Research Shows Sulfur Cathodes Show High Theoretical Promise, but Practical Battery Performance Remains a Major Barrier
A new Nature review highlights sulfur cathodes’ extraordinary theoretical energy density—up to 2,600 Wh/kg and 1,675 mAh/g—but shows that performance collapses when cells are built to commercial standards. Under realistic sulfur loadings of 4‑6 mg/cm² and lean electrolyte (<5 µL/mg), capacities fall to 400‑600 mAh/g and cycle life stalls at 200‑500 cycles. The authors argue that future research must adopt practical benchmarks such as areal capacities above 5 mAh/cm² and limited lithium excess to gauge true viability. While firms like Lyten, Gelion, and LG Energy Solution are testing sulfur‑based systems, the technology is not yet ready to replace lithium‑ion batteries at scale.
Rolls-Royce Inaugurates MOD-Backed Additive Manufacturing Development Cell
Rolls‑Royce has opened a 350 m² Additive Manufacturing Development Cell at its Bristol site, funded by the UK Ministry of Defence. The facility uses metal powder‑bed fusion to produce critical components for next‑generation military aircraft engines. It is directly linked to...
New BMF Resin Solves Optical Clarity Challenges in Micro 3D Printing
Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) has launched BMF Clear, a photopolymer resin delivering over 90% light transmittance and layer heights of 10‑50 µm for its high‑resolution micro‑stereolithography printers. The material combines optical clarity with micron‑scale dimensional accuracy, enabling transparent microfluidic channels, embedded...
Oxford Builds and Tests Structured Human Brain Tissue Using 3D Printing
Oxford University researchers have engineered layered human cortical tissue using stem cells, 3D printing and micro‑fluidics, then successfully implanted it into living mouse brains. The grafted tissue integrated with host neurons, formed functional synapses and reduced lesion size in traumatic‑brain‑injury...
Alexander Wang Launches Griphoria, the First Wearable 3D Printed Stiletto
Alexander Wang has introduced Griphoria, the first commercially available 3‑D‑printed stiletto, priced at $795 and produced in Italy. Developed over six years with Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis technology and HILOS software, the heel‑forward mule is made almost entirely from elastomeric...
Astrobotic Uses Patented Metal 3D Printing Technology to Break Rotating Detonation Engine Records
Astrobotic’s Chakram rotating detonation rocket engine completed a hot‑fire campaign at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, logging more than 470 seconds of run time and a record‑breaking 300‑second continuous burn. The engine, built with the company’s patented PermiAM metal additive‑manufacturing...
SUMMSEED Launches to Develop Medium Manganese Steels for Mining Using Casting and Laser-Wire DED
The EU‑funded SUMMSEED project has launched to develop medium‑manganese steel grades suitable for both traditional casting and laser‑wire directed energy deposition (DED). Coordinated by UPC, the consortium includes Sandvik, Sidenor, Meltio, Delft University of Technology and others, covering alloy design...
Ultra-Thin Optical Film Pushes Budget Resin Printers Toward Professional Precision
Researchers at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology have developed an ultra‑thin double‑sided optical film that collimates light in LCD‑based resin 3D printers. The film reshapes backlight rays, delivering 81% intensity uniformity and a beam divergence under 10°, rivaling...
ORNL Wins Award for Using 3D Printing to Build Nuclear Infrastructure
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) won the 2026 SME Aubin Additive Manufacturing Case Study Award for its work using large‑format additive manufacturing (LFAM) to produce composite molds for nuclear reactor shielding. The molds, created with partners including Kairos Power and...
3D Systems Clears the EU Bar and Enters Europe’s Denture Market
U.S. printer maker 3D Systems has secured Class IIa MDR certification for its NextDent Jet Base, Jet Teeth materials and NextDent 300 MultiJet printer, unlocking commercial sales of a full‑denture printing system across the European Union starting May 4. The clearance lets dental...
FRCE Just 3D Printed Its First Flight-Certified Metal Parts and Put Them on Active Aircraft
Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has produced its first flight‑certified metal parts using in‑house additive manufacturing, delivering components for the AH‑1Z Viper, V‑22 Osprey and C‑130 Hercules. The qualification, production and certification process was completed in under six months, setting...
AI Learns to Work Around Metal 3D Printing Defects
Researchers at POSTECH and the Korea Institute of Materials Science unveiled an AI framework that predicts the yield strength of laser‑powder‑bed‑fusion Al‑Si‑Mg parts in seconds, even when internal voids are present. The model, built with a data‑selective learning approach, treats...
Andretti and Velo3D Team Up to Put Metal 3D Printing in the Cockpit
Velo3D has signed a sponsorship and technology partnership with Andretti Performance for two 2026 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge races, placing its branding on the No. 43 Porsche and delivering an aluminum radio‑controls mounting bracket built with Constellium’s Aheadd CP1 alloy. The...
ExOne Global Brings Printhead Manufacturing to Detroit, Updates Pricing and Support for U.S. Customers
ExOne Global Holdings announced that it will begin domestic manufacturing of its Spectra Mono‑Z printheads at a new facility in Canton, Michigan, marking the first step in a broader U.S. production strategy. The company also launched a Detroit‑based parts inventory,...
SportLinc Receives FDA Clearance: Lincotek Targets Orthopedic OEM Market
Lincotek’s SportLinc Syndesmosis Device has secured FDA 510(k) clearance (K252081), enabling commercial launch for ankle syndesmosis injuries. The single‑use system combines a high‑molecular‑weight polyethylene suture with low‑profile titanium buttons and arrives preloaded in a sterile inserter, streamlining operating‑room workflow. Lincotek...
MOD Probes Security Risks of Chinese 3D Printers in Military Exercises
Britain’s Defence Secretary has launched a cyber‑risk investigation after the Army used Chinese‑made Bambu Lab FDM 3D printers to print FPV attack drones during the Bull Storm exercise in Kenya. The printers, costing about $500 per unit versus $2,500 for...
6K Additive’s Latest Massive Expansion Unlocks Critical Domestic Defense Metals
6K Additive announced a massive campus expansion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, adding four new buildings and boosting annual metal‑powder output from 200 to 1,000 metric tons. The project is financed by a $23.4 million Defense Production Act Title III grant and roughly $31.4 million...
AMA: Energy 2026: Pelagus Makes The Case for Digital Inventory in Energy and Maritime
Pelagus, a joint venture of thyssenkrupp and the Wilhelmsen Group, is championing a digital inventory model that replaces costly physical spare‑part stockpiles with on‑demand 3D‑printed components for the energy and maritime sectors. Equinor alone identified €2.5 bn (≈ $2.7 bn) of unused spare...
Eplus3D Shatters the Three-Meter Ceiling in Metal Powder Bed Fusion
Eplus3D of Hangzhou unveiled the EP‑M3050, a metal powder‑bed fusion printer with a 3,050 × 3,050 mm build area and a five‑meter Z‑axis, shattering the historic three‑meter limit. The system ships with 100 fiber lasers, expandable to 256, delivering a theoretical print speed...
Volkmann Launches vPort Powder Handling System for HP Metal Jet S100
Volkmann GmbH has launched the vPort, a semi‑automated, glove‑box‑enclosed powder handling system designed for HP’s Metal Jet S100 binder‑jet printers. Announced on April 7 2026, the solution integrates cleaning, powder recovery, and refilling into a single unit and is now available in...
ICON Launches ICON Prime Defense Unit to Scale 3D Printed Construction for Military and Space Infrastructure
ICON has created a new defense‑focused unit, ICON Prime, to commercialize its large‑scale 3D‑printing construction systems for U.S. military and NASA space projects. Former CIA officer and Congressman Will Hurd was named president, tasked with expanding government partnerships. The unit already...
AMA Energy Insights: Lithoz and Evove Redefine Lithium Extraction with SeparonicsTM
Lithium demand is surging as EVs and grid storage expand, but traditional brine evaporation ponds are land‑intensive, slow, and environmentally taxing. Ceramic‑3D‑printing specialist Lithoz and UK water‑filtration firm Evove have teamed up to replace evaporation with modular ceramic membranes built...
Leiden’s Sensor-Free Microrobots Move Like Living Organisms
Researchers at Leiden University have created soft, chain‑like microrobots that move and adapt without sensors, software, or external control. Each 5 µm segment is linked by 0.5 µm joints and powered solely by an electric field, allowing the robot’s shape to dictate...
AMUG Honors Six Additive Manufacturing Leaders with 2026 DINO Award
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced its 2026 DINO (Distinguished INnovator Operator) Award winners at the 37th annual conference in Reno, Nevada. Six individuals—Olga Ivanova, Daniel Landgraf, Brian Post, Chris Prue, John Thiell, and Annie Wang—were recognized for sustained...
AMA: Energy Insights Nanoe Outlines Ceramic Additive Manufacturing Opportunities for New Energy Applications
Nanoe showcased its Zetamix filament platform, which enables ceramic 3D printing on standard FDM printers, at the AMA:Energy conference. The approach leverages widely available polymer printers and follows with chemical debinding and sintering to produce dense, high‑temperature parts for burners,...
ELEGOO Makes Its Mark at RAPID + TCT 2026 With Jupiter 2 and Unexpected CANVAS Debut
Chinese 3D‑printing firm ELEGOO used the RAPID + TCT 2026 show in Boston to debut two flagship products: the Jupiter 2 ultra‑large format resin printer and the CANVAS multicolor system for its Centauri Carbon platform. Jupiter 2 boasts 16K resolution, multi‑point auto‑leveling and automated resin...
Farsoon Adds ALM Materials and New PEBA Production
Farsoon Technologies expanded its open‑materials ecosystem by adding three industrial polymer powders from EOS’s Advanced Laser Materials (ALM), including a carbon‑fiber PEKK blend, a bio‑based polyamide, and a flame‑retardant grade. The new powders are compatible with Farsoon’s 1001P, 601P, 403P...
3D Printed Battery Powers Predictive Maintenance in Steel Production
A consortium of IREC, UOC and steelmaker CELSA launched the 3Dstore project, deploying a 3D‑printed solid‑oxide battery to power a low‑consumption, cellular‑connected sensor on a rolling‑mill shaft. The self‑powered device continuously records vibration and temperature, enabling predictive maintenance that can...
DTU Uses Lithoz Ceramic 3D Printing to Build Gyroid Fuel Cells
Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have used Lithoz’s ceramic 3D‑printing platform to fabricate monolithic solid‑oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with gyroid lattice structures made from 8 mol % yttria‑stabilized zirconia. The gyroid architecture delivers a power‑to‑weight ratio of roughly 1 W g⁻¹,...
BLT Helps Develop OPPO Find N6 Hinge with Titanium 3D Printing
Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) partnered with OPPO to 3D‑print titanium hinge components for the Find N6 foldable phone, consolidating up to 13 machined parts into a single lightweight wing plate. The new hinge improves display flatness by 50% and passed 600,000...
Fraunhofer IAP and NMI Achieve Biomimetic Tissue Mechanics
Fraunhofer IAP and NMI have created a patent‑pending biomimetic tissue substitute that combines a polyurethane acrylate base, a 3D‑printed wavy metastructure, and an electrospun collagen surface. The metastructure reproduces the nonlinear stiffness of pericardial tissue, while the collagen layer supports...
Farsoon Advances Copper Alloy 3D Printing With Speed, Precision, and Scale
Farsoon Technologies unveiled new copper‑alloy 3D‑printing platforms that combine high‑speed beam optimization with micron‑level precision. The FS273M achieves up to 42 cm³/h build rates at 80 µm layers and 99.5% part density, while its 55 µm laser spot delivers 0.2 mm feature resolution. The...
Authentise Whisper Turns Chats Into Auditable Manufacturing Records
Authentise launched Whisper, an AI‑driven platform that silently records engineering conversations across Slack, email, and meetings, converting them into structured, auditable entries in ERP, PLM, and QMS systems. The source‑available solution runs as background agents, requiring no workflow changes while...
AMA: Energy 2026: How Addept3D Sees the Gap Between AM Value and Industrial Adoption in Energy
Additive manufacturing (AM) is delivering measurable savings in the energy sector, exemplified by Equinor’s roughly $100 million cost reduction, yet large‑scale, high‑value components remain stuck in proof‑of‑concept stages. Tarun Chand of Addept3D explains that the primary barrier is cost – both...
Bambu Lab Discontinues the X1 Series After Four Years on the Market
Bambu Lab announced that production of its X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E 3D printers will cease on March 31, 2026, with after‑sales support guaranteed until March 2031. The X1 series, launched in 2022 via a $7 million Kickstarter, reshaped desktop printing by popularizing CoreXY...
AMT and GreatAmerica Turn Vapor Smoothing Into a Monthly Subscription
AMT and GreatAmerica have launched a bundled subscription for the PostPro SFX vapor‑smoothing system, charging North American manufacturers $999 per month. The all‑inclusive fee covers hardware, shipping, consumables, warranty and import duties, eliminating upfront capital outlay. The service is fulfilled from...
Scrap Labs Debuts Scrap 1 Metal 3D Printer at RMRRF 2026
Scrap Labs unveiled the Scrap 1, a low‑cost Laser Powder Bed Fusion metal 3D printer, at the Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival 2026. The kit is priced at $9,600 for a limited launch period, increasing to $14,200 after April 30, 2026, with fully assembled units...
SLICED: Latest News From the 3D Printing Industry
The additive‑manufacturing ecosystem saw several strategic moves in April. AMGTA promoted Michigan’s MTDG to Principal Member and added its CEO Dean Bartles to the board, while Materialise spun off its RapidFit division to sharpen its focus on software and medical...
Eplus3D IPO Collapse: Growth Trajectory Meets Structural Headwinds
Eplus3D, a Hangzhou‑based metal 3D printer, withdrew its Shanghai STAR Market IPO, cancelling a planned $176.6 million raise. The funds were intended for capacity expansion, equipment industrialization, a new R&D center, and a global service network, all now on hold. Despite...
Did Industry Misjudge AM’s Value? Findings From AMGTA Explain The Bias
The Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association (AMGTA) released its 2026 Vision Paper, arguing that the industry consistently undervalues 3D printing because cost comparisons are too narrowly scoped. It shows that traditional analyses ignore hidden expenses such as inventory carrying costs,...
AMA: Energy 2026: [INTERVIEW] How Large-Scale Metal AM Is Helping Energy OEMs Break Free From Forging and Casting Delays
Fastech is leveraging large‑scale wire‑based additive manufacturing (WAAM and LW‑DED) to help energy OEMs overcome long lead times, supply‑chain constraints, and limited flexibility of forging and casting. WAAM delivers material at 1‑5 kg/h for bulky parts, while LW‑DED offers finer finishes...
Skoltech Finds a Viable Path for 3D Printing Aluminum Bronze
Researchers at Skoltech, in collaboration with Russian and Indian partners, have demonstrated that laser powder bed fusion can reliably print aluminum bronze (Cu‑9.5Al‑1Fe) with mechanical and thermal properties comparable to cast material. By fine‑tuning laser power (90‑150 W) and scan speed...
Blue Ops Partners with HADDY to 3D Print Military Unmanned Surface Vessels at Scale
Red Cat Holdings’ maritime unit Blue Ops has teamed with robotic‑fabrication firm HADDY to embed large‑scale 3D printing into its Georgia plant. The partnership will double production of its 5‑meter and 7‑meter unmanned surface vessels (USVs) by using AI‑driven printers...
AMA: Energy 2026: Additive Manufacturing in Energy Is Moving Beyond Pilots Here’s What’s Actually Being Deployed
Additive manufacturing (AM) is moving from pilot projects to repeatable production in the energy sector. Siemens Energy now prints titanium impellers for integrally geared compressors, while Equinor is deploying on‑demand spare‑part strategies to boost uptime. Certification bodies such as DNV...
Sinterit’s 3D Printing Academy Makes Serious Manufacturing Education Free and Accessible
Polish 3D printer maker Sinterit has launched a free online 3D Printing Academy that delivers daily lessons across three dedicated tracks—Fundamentals, Business, and Engineers—focused on Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The curriculum blends e‑books, videos, calculators, case studies and podcasts, culminating...
AMA: Energy: Ivaldi Group: Turning Supply Chain Risk Into a Strategic Advantage
Ivaldi Group’s CEO Espen Siversten argues that additive manufacturing is technically ready for the energy sector, but the surrounding business‑case infrastructure lags. After analyzing 2.3 million parts and $1.6 billion in annual spare‑parts spend, Ivaldi found only 3‑11% of components are suitable...
MIT’s VisiPrint Uses AI to Show Exactly How a 3D Print Will Look Before It’s Made
MIT researchers unveiled VisiPrint, an AI‑driven preview tool that renders a 3‑D printed object’s exact color, gloss and translucency before any material is extruded. By feeding a slicer screenshot and a single material image, two neural models generate a photorealistic...
Meshy Closes the 3D Printing Loop With AI-to-Physical Manufacturing
Meshy.ai has integrated its generative‑AI model‑creation platform with Formlabs’ Form Now on‑demand printing service, creating the first end‑to‑end AI‑to‑physical manufacturing loop. Users can input a text prompt or image and receive a print‑ready, textured 3D model in seconds, with Meshy handling...
Georgetown Engineers Pectin-Based Bone Grafts to Replace Metal Implants
Georgetown University researchers have engineered a 3D‑printed bone graft that combines pectin—a food‑grade polysaccharide—with hydroxyapatite layers to mimic natural bone architecture. The pectin matrix can be printed at room temperature, creating a porous scaffold that promotes nutrient flow and cell...
Why GE Aerospace Is Pouring €110M Into European Factories Right Now
GE Aerospace announced a €110 million (≈$120 million) investment in its European manufacturing footprint, with Italy receiving the bulk €77 million (≈$84 million) and the remainder spread across Poland, the UK, the Czech Republic and Romania. The capital will fund new test cells, advanced...