Editorials / Opinions

3D Printing & the Military: Advanced & Brittle

The U.S. military is currently implementing 3D printing on a significant scale, focusing on areas such as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), hypersonics, and strengthening the industrial base. This technology…

Does 3D Printing Herald the Democratization of Manufacturing?

The idea of democratization, broadly defined as giving power and access to the general public, is often applied to fields experiencing major shifts. Enter 3D printing, a technology brimming with…

3D Printing & the Military: Squandered Opportunities

Previous articles in this series have explored the potential for the U.S. to leverage additive manufacturing to its advantage. However, this potential may be undermined by a propensity for creating…

3D Printing & the Military: It Takes a Village to Make a Nuclear Bomb

In previous installments in this series, we explored how the U.S. military is preparing to utilize additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Then, in another article, we discussed the idea that possessing…

3D Printing & the Military: Stingers & Tigers

As stated in the first part of this series, the U.S. military appears committed to extensively employing 3D printing in the enhancement, maintenance, extension, and improvement of its arsenal and…

What about the Messy Humans that Make up Industry 4.0?

The gleaming promises of Industry 4.0 paint a utopian picture: robots taking over the drudgery, AI optimizing workflows, and 3D printers churning out bespoke solutions at our fingertips. It’s a…

2024 3D Printing Predictions from the Experts: 90 Day Finance

The TV show 90 Day Fiancé is built on the concept that couples with a K1 visa have 90 days to spend together in the U.S. before deciding whether to…

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The 10 Most Popular 3D Printing Articles of 2023

Though the additive manufacturing (AM) industry experienced a number of shakeups and developments over the course of the past year, many of our readers have been most taken by what’s…

2024 3D Printing Predictions from the Experts: Surviving the Economic Climate

As 3D printing enters a pivotal year, we’ve consulted top experts in our industry for their predictions on the industry’s trajectory in 2024. While investment appears to be slowing, industrial…

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The 10 Most Impactful 3D Printing Stories of 2023

While our readers were often drawn to developments in the desktop 3D printing space, the larger additive manufacturing (AM) industry was being shaped and reshaped by the business world. There…

RIP 3D Printing. Long Live AM!

As we read our good friend Joris Peels’ recent series “RIP 3D Printing”, we couldn’t help but conjure up the famous scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “Bring…

RIP 3D Printing, Part 3: Rapid Applications

In this series, I’ve guided you through a fragmented landscape where the shift from investor funding to making money from selling components, services or machines is imminent. Traditionally, mastering 3D…

RIP 3D Printing: The Cart Before the Horse

I’m grateful for the extensive feedback and thoughtful discussion that emerged from my earlier article, “RIP 3D Printing: 1987 – 2023, Complexity is Expensive.” The strong response has prompted me…

The Silver Lining on 3D Printing’s Current Market Situation

I have had the pleasure of spending a good part of my career in 3D printing, mainly with technology vendors. Lately, the whole industry seems a bit down in the…

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Will Formlabs Go Public? 3D Printing Double Unicorn Reinforced by Microsoft CMO as Board Member

Alright, I’ll say what you’re thinking: they’re definitely going to go public. Today, Formlabs announced that Chris Capossela, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, is set to join…

RIP 3D Printing: 1987 – 2023, Complexity is Expensive

This is not clickbait; it’s a public service announcement. Where there was once a bustling activity, now there’s a noticeable quiet. People are revising their resumes for LinkedIn, and budgets…

I Have a Question about 3D Printed Meat

For several years, 3D printed meat and other foods have garnered significant attention, fueling both innovation and investment. Companies in this space have gone public and secured tens of millions…

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What Align’s Acquisition of Cubicure Means for Dental 3D Printing

The recent acquisition of Cubicure by American dental giant Align Technology sent a palpable shockwave through the industry, yet in many ways, it was a move that made perfect sense….

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Will BASF Sell or Spin out its 3D Printing Unit?

BASF recently announced impressive growth for its 3D Printing Solutions division, reporting a 39% increase for the period and a 51% rise in its materials business. Following a 43% year-over-year…

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Why 3D Printing? Human Needs and Industrial Transformation

I sometimes find myself more intrigued by “know-why” than “know-how.” As a believer in the burgeoning role of additive manufacturing (AM) in future production, I’ve spent time exploring ‘how’—how to…

Stimulating 3D Printing Supply Chains: Resilient and Portable

Recently, 3D printing has been intensely examined by governments, military planners, and large corporations. The focus is on enhancing supply chain resilience, especially in light of potential disruptions such as…

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China and the U.S.: How to Win the Second Cold War

Still the dominant superpower, the U.S. is nonetheless inefficient, slow to develop new military gear, and beset with issues associated with supply chain complexity and highly intricate kit. As detailed…

Eco-Friendly 3D Printing: Beat the Heat with 3D Printed Thermal Solutions

On the fourth day of record high temperatures, which are “probably the warmest in 100,000 years,” the conjecture and oil company fog surrounding climate change was breaking. You may not…

China and the US: Disrupting the US Military

Previously in this series, we’ve looked at how the U.S. spends the most on its military, while China may very well gain on it by developing technology more rapidly and…