.

    But no one has done it better than ZB Designs. Once they found their niche, the business exploded. In just three short years, the Baileys now claim to operate the largest 3D print farm in the United States. Every product is designed, manufactured, and shipped directly from their Utah facility.

    X1C printers are known for creating massive amounts of filament waste, of which the Wigglitz team is acutely aware. Lead Design Engineer Preston Howe said on a social media post that a filament recycling machine is in development at the company. 

    Like many other 3D entrepreneurs, they started off as supporters of designers like Zou3D, but eventually they began designing their own creatures. This allows them to stay ahead of the curve, with unique models and themes no one else can offer. The entirety of the Wigglitz catalog is now ZB Designs, and each creature is branded with a tiny “W.”

    Wigglitz are sold online at ZB Designs’ own website, and by the bin at specialty toy stores where kids can select their own mix. They have also successfully entered mass retail through a distribution partnership with Moose Toys, landing mystery packs on the shelves of giants like Target.

    Wigglitz toys come in a wide range of collectible themes, including Ocean, Puppies, Originals, Fantasy, and the newest addition, Foodz, with fresh in-house designs continuously in development. Today, Wigglitz is setting new standards for innovation and creativity in the toy industry, and fast becoming a beloved collectible brand with a loyal and growing fanbase.