Case studies, practical guides, and tools for industrial 3D printing and additive manufacturing, from prototyping to mass production.

The Polytechnic University of Bari has developed a desktop 3D printer head that deposits copper during FDM printing, creating hybrid polymer-metal circuits in a single session. An accessible solution for makers and rapid prototyping, with limitations compared to industrial methods.

Designing while ignoring production is costly: delays, defects, and redesigns. Aligning design and manufacturing from the start, with early process selection and DFM, reduces costs and time-to-market. Integrated services eliminate the gap between design and realization.

Stratasys acquires Markforged for $42.5 million from Nano Dimension, strengthening industrial 3D printing for composites and software solutions. Metal Binder Jetting technology is excluded and retained by Nano Dimension. Closing is expected in the second half of 2026.

Amnovis acquires Westconn and opens a production unit in Indiana mirroring its Belgian facility for 3D printing of orthopedic devices. By replicating the end-to-end process (design, additive manufacturing, certification) near Warsaw, the capital of US orthopedics, it ensures homogeneous quality and FDA compliance for the American market.

PrusaSlicer 3.0 introduces a deep rewrite of the code to reduce technical debt and improve maintenance and future updates. The release is expected in a few weeks. It does not bring immediate spectacular features, but a more solid software base for greater stability and more frequent releases.

PowTReX automates the recovery of metal powder in additive manufacturing with closed cycles, ultrasonic screening, and safe transport. It guarantees quality, operator protection, and compatibility with major 3D printers.

Comparison between Craftcloud, Xometry and HP MJF Service for on-demand additive manufacturing. No absolute winner: the choice depends on volumes, delivery times, total costs and certifications. For small batches, outsourcing is more economical, while in-house production is only worthwhile above specific volume thresholds.

3D-printed living materials with bioluminescent microorganisms react to chemical stimuli by emitting blue light. Battery-free and electronics-free autonomous sensors to monitor water and the environment through repeatable visual signals.

3D printing is the key to sustainability on Mars: regolith and titanium create resistant materials, atmospheric CO2 replaces argon, and in-situ production eliminates dependence on Earth. Earth-based tests are already validating the technology for future human missions.

OrcaSlicer 2.4.0-alpha offre Orca Cloud, Z Anti-Aliasing e infill ottimizzato, ma ha bug critici su Linux/macOS e regressioni su supporti e cloud sync. Solo per tester esperti, in parallelo alla 2.3.2 stabile con backup profili. Per uso produttivo, attendere la beta.

AI Text-to-STL tools are revolutionizing 3D printing by eliminating the need for CAD skills. Anyone can create custom objects, opening up entrepreneurial scenarios for makers and micro-entrepreneurs. Large companies are integrating AI into their design ecosystems.

3D printing is revolutionizing heat exchangers with previously impossible geometries. Two patents show removable intelligent supports and interwoven 3D structures to manage more fluids. Benefits: greater efficiency, reduced costs, smaller footprints. Expected adoption in 2-5 years in aerospace and automotive.