3D Printing News
Note: we are now including articles on plant-based foods in the field of vegan nutrition.

Engineers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have devised a new system to use multiple materials inside of one continuous print. Their method combines many smaller extruders into a single high-output stream with special nozzles. Usually large extrusion heads are heavy on robotic arms. Mixed-scale or tapered parts require slower processing to avoid warping or heat build-up. With the new system, users can activate or deactivate smaller extruders as needed. The new nozzle blocks, made from aluminum bronze, are patent pending.

Regenerative medicine is working on solving 2 complex problems: 3D bioprinting living humanized skin models made from real human cells; and biologic building blocks. Modeling how skin changes over time is key to developing solutions for healing chronic wounds as well as understanding how different therapies react on different skins and ages. Additionally, using biologic materials rather than synthetics is essential for making implants that integrate smoothly with the body. It also eliminates animal testing and the differences in animal physiology from humans. Work also continues on "zombie cells" which don't die but continue dividing.

Scientists at the Computational Robot Design and Fabrication Lab (CREATE) in EPFL’s School of Engineering are using discarded crustacean shells to make robotic devices. They are finding that these new exoskeletons offer a useful combination of flexibility and strength. Their results include a manipulator that can handle things weighing up to 500 g, grippers that can bend and grasp, and a swimming robot. The grippers can grab objects like a highlighter pen and a tomato, while the swimming robot with 2 flapping fins can move as fast as 11 centimeters per second. Reuse and recycling are important features of the new devices.

A new composite that can heal itself 1,000 times has been developed at North Carolina State University. The currently used FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) is strong and not too heavy but fails when the layers of polymer start to unstick from each other. Although the failure may not appear for 15 - 40 years, the repair or replacement becomes a huge expense. Essentially the new material embeds carbon-based heaters in several layers and then applies current to them. In testing, the researchers broke and repaired more than 1,000 objects. Results were excellent during the first 500 trials, although after that a slight decrease in strength was detected. On the plus side, the new material could be repaired 1000 times in the same place.

Doctors in the department of genetics at Yale University have created a model system to study Alzheimer's. Their efforts are centered on microglial cells which are essential to maintain the health of the brain. These resident immune cells regulate synapse formation. neuronal survival, and elimination of cells programmed to die. Earlier work has identified a connection between microglial cells and conditions like autism, Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.

You might brighten a rainy day by using an autonomous flying umbrella. It is said to follow you and shield you from rain and sunlight. Essentially you will be using a hands-free drone with 4 hidden propellors that provide the lift and control. Included is a time-of-flight depth camera which emits light and measures how it reflects back. 3D printing and carbon-fiber nylon form the backbone of the system, along with a professional flight controller that keeps the device balanced, and an embedded GPS to hold its position outdoors.

A new study from the University of Arkansas looks into using the atmosphere on Mars to help 3D print metal parts. The engineers are focusing on SLM (selective laser melting) which is used to 3D print stainless steel, the basic material of many industries. Essentially the engineers had to avoid oxidation which occurs when you use a shield gas made of argon, the current method. Argon is cotly and doesn't exist on Mars. Their solution is aesthetically unattractive but that characteristic holds little importance for astronauts trying to stay alive for a long time in an inhospitable environment.

ReelTime Media has announced success with converting 2D images into rotatable 3D models that can be exported for 3D printing. You can experiment with it yourself at RI by the Numbers, which boasts of continuous progress through community feedback and adaptive learning. The site claims that it supports 7,000 languages and 5B devices.

Elastium, a startup based in the United Arab Emirates, has launched the first fully 3D printed sneakers made of 100% fully recyclable foam. The company claims that 22 out of 23 billion pairs of shoes manufactured annually end up in landfills and may not decompose for hundreds of years. These new foam sneakers, on the other hand, are quick to make, on-demand, and sustainable. They are said to be made of high-performance, soft, lightweight, resilient foams combined with lattice structures, machine washable and wearable without socks.

For the chocoholics among you, Sweet Robo has just launched ChocoPrint. The machine makes custom shapes, complex patterns, and branded products. Currently Sweet Robo operates over 1,300 machines in 25 countries. It has also formed a partnership with RoboBurger, an automated burger kiosk featured on Shark Tank.

Many companies are using high-tech and confusing language to disguise the fact that plastics are part of their product or their process, especially in the food industry. Buyer beware. Demand an easy-to-understand explanation before you eat or buy.

We review many hundreds of articles each month, culling the most significant for you. We also welcome suggestions from our viewers for products and processes that we may have missed.

c.Corinne Whitaker 2026