Editorials / Opinions
The Bambu Lab 3D Printing Platform… or Trapdoor?
Bambu Lab began as a completely closed 3D printing system, where the printer, software, and materials all functioned well but were exclusively from the company itself. This approach mirrored Formlabs,…
A BLT Knuckle Sandwich: The Sheer Size of BLT’s Metal 3D Printing Operations
A LinkedIn post showing Xi’an Bright Laser Technologies’ (BLT’s) headquarters, has stirred up a lot of conversation. Some complained about state support, while others were impressed by the company’s facilities….
Collision Repair Standardization of 3D-Printed Parts
The collision repair industry is at the cusp of a revolution, with one of the most exciting developments being the advent of 3D printing technology. Additive manufacturing (AM) can assist…
The Three Market Laws of Additive Manufacturing
In the last article in this two-part series, I reflected on my tumultuous journey in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry and how that led me to understanding the dynamics of…
The Three Market Laws of Additive Manufacturing, Part 1
For over 10 years, I ran 3D printing-based businesses in Poland. It’s a tough market for additive manufacturing (AM). The country is very wealthy and receptive when it comes to…
Honey, I Shrunk the Laser Wars: From Pricey to Practical, the Coming Age of Affordable SLS Tech
The last five years have seen relentless one-upmanship by metal powder-bed fusion OEMs; A trend often referred to as the “Laser Wars.” Is it now time to brace for the…
The Deadliest of all Dead Ends in the 3D Printing Industry
The end of June saw the execution of North America’s biggest additive manufacturing (AM) trade show of the year, RAPID + TCT, in Los Angeles, California. I wasn’t there. I…
The Transformative Power of 3D Printing in the Collision Industry: Saving Cost and the Environment
The collision industry is abuzz with the potential of 3D printing technology and advanced materials such as polypropylene. One of the most significant applications is the potential repair of damaged…
3D Printed Food: In Defense of Ethical Meat
In Florida and Alabama, politicians have banned lab-grown meat. Ethical meat is an industry in its infancy, yet it is already banned. Lab-grown meat, in my opinion, should not be…
Will Stratasys Merge with HP? – Dream Mergers and Acquisitions
In the first quarter 2024 earnings call for Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Troy Jensen hinted at a potentially game-changing future for the company, saying: “I personally believe you…
Rescuing the Additive Industry: The Straight Edge 3D Printing Manifesto
Things have not been going well in the 3D printing industry for a long time. Much has been written on this topic and the reasons for this situation have been…
Printing a Better Game: 3D Printing and the Evolution of Golf Equipment
The governing bodies of professional golf — the R&A and USGA — have finally dropped the widely expected news that testing conditions for golf ball conformation will change, rendering nearly…
3D Printing Miracles: Electric Car Apocalypse
We’re accustomed to introspection regarding the future of 3D printing, pondering improvements to enhance the viability of our technology. Yet, what circumstances could enable us to expand from $14.7 billion…
3D Printing Miracles: Kessler Syndrome
We’ve always analyzed the 3D printing market, focusing on what needs to change to find more applications, become more cost-effective, and increase our yield. However, consider a thought experiment where…
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…
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…
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…
