3D Printing

From waste to 3D filament: PETFusion 2.0 allows users of 3D printers to virtually produce their own filament from plastic bottles. The second generation of the machine promises higher productivity and comes with two nozzles.

The Lemontron 3D printer, with its unique upside-down design and $413 price tag, brings a fresh take on DIY printing. This open-source project comes packed with detailed build files and guides, making it an intriguing option for seasoned makers looking to expand their printer collection.

Backflip AI, a 3D design platform, generates complex 3D models from text input or images. Theses are suitable for numerous applications, including 3D printing and game development.

Anycubic touts the latest addition to its Kobra series as the ultimate all-in-one 3D model-maker due to its ability to keep resin at the ideal temperature as well as print it. The Kobra S1 Combo also has a maximum rate of 600 millimeters per second (mm/s) and tool-free hotend dissembly. It will be released soon at a limited-time Founder's Price that comes with extra added "free perks".

Anycubic has a new 3D printer in the pipeline. Capable of printing with different colours and materials, this model is an enclosed system designed to be especially easy to use.

The Anycubic Kobra 3 Max Combo is a 3D printer featuring a large print volume and multicolour support. It can also store multiple filament spools at proper humidity to increase their shelf life.

A good number of gaming handhelds have been introduced in the last few years, and Playdate is among the ones that got very popular. The slightly open-source nature even allows modders to bring out new creations, and PlayBot is one of them.

Elegoo's Saturn 4 Ultra has been honored as one of the Next Big Thing in Tech this year by the blog Fast Company. Its ability to expedite 3D printing in resin thanks to Tilt Release Technology rated to make the removal of a completed model quicker and easier. The 4 Ultra also boasts a high-res monochrome LCD screen and an automatic leveling feature.

Elegoo has secured a new retail partnership by which its products will be available through all of Micro Center's 28 stores across the US. There increasingly well-known 3D printer brand will be able to put five of its most recent releases on those shelves, the high-resolution Mars 5 Ultra and "best-selling" Saturn 4 Ultra included.

3D-printed electroencephalography head tattoos eliminate the need to wear traditional EEG caps while controlling computers by thought. Users benefit from reduced bulk and discomfort, and longer EEG usability.

FLSUN is introducing a massive upgrade to all your large size, low volume 3D printing needs with the S1 Pro. The S1 Pro can print blazing fast speeds of up to 1,200 m/s with high acceleration and flow rates. Combined with innovative algorithms and the new FLSUN OS and FLSUN Slicer v2, the S1 Pro ensures flawless, highly detailed, and smooth 3D prints every time with a wide range of materials.

After over 22 years in development, FreeCAD 1.0 is finally available, with the latest release bringing much-needed UI tweaks and a new assembly module. The development team says it is dedicated to improving the FreeCAD project, but that it has solved the last two major problems that held back the 1.0 release.

The Photon Mono M7 Max is rated to print up to 200% faster than its predecessor, and to have 72% more space in which to do so. It is backed to produce finer, more consistent models with less resin waste thanks to a unique new post-printing feature. It will go to pre-order shortly at a special early-access price.

FLSUN, makers of the much-acclaimed T1 3D printer, is back with the new FLSUN T1 Pro. The T1 Pro brings substantial improvements over its predecessor with new innovations in cooling, tool head speed, and leveling algorithms. The T1 Pro 3D printer operates at significantly lower noise levels without compromising on print speed, quality, and finish, and is now available at a greatly discounted price.

Beelink just announced that its Multi-Functional EX docking station for mini PCs is now open-source with free plans for anyone to use. Along with the announcement, Beelink published documentation to build the PCIe-enabled docking station. It hopes that access to the plans for the accessory will enrich the mini PC ecosystem.

Bambu Lab has launched an AI based text-to-3D tool that lets you create Pokemon-like characters from your own imagination. PrintMon Maker generates full-colour 3D models, which can then be edited, refined and printed directly from Bambu Studio or by downloading an OBJ file. The entire process requires little to no knowledge of 3D modelling and printing.

The Ploopy Trackpad is a 3D printed trackpad with multi-touch gesture support and a high degree of customisability, thanks to its QMK firmware and 3D printed construction. All of the part files, QMK firmware, and build instructions are available online for free, but Ploopy also sells a $72.50 DIY build kit and a pre-assembled trackpad for $94.25

Researchers developed active interlocking metasurfaces using shape memory alloys like Nickel-Titanium (NiTi), allowing for temperature-controlled locking and unlocking. These structures were created through additive manufacturing for dynamic applications.

The popular portable power station brand Jackery has partnered with Creality to offer consumers new ways to charge their next 3D print - solar included. The new "Power your Creativity" bundles can unlock savings of up to $199 compared to the purchase of their contents separately at the time of writing. Can they beat separate purchases on other platforms such as Amazon?

A Reddit user has created and shared a simple and cheap mod for the Powkiddy V10 that slims the device down to a flat profile. The mod requires a little bit of work, including sourcing and placing in a smaller battery. It retains the full functionality of the device, including the shoulder buttons.

The Netherlands' Data Protection Association, a nationwide personal data watchdog organization, has issued a fine of around $33.7 million to Clearview AI over a global facial recognition database. They are not the first or only national organization to go after the company. Allegations generally fall along the same lines: that Clearview gathered the photos it has on hand illegally, and has invaded the privacy of those whose likenesses it has on hand.

Anycubic is celebrating nine years of bringing 3D printing to the masses with a new sale featuring products such as the latest Kobra 3 Combo multi-color PLA printer. There are also deals on the brand's large-volume Photon M3 Max, as well as the newer, high-res Photon Mono M7 Pro.

Scantech has unveiled the Simscan-E handheld laser scanner to rapidly create 3D models from real-world objects. The wireless scanner uses up to 63 laser lines to scan objects at over six million measurements per second. The 3D models can be used to verify production accuracies, create virtual models, and replicate parts.

The Mars 5 Ultra from Elegoo is a new 3D printer designed to enable the production of particularly detailed 3D prints and is easy to use for beginners. The model can also be conveniently accessed via WiFi.

A new 3D-printed microneedle system has been designed by researchers at the University of Victoria and the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation. It combines remote health monitoring and drug delivery, and uses painless, minimally invasive tiny microneedles to measure key health indicators like pH, glucose, and lactate levels. It also features a remotely-triggered mechanism for on-demand drug administration, all controlled via a smartphone app.

Most phone game controllers are bulky and hold the phone between the grips like the Razer Kishi, GameSir G8 and various other options. However an entrepreneur by the name of Josh King has spent the last 5 years creating a prototype PSP Go style slide out controller for the iPhone and hopes to bring it to market soon.

McDonald's is partnering with Philips MyCreation to implement a new 3D-printed lighting system in all 38,000 of its restaurants globally. The goal is to create a more inviting atmosphere while reducing environmental impact through on-demand, recyclable 3D-printed lampshade production and lower shipping emissions. This initiative aligns with McDonald's aim to significantly reduce its environmental footprint by 2030.

nidus3D, a Canadian company has constructed North America's first 3D-printed three-story building in the Toronto area. The 4,500-square-foot structure features four residential units and the world's first 3D-printed basement. This project aptly demonstrates the potential of 3D printing to reshape economically (and environmentally) sustained construction in the future.

The Framework laptops are best known for their modular and repairable design. Now, the company has taken things to the next level by open-sourcing the 3D CAD files for its 16-inch laptop. This will enable users with 3D printers to make their own accessories.

The Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo is backed to deliver seamless multi-color 3D-printed models. It will be released in early May 2024 with a reduced price and freebies valued at over $180 for early-bird buyers. They include a sample of the brand's new and exclusive PANTONE-validated filaments.

A DIY hardware modder known as YesItsKira has modded the Asus ROG Ally and converted it into a Nintendo 3DS-like gaming handheld. The secondary DIY screen even closes like a clam, just like the classic console.

The world's largest 3D-printed housing community has been completed - and the company behind it has now developed an AI architect who designs customized homes that are then built by a robot in record time. As well as reducing costs and making housing more affordable, the smart technology, combined with low-CO2 concrete, is also helping to protect the environment.

Anycubic touts its latest product event as a revolution in multi-color 3D printing. The OEM has partnered with PANTONE to present new filaments in exclusive "true-to-life" shades, up to 8 of which can be fed to a new Kobra 3 printer in a "seamless, hassle-free" way that also integrates a new auto-drying feature.

The latest additions to ELEGOO's Saturn series have launched with cutting-edge features such as the Tilt Release Technology that might reduce print time and damage to the resulting model in the new top-end 4 Ultra. It also boasts a light source touted to yield smoother results and an AI-powered print-monitoring system.

Bambu Lab has just announced a price reduction for its entry level A1 mini 3D printer, which received positive reviews upon launch last year for packing a lot of features at a reasonable price. The A1 mini is now priced at $249, down from $299, while the AMS Lite combo with multi-colour printing is down to $399 from $459. A new firmware update also brings a number of significant features to the device.

It’s hard to come across smartphones that feature physical built-in keyboards these days. However, the DIY hardware community has kept the concept alive. One of the latest projects is called Fairberry, and it aims to let you attach a proper BlackBerry keyboard to any modern phone.

Creality is now offering a new 3D printer. The model is said to be characterized by high speed, powerful component cooling and easy maintenance. A display is installed and is designed for easy operation.

NVIDIA’s AI research team has unveiled a new generative model that can turn text prompts into 3D models within a second, ready (or at least close to it) for applications such as game development, design and robotics. So far, the model has only been trained to generate “animals and everyday objects”, but more categories can be added. The near-instant speed should transform many workflows.

Becky Stern, known for making DIY tech project tutorials, has made a cat TV for her feline friends. It's powered by a Raspberry Pi 5 and can automatically loop cat-friendly videos from YouTube on startup.

MIT Self Assembly Lab has prototyped the 4D Knit Dress that achieves perfect fit through heat treatment. Heat shrink fibers are computer woven into a dress, then selectively shrunk and shaped by a robotic arm-mounted heat gun to achieve the perfect fit.

A prototype 3D printed airless basketball first showcased by Wilson a year ago will finally be available to buy from February 16, albeit in a limited run of fewer than 200. Designed as a rigid open-lattice shell, the Airless Gen1 Basketball has the exact same size, weight and rebound as a regular basketball. However, at $2500, the first-of-its-kind ball certainly won’t come cheap.

Bambu is recalling a 3D printer. Users should shut it down immediately and not continue to use it under any circumstances. The manufacturer has decided to take a very drastic step, but users can still wait.

Melt down a block of aluminum, set up the 3D printer and have a frame or stand made. Sturdy enough for further processing. The goal: aluminum recycling in a new dimension.

Creality has just announced the K1C, an upcoming version of its popular K1 3D printer that adds support for carbon fibre filament types. The K1C also features a new all-metal extruder and tri-metal nozzle for clog-free printing, an AI enabled camera for monitoring and an integrated air purifier. There will be several offers available on pre-orders, starting January 24.

Anycubic asserts that its latest product is ideal for resin 3D printing even in cold weather thanks to its new integrated heating and air-purification features. The Photon Mono M5s Pro is also rated for a 14K resolution for potentially increased precision and detail in its output, which is also rated to turn out quickly and more evenly. The M5s Pro will launch soon with limited-time special offers, which include the chance to score a free resin bottle or two.

Bambu Lab has announced that it will be offering customers the option to install ‘X1 Plus’, a 3rd-party, open-source firmware for its X1 series of 3D printers. A switch to X1 Plus would involve some sacrifice, as it will permanently revoke the official warranty, and there’s no guarantee of being able to use the cloud service or revert to the official firmware. X1 Plus introduces new features including automatic bed levelling and input shaping calibration graphs.

Manufacturer Two Trees has a new 3D printer on offer. The open model has an unusual design and a dual-gear extruder, and can also be operated wirelessly.

Bambu Lab’s new firmware update for the X1 series of FDM 3D printers includes its motor noise cancelling feature, which was first seen in the A1 mini. After an initial 10-15 minute calibration, the system cuts out certain frequencies from the motor’s operation. The upgrade also includes improved UI structure and responsiveness. The P1 series will also be getting motor noise cancelling soon.