Editorials / Opinions
The State of the Desktop Filament Market 2026, Part 4: An OS for Reality
OK, so in this four-part series, we used a cutting-edge stealth mode AI business intelligence tool that outperforms all commercially available LLMs. We then gussied up the data using Google’s…
Killer 3D Printing Applications: Cooling for Body Armor, Helmets, Seats, & Safety Gear
In this ongoing series of Killer 3D Printing Applications, we’ve looked at a lot of things, including tools, tool voids, factory automation, aircraft seating, car seats, and more. We’ve been…
Eplus3D & UCL Rocket Test New LOX IPA Engine
Eplus3D has worked with UCL Rocket on liquid rocket engines. Right now, they’re working on a regenerative liquid oxygen (LOX) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) liquid-cooled architecture. These rockets use IPA…
The State of the Desktop Filament Market 2026, Part 3: Special Hamburger Meat
Essentially, I used a cutting-edge stealth-mode AI tool that goes far beyond the capabilities of commercially available LLMs to conduct deep research into the desktop 3D printing filament market. I…
The State of the Desktop Filament Market 2026, Part 2: AI is a Fitful Day Drinking Intern
In this series, we’re using cutting-edge AI research tools, including an unreleased deep research tool to look at the desktop 3D printing filament market. We’re then comparing it with our…
Forty-Five Years After Alvin Toffler Coined “Prosumer,” Could AI and 3D Printing Make It a Reality?
Every major technology wave comes with big predictions about how it will change the world. Today, many of those predictions center on artificial intelligence (AI). Futurists like Ray Kurzweil and…
The State of the Desktop Filament Market 2026, Part 1: Facehugging AI
As many as ten million desktop 3D printers may be sold this year. This makes the desktop filament market potentially a significant business. I’ve interviewed key participants in this industry,…
How the World’s Most Advanced Tech Companies Are Using 3D Printing
3D printing has been around for decades. For most of that time, it was a prototyping tool. Engineers used it to check if a design looked right before spending money…
Additive Manufacturing at a Crossroads
Additive manufacturing is at a crossroads. Simultaneously, we find ourselves between certain very different modalities, applications, and industries. Rather than being able to explore them all, companies will now have…
Desktop UV Printers & 3D Printing: Collision Course
UV printing has been around for ages, of course. But, since a few years ago, desktop UV printers have made their way into households, small businesses, and enterprises. These machines…
The Next Phase of EB-PBF Will Be Defined by Beam Control
The bar for metal additive manufacturing has moved. Early on, the question was often simple: Can the machine print the material and produce a dense part? That still matters, but…
The SLS Market, Game of Trucks: Part 2
With the release of the new HP 1200 and the Formlabs X1, we can see real competition from very different segments. From several million dollars to just $20,000, the laser…
APAC’s 3D Printing Capital Wave Is Bigger Than Venture Funding
By the usual measure, a tally of funding rounds, APAC’s additive manufacturing market had a quiet second quarter. The capital that has actually closed across the region comes to about…
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….
AM Asia Watch: Chinese Company Claims Advances in Titanium Powder Beyond 700C
They’re a familiar sight at trade shows: Chinese powder companies with barren stands lacking parts. There’s maybe some glass vessel with powder in it and a semi-complete data sheet, but…
Rocket Lab Buys Iridium in $8 Billion Deal, Creating a New SpaceX Rival
Rocket Lab is buying Iridium for $8 billion in a cash-and-stock deal worth $54 per share. Shareholders will receive $27 in cash plus additional Rocket Lab common stock. The company…
Solukon Releases SPR-Pathfinder PRO—and a Smart Software Strategy
Large-format LPBF darling Solukon Maschinenbau launches SPR-Pathfinder PRO, an upgrade to its depowdering software. This is a smart play because it enables the company to keep ahead of potential competition…
China Now Has 29 Universities Offering Additive Manufacturing Engineering Degrees
As China’s national college entrance examination (Gaokao) concludes, millions of students and parents are once again focused on university admissions and future career choices. Computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), and…
ExOne Bets on Smaller Foundries with the S-Print Pro
ExOne has released the S-Print Pro, a more affordable-than-usual compact system for foundries. The company hopes that this will make its system more accessible to new customers and to customers…
JAECOO to You Too: How China Works
You may be beset by a bewildering array of new Chinese cars. How can they all be viable? They can’t be, and this is the point. This is why so…
The Rise of IP: The First Emoji 3D Printer Is Here. Don’t Rule Out Star Wars Next.
For years, most desktop 3D printers have looked more or less the same. Some are black. Some are gray. A few are bright orange. They look like boxes. Some are…
The Seminal Moment: Creality’s IPO Analysis & Possible Effects
Something super important happened just a few days ago, and too few people paid attention. Creality, a pioneer in low-cost desktop material extrusion printers, went public. Creality is now listed…
Killer 3D Printing Applications: Tools
A previous Killer 3D Printing Applications article looks at tool voids and tool storage. With 3D printing, we can connect different sets and make cases to organize tools. We can…
Formlabs Launches the X1: Let’s Pack It In?
I’d like to share my disappointment. When Formlabs teased that something big was coming, I really hoped the firm would finally get around to making CNC machines, as it always…
