the digital giraffe - 3D print news

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

A new holographic printing method is being developed that can create soft living tissue in seconds instead of building it up layer by layer. The new process, called tomographic volumetric additive manufacturing (TVAM), uses holograms and laser light to make complex objects inside of liquid resin. Tests rendered millimeter-scaled objects in seconds and centimeter-scaled ones in minutes. The researchers embedded self-healing beams, and enabled their light engine to reduce speckle that would form rough surfaces.

Agribusiness ADM has added 8 new plant protein products to their output. The new offerings include soy protein isolates, soy protein concentrates, and pea flour, avalable for meat and dairy alternatives, beverages, snacks, and baked goods.

A selection of non-wristwatches is shown here, offering both fun and functionality away from your arm. They range from pendants to pockets to desktops, all with a sense of flair.

Europe's largest 3D printed apartment building has been completed in 3 months less than standard construction, with 12 apartments across 3 stories. The project in France required only 3 operators, with both load-bearing and walls printed on site. Human workers control the robot via tablet, eliminating heavy lifting in an industry already facing a labor shortage. The building includes perlite insulation, timber balcony structures,, and a hybrid gas/heat pump system.

Car afficionado Jay Leno took a 3D printed road-legal hypercar, the CZinger 21C, for a test run. The vehicle first went through 40 crash tests and California's carbon emission requirements. It is made of a special aluminum alloy containing no rare earth minerals. Each front wheel features independent electric drive. The driver sits in the middle of the car. Leno praised the steering and the smooth ride. He eventually reached 8,000 RPM, although the vehicle can reach 11,000.

Wool-based colorants have been developed as an alternative to pigments that use mainly petrochemical or coal-tar processes. The standard pigments also pollute millions of liters of waste water, are often non-biodegradable, and contain toxic heavy metals. New Zealand wool is being used for the new pigments, which are inexpensive compared to the synthetics.

The orthopedic cast is being redesigned as a breathable 4D-printed lattice shell. The pre-made mesh shell softens with heat, molds directly to the patient's skin, and hardens as it cools. The goal was to hold the body securely while allowing skin to breathe and water to pass through. It was also designed to let doctors make adjustments without having to cut through layers of rigid material.

A group of researchers from Pennsylvania State University has produced 3D printed hydrogel electrodes based on the patient's own MRI scan. This personalized method to record brain activity represents a major break-through from standard procedures. The hydrogel has a high water content and behaves like soft tissue, with its architecture derived from a honeycomb. The plan is for a hospital to get an MRI in the morning and the neurosurgeon that same afternoon to get an electrode that matches the patient's exact anatomy.

Engineers at Harvard have 3D printed artificial muscle-like filaments that twist, coil, and bend in response to temperature. The inspiration came from elephant trunks, octopus tentacles, and plant tendrils. A custom dual-channel nozzle co-extrudes 2 elastomers. Rotating the nozzle programs the filament's curvature and offers an extra design factor for fine-tuning.

A new form of 3D printed nervous system seamlessly embedded into a humanoid robot has just been announced. The robot can precisely handle everything from a fragile egg to a heavy wrench. Silver inks are printed inside, eliminating external cabling and points of failure. The time from CAD design to a functional prototype has been reduced from weeks to hours.

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