3D Printing

University of British Columbia researchers have managed to bioprint working tubular structures from human testicular stem cells in order to fight a common causes male infertility. The 3D-printed testicular tubes will now be "coached" into sperm production the way they behave in healthy human testicles and potentially used for developing novel in-vitro fertilization treatments.

In yet another demonstration of bioprinting's abilities, scientists managed to retrofit a robotic arm with six degrees of movement freedom to 3D-print cardiac tissue. The faux heart managed to beat for at least six months, demonstrating the viability of the technology.

University of Utrecht researchers have managed to hone their 3D-bioprinting method enough to achieve the creation of functional liver-mimicking units that can detoxify impurities like the human organ. By using volumetric bioprinting via light sources, the scientists kept the liver organoids alive and intend to use the method for studying new drugs or regenerative medicine of damaged livers.

2022 Maverick pickup owners will be delighted to hear that the CAD files needed to 3D-print their own accessories for the Ford Integrated Tether System have been open-sourced by the carmaker. The system of slots in the Ford Maverick truck that lets them add cup holders, storage bins, and many more, has now been opened to the creativity of anyone with 3D-printing skills.

Valve is urging 'tinkerers, modders, accessory manufacturers, or folks who just want to 3D print a Steam Deck to see how it feels' to have a go at the portable console's CAD files it uploaded on GitHub. With the surface topography files, fans will be able to 3D-print their own custom Steam Deck shells to compensate for the single black color version at launch.

Parents of children with spine deformities will be delighted to hear about yet another medical application of the 3D-printing technology, this time potentially used for successful treatment of scoliosis. University of Glasgow researchers have developed a 3D-printed back brace that can sense and adapt to continuously right your posture while wearing it.

There is now a 3D-printed PlayStation controller mod that aids one-handed usage for all those gamers with accessibility disadvantages or just those who'd like to be able to dig in a KFC bucket during gameplay. The mod can be 3D-printed either for lefties or for righties, and the shoulder buttons are all grouped on the opposite side for single-finger access.

IKEA's new "Taste the Future" recruitment campaign shoots two birds with one stone by offering job candidates a plate of 3D-printed IKEA vegan meatballs to break the ice. IKEA is going plant-based for at least half of its main meals by 2025 and is also searching for tech and innovation talent to fill a number of open positions.

According to the Houston Police Department, one Ronald Caballero used potentially 3D-printed gun parts to modify two weapons for rapid fire which were then recovered when he shot three police officers during a traffic stop. ATF officials are increasingly worried about the proliferation of the so-called 'Glock switches' used to upgrade semi-automatic weapons.

Researchers from Fraunhofer IAPT, one of the leading additive manufacturing process science institutions, have managed to make 3D-printing of car parts in large quantities a viable alternative to traditional methods. A step-by-step optimization process resulted in a car door hinge that is lighter and cheaper than its milled counterpart.

OLED display manufacturing requires big machines and clean factories, making flexible OLED panels in modern phones and laptops the most expensive component there. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have managed to create the first bendy OLED screen done entirely by 3D-printing all of its active diodes, interconnects, and encapsulation, paving the way for cheaper OLEDs in the future.

Habitat for Humanity has delivered the first keys for a 3D-printed home in its Habitat Homebuyer Program to a Williamsburg, Virginia family. The single mother in need has participated in Habitat's projects for the hundreds of "sweat equity" hours required to apply, and can now move in her new home, 3D-printed by Alquist with special temperature-isolating concrete.

A partnership between the Technion Institute of Technology and the Sheba Medical Center has successfully biofabricated a human auricle with a 3D-printed scaffold and cartilage grown from the patient's own cells. So far, children with microtia have had to undergo painful costal cartilage grafts and wait until age 10 to have their undeveloped ears surgically reconstructed. The 3D-printed prosthetic ear method can be used from age six and is much less invasive.

In the last few days, a wild claim by the creator of the 3D-printed assisted suicide Sarco Pod made the news rounds, informing that their mobile euthanasia contraption was approved for use in Switzerland. It turns out that none of the organizations that provide assisted suicide in the country - like EXIT or Dignitas - knew of such a legal review or intends to employ the Sarco Pod in their euthanasia services. The mobile Sarco Pod's assisted suicide promise is one of idyllic settings and personal choices, while its oxygen deprivation method differs from the typical euthanasia practice in Switzerland.

Food science researchers have managed to whip up a concoction of soy protein isolate, emulsifiers, starches, and other plant-based ingredients to achieve "superior 3D printing performance" of plant-based meat dough. Their secret ingredient seems to have been the use of cocoa butter that finally made the patties flow, while the efforts to 3D-print substitute meat with pea protein have been futile. The researchers added shiitake powder to achieve the taste and say the meat replacement has as much protein as chicken.

Using biomimicry to replicate how birds land on tree branches and balance there, Stanford researchers have managed to create SNAG, the Stereotyped Nature-Inspired Aerial Grasper, which can fly like a quadcopter but land like a peregrine falcon. SNAG is not your average drone but a robotic bird that can grasp branches of various forms and textures with its 3D-printed legs, motors for muscles, and fishing line for tendons. The end goal is to conserve battery while filming or surveying an area by perching instead of hovering all the time.

A living 'microbial ink' has been developed by a research team at Harvard University and Harvard Medical school, which can be 3D printed. One of the living materials generated from the ink has been designed to release an anti-cancer drug on demand.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, one of the leading research centers in visual computing computer science based on images and 3D models, has 3D-printed a prosthetic eye. Using its proprietary Cuttlefish: Eye software and 3D-printing technology, the scientists have managed to create models in a fraction of the time typically needed for fitting one. Fraunhofer's new technology will undergo clinical trials in the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, where 40 patients will get 3D-printed prosthetic eyes.

Nexa3D revealed the XiP, which is the company's first attempt to manufacture a desktop 3D printer. The printer was developed using Nexa3D's proprietary and latest leading-edge technologies to create a future-proof and inventive 3D printer. The company asserts that the XiP is blazing fast, easy to maintain and will become available during Q2 2022.

The US$150,000 research project could answer significant questions about just how durable current generation 3D-printed parts can be in extreme situations.

Optomec has unveiled a new 3D printed Interconnect solution that substantially amplifies 5G signals. The company asserted that this solution increases the performance of mm-wave integrated circuits (ICs). This IC solution is facilitated by Optomec's newly designed Aerosol Jet HD2 printer, which has an ultra-high printing resolution.

The first company to obtain a permit for, then build a 3D-printed house in the US, now plans the world's largest 3D-printed neighborhood in Austin, TX.

A team of students from Swiss universities has developed a feline robot. The Dyana project has combined animatronics and 3D printing to create a cat-like character that moves in a feline way.

The 3D-printed muscular primate is not just proudly enthroned on its pedestal, but thanks to an integrated Raspberry Pi which powers an uncommon round display, it can also recite classic English literature.

The data of 228,000 Thingiverse users has been circulating within hacking groups for about one year. 3D Printing Industry declared that the data breach originally occurred in October 2020 and alleged that Thingiverse has been deficient in its response to the incident. Thingiverse has recently released a statement to acknowledge the hack and claimed that the leaked user data was non-sensitive.

The Sonic Mini 8K is Phrozen's highest-resolution 3D printer ever. The company has marketed the new 3D printer to both casual users and professionals who desire high-quality and precisely-detailed 3D prints. The device is available for pre-order from October 20.

MIT and BASF have teamed up to create an open-source AI algorithm that significantly speeds up the development of new materials for 3D printing with niche characteristics.

3D printing start-up Divergent has purchased three NXG XII 600 metal printers, doubling its production capacity. These new printers will allow Divergent to get vehicles on the road within the next two years.

The easy operation and formidable printing size of Creality's new and affordable resin-based 3D printer is intended to meet the expectations of both private and professional users.

The unique appearance of the fan-made Star Trek case for the Raspberry Pi 4 is not just visually impressive, but it also features a few practical design choices that turn the Borg Cube Case into a truly usable and flashy fan case for the single-board computer.