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

Logistical resilience is more critical than the availability of raw materials for supply chain security. The distance between production and consumption is the greatest risk. Strategic reserves of materials such as tungsten and production localization reduce the risk of downtime and ensure continuity for supply chains.

Metal Powder Works and Westinghouse scale up metal powder production for nuclear in three months with DirectPowder solid-state technology, which eliminates melting, reducing impurities by 30% and bringing materials to the TRL required for high-responsibility components.

The AddMamBa project transforms steel scrap into metal powder to print high-performance building components with 3D laser technology. Concrete circular economy to reduce emissions, consumption, and waste in the construction sector.

Breathable steel is a microporous material that allows gases to escape during injection molding, eliminating defects and voids without compromising mechanical strength. It is produced via metal 3D printing with foaming agents.

Colossal Biosciences has developed artificial eggs with 3D-printed shells and silicone membranes: 26 chicks have hatched. The technology aims to save endangered species and bring back the giant moa, whose eggs no living bird can incubate.

3D printer kits save 20-30% and offer total control, but require time and skills. From basic models like Dagoma (€399) to advanced ones like Prusa CORE One+ (€1,999), choosing a kit is convenient for those who want to customize and maintain their own machine, dedicating hours to assembly.

A new patent uses frequency control to optimize de-powdering in 3D printing: 30% reduced times, greater repeatability and transferability between machines. It requires sensors, but the ROI is 2-5 years for complex components.

AI in industrial automation requires rethinking the entire production flow. Real value emerges when artificial intelligence operates along the entire chain, overcoming the limited approach to single machines and local optimizations in additive manufacturing.

OrcaSlicer 2.4.0 Alpha offers Orca Cloud, Z Anti-Aliasing, and Machine Input Shaping, but it has technical limitations and risks of instability. For production environments, it is essential to maintain a stable version in parallel and test only copies of the profiles.

LEAP 71 compares a classic nozzle and an aerospike of 20 kN in CuCrZr: the first is stable and efficient beyond 93%, the second at 50 bar but with startup criticalities. Mature nozzle for immediate missions, promising aerospike for multi-regime efficiency and reusable launches.

3D printed centrifugal pump in a single piece: bearings and o-rings inserted during printing, dissolvable supports for the impeller and epoxy coating for sealing. A hybrid technique that eliminates post-print assembly.

Double the strength of 3D prints without extra weight: use gyroid infill, optimized pathing with Arachne, and localized reinforcements in the G-Code. Advanced slicing techniques for stronger and lighter parts, without complex CAD modifications.