Aerospace 3D Printing
New Study Shows Electronics Could Be Manufactured Directly in Space
A team of researchers from Auburn University and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has successfully demonstrated a new additive manufacturing (AM) process that could allow astronauts to manufacture electronic components…
Fathom CEO Rush LaSelle on Why Additive Manufacturing Is Growing Up
For years, the additive manufacturing (AM) industry promised to reinvent production. But as the technology matured, the real challenge turned out to be proving that 3D printed parts could be…
Rheinmetall Uses Ducting Made with Minifactory for Challenger 3 Tanks
Rheinmetall UK is using Minifactory Material Extusion as the primary production method for tank ducting on the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank program. The Challenger 3 is the UK’s formidable…
3D Printing in Drones Could Reach $900 Million by 2034, AM Research Report Says
For years, additive manufacturing has searched for applications where its advantages clearly outweigh the limits of traditional production methods. Now, according to a new report from Additive Manufacturing Research (AM…
NASA Selects Relativity Space for Mars Science Mission
NASA has selected Relativity Space as its commercial partner for a new Mars science mission scheduled for launch in 2028, giving another boost to one of the most well-known additive…
Divergent Declares that German 3D Printers are Superior, And Plans Massive LPBF Expansion
Divergent has announced a new version of its Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) printer and a new site. The company aims to do nothing short of “further accelerating its mission…
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Explosion Comes During Major Manufacturing Push
Blue Origin‘s orbital New Glenn rocket exploded during a hot-fire test at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral on May 29, setting back the company’s launch ambitions at a time…
UAS Additive Strategies: Register by June 30 to Learn About the Hottest Topic in 3D Printing
Last week, drone stocks surged on news that the Trump administration is considering a massive investment in the US unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Earlier in 2026, the release of…
DoW Accelerates Drone Readiness with AMTrain Phase 2 Launch at Camp Lejeune
Equipping today’s warfighter with the most advanced technology is paramount, driving increased prioritization and investment in drone development and advanced manufacturing training within the Department of War (DoW). In this…
The Arsenal of Democracy is Empty: Enter SOUTHCOM’s Autonomous Warfare Command SAWC
One of the most important things to happen to the US Military in over a decade just happened: SOUTHCOM (The US’ Southern Command responsible for Central America, South America, and…
3D Printing News Briefs, May 9, 2026: Financials, Large-Format Printer, Steels, & More
In 3D Printing News Briefs this weekend, 6K Additive has appointed a new COO and released its Q1 financials. Rolls-Royce opened a new AM Development Cell, and MODIX launched its…
Industrial Applications on Display at RAPID 2026: CERATIZIT & 3D Systems
Applications are where it’s at in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. At the recent RAPID+TCT in Boston, I met with a few companies to learn about some of their very…
3D Printing Should Benefit Greatly as EU Releases €6 Billion for Ukrainian Drones
Drones have changed everything. Case in point: with the aim of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, the US and Israel initiate airstrikes on the Gulf nation. A couple…
Fleet Readiness Centers, a Six-Month Metal AM Push, and Shifting Defense Procurement
As I wrote about earlier this month, the Trump administration has requested a record $1.5 trillion in Department of Defense (DoD) funding for FY 2027. In my post about what…
Novineer Partners with Contract Manufacturer AM Craft on AI-Backed Reverse Engineering for CAD Models
The need for replacement parts that are in limited production—or out of production altogether—will always be a demand catalyst for additive manufacturing (AM). Unless the entire global economy at some…
3D Printing News Briefs, April 22, 2026: DINOs, Post-Processing, AM for Aerostructures, & More
We’ll start with event news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as AMUG presented its DINO Award to six members at this year’s conference, and Axtra3D celebrated its five-year anniversary…
Death Spiral (or The End of the Fairchild Republic)
Previously, I wrote about the disruption of US military power. Since then, events have required a reassessment. The US is clearly in decline, and a death spiral is occurring that…
Beehive Gets $29.7 Million Contract
The US military is pivoting from a world where it fields a few exquisite craft to one where it can manufacture swarms of vehicles. Additive manufacturing at scale, along with…
Harvard Engineering Students 3D Print VTOL Drone to Improve Marine Biology Research
With all the current focus on the boom in drones used for national security, it’s easy to forget that the civilian drone market is growing, too. In addition to the…
Divergent & GA-ASI: How Connecting at AMUG Led to an Important Industry Partnership
As I mentioned in my AMUG 2026 overview, I had a lot of delays traveling to Reno, Nevada to attend the conference. So unfortunately, I missed “From Hypercars to Defense…
Aerospace Giant IHI Bets on Freemelt E-Beam 3D Printing for Next-Gen Turbine Alloys
IHI Europe has purchased a Freemelt electron-beam powder-bed fusion (E-PBF) system. Previously, parent IHI bought two Freemelt systems, bringing the total to three. IHI is a Japanese engineering conglomerate. The…
Intergalactic Turns to Velo3D to Accelerate Aircraft Heat Exchanger Development
A new aviation project shows how metal 3D printing can dramatically shorten the time it takes to turn a design into a working aircraft component. Velo3D announced that aerospace supplier…
Fraunhofer ILT Tests 3D Printed Titanium Reactors to Generate Hydrogen Onboard Heavy Vehicles
The Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (Fraunhofer ILT) is to research titanium aluminide hydrogen reactors and heat exchangers. The hope is that lightweight, better-performing 3D printed components will make…
Norsk Titanium and Airbus Sign Collaboration Agreement for RPD Technology
Norsk Titanium has signed a collaboration agreement with Airbus. The two firms will deepen their understanding for Norsk’s RPD (Rapid Plasma Deposition) DED technology. This is a good step forward…
