All articles tagged with #3d printing
A Curtin University study published in Forensic Chemistry shows that infrared spectroscopy of 3D-printing filaments can distinguish many filament types and link seized ghost guns to their source, challenging the notion that ghost guns are truly untraceable; however, some filaments remain indistinguishable, and researchers plan to add more analytical techniques to strengthen traceability.
MIT researchers retrofit a four-extruder 3D printer to produce a fully functional linear motor using five materials in about three hours, slashing prototype costs to roughly $0.50 and signaling a path toward on-demand manufacturing and replacement parts—even as printing complete vehicles remains far off.
MIT researchers have developed a multimaterial 3D‑printing platform that can fabricate fully functional electric machines in a single process. By upgrading a printer with four extruders, sensors, and a new control framework, they printed a linear motor using five materials in about three hours, with magnetization the only post-processing step and material costs around $0.50. The demonstration highlights the potential for on-site, distributed manufacturing of complex electromechanical devices, aiming to reduce downtime and supply-chain reliance and outlining plans to integrate magnetization and expand to fully 3D‑printed rotary motors.
Hiroshima University researchers used additive manufacturing to produce tungsten carbide–cobalt cemented carbide via 3D printing, achieving hardness above 1,400 HV—far harder than common steels. The method softens alloy elements rather than fully melting them, delivering a tougher, more wear-resistant metal with less waste, with potential uses in repairing cracks and strengthening construction; the research will be published in the April 2026 issue of the International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.
Scientists have created a 3D-printed hydrogel embedded with cyanobacteria that can grow, sequester CO2, and precipitate calcium carbonate to potentially reinforce structures. Lab data over 400 days show cumulative CO2 capture of 26 ± 7 mg per gram of hydrogel (with 2.2 ± 0.9 mg/g in the first 30 days); the material remains viable under light and nutrient conditions and can be printed for architectural scale. An installation at the Venice Biennale demonstrates the concept in practice, but the researchers caution that at current scales the climate impact is uncertain and long-term (decades) performance remains to be proven, with the material’s efficiency limited by light access and maintenance needs.
A guide to five downloadable, 3D-printable Milwaukee accessories for the home workshop, including a Packout-compatible mini crate, extension-cord organizers, a pocket-sized multi-tool, a drill/battery storage station, and a Milwaukee AirPods case. The article notes you can print these at home from online templates, may need slight sizing tweaks for a snug fit, and that such prints offer a cost-saving, practical alternative with generally positive user feedback.
Researchers at Tsinghua University have introduced Digital Incoherent Synthesis of Holographic light fields (DISH), a holographic-based volumetric 3D printing method that can fabricate millimeter-scale objects in 0.6 seconds with 12‑micrometer precision. By projecting holographic light from multiple angles in a resin, without moving parts or layered drying, the system achieves about 333 cubic millimeters per second and could enable rapid, high-resolution production for biomedicine, nanotechnology, micro-robotics, and flexible electronics.
Elon Musk reportedly shifts SpaceX’s focus from Mars to a self-sustaining Moon city, using lunar soil and 3D printing to expand a lunar base and Optimus robots to build infrastructure before humans arrive, with aims for unmanned Starship landings by 2027 and lunar factories/data centers for AI.
Harvard engineers embed motion directly into soft robots with a rotational multimaterial 3D‑printing process that creates hollow pneumatic channels inside flexible filaments. When inflated, these channels cause the structures to bend, twist, or grasp in preprogrammed ways, removing molds and assembly steps and enabling rapid design changes. Demonstrations include a flower-like actuator and a hand-shaped gripper, with potential applications in surgical robotics and delicate-object handling.
The Bambu Lab H2C becomes the first consumer 3D printer to achieve a perfect score on CNET's nine-test benchmark, thanks to precise dimensional accuracy, smooth overhangs and bridges, no visible ringing, and a dual-extruder with six hot-swappable nozzles, signaling a major leap for home 3D printing.
NASA's Spinoff 2026 highlights how space-tech developed for Artemis-era missions is being repurposed on Earth, from 3D-printed habitats and robotics for building and maintenance to life-saving devices like implantable heart monitors and consumer tech such as memory foam, enhanced cameras, and scratch-resistant lenses; the edition spotlights 20 technologies ready for commercialization among NASA's 1,300 inventions, under the Space Technology Mission Directorate's Technology Transfer program.
Costco is stocking five unexpected tech products: the HP Sprocket Select inkless photo printer, the Creality K2 Combo multi‑color 3D printer, Samsung’s Music Frame picture frame that doubles as a speaker, Woojer’s High‑Fidelity Vest 4 haptic vest, and the Antigravity A1 8K 360 Drone Essential Bundle. Prices range from about $100 to $1,600, and reviews on some items are mixed. Availability can vary since Costco’s stock rotates, but the lineup illustrates the retailer’s surprising tech offerings beyond everyday electronics.
The article outlines five practical 3D-printed garage projects—shelf hooks, an industrial paper towel holder, Ryobi tool holders, a screwdriver wall mount, and a magnetic pen/marker holder—demonstrating how additive manufacturing lets hobbyists customize and organize their workspace, with a brief primer on how 3D printing works.
A team led by Luke Maximo Bell set a new drone speed record by achieving an average speed of 657 km/h with a redesigned V4 quadcopter featuring upgraded engines, props, and a larger 3D-printed body, tested via simulations and printed on a Bambu Lab H2D. A follow camera attempt with a 360-degree setup was not finalized, keeping the door open for future challengers while noting that prop airplanes have exceeded 800 km/h.
Researchers show that consumer-grade 3D printers, silicone molding, and UV-curable resin can create low-cost, multi-element lenslets for a multifocal structured illumination microscope, achieving about 150 nanometers resolution comparable to commercial systems and potentially democratizing access to high-performance imaging.