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

The phrase scalable phonomic metamaterials refers to 3D prints 10 times thinner than a human hair, produced using very intense laser pulses. The structures are so tiny you need a microscope to see them. This method employs "two-proton polymerization", meaning an extremely powerful laser emitting short bursts. The process is believed to be useful in sound control or to tamper noise in large buildings.

Plant-based cod will be served soon in the U.S. by Revo Foods and Juicy Marbles. Called Kinda Cod filet, it is made from fermented mycoprotein and will be sold online. Another mycoprotein product based on potatoes has been patented by The Better Meat Co. Mycoprotein is also being used in tofu, jerky, and gnocchi by Low Food.

Engineers are now able to create complex networks of blood vessels for 3D printed organs, solving a major roadblock on the road to keeping organs alive. This brings hope to the more than 100,000 people in the U.S. waiting for donor organs. Stanford University researchers published their findings in Science. The authors note that there is still a big leap to be made from simulation to real life.

In a study published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Postech researchers built a 3D artificial brain model layer by layer that closely resembles the human brain. The human brain is a complex and largely unexplored organ, making early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's extremely difficult. Even everyday alcohol intake may cause neural damage. The project focused on 2 distinct brain areas: grey matter, containing neuronal cells; and white matter, with its information roadmaps that enable the transmission of signals.

A futuristic pair of sneakers has just been produced by Magic Stick. The shoes, made of an elastomer with an elasticity resembling rubber, are said to be lightweight, cushioned, and suppotive for comfortable walking.

An upgraded form of 3D printed leather has been developed by Beyond Leather. The company uses upcycled apple waste to produce its Leap Flex, meant for upholstered furniture and complex organic forms. The new material is said to offer greater strength, durability, and stretch. Two new colors are also available, Burgundy and Macchiato Beige.

A new material for 3D printed ceramics is said to bend under pressure. Using a soft polymer coating, the material turns fragile ceramics into tough yet flexible objects. The researchers at the University of Houston, Texas, used the Miura-ori origami pattern, a process that folds something flat like paper so that it takes up less space but remains flat. The new method was based on the composition of nacre, mother of pearl. The coating stops cracks and reduces tensile damage allowing the material to flex and recover.

Engineers at the Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT) continue to innovate 3D printing with glass, now making it possible to print at lower temperatures. The researchers call the new material inorganic composite glass, containing nanoparticles and a silicate solution. After the glass has been printed, it is immersed in an oil bath where the temperature is raised to 250 degrees centigrade. An organic solvent then removes any remaining residue.

Two former athletes decided to improve upon the off-the-shelf gloves currently available, noting that these tend to tear, slip, and fit poorly. The twin brothers founded ARMA to manufacture specialized performsnce gloves. Still in production, the process begins by having customers download a scanning app, which sends the scanned hands to the company's facilities. ARMA uses a gravity-free printing method called Rapid Liquid Print (RLP) which was developed at MIT's self-assembly lab. Through the integration of sensors, biometrics, and live data tracking, the final gloves are meant to feel like a second skin. The gloves can be personalized with colors and brand logos. An AI coach will also be available to enhance performance.

The first facility for making plant-based drinks in Southeast Asia will be built in Selangor, Malaysia. Called The Mylky Way, it intends to give local companies the same expertise enjoyed by international brands. An increased consumer interest in plant-based beverages has prompted the development of the new facility. It will offer enzymatic processing and VTIS (Vacuum Thermal Injection Sterilisation), both meant to sterilize quickly without spoiling flavor. No need for refrigeration will also be incorporated into the production.

Engineers at University of California, San Diego, have devised a robot that runs on air rather than electricity. The robot has no electronic parts and needs only an air cannister to move. It features 6 flexible legs, each one able to move up and down or side to side. A process of inflating and deflating chambers in the robot's body causes the legs to move. The robot is also made in a single piece of just one material. Whenever it takes a step, 3 legs move simultaneously while the other 3 stay on the ground, maintaining stability. It is also waterproof.

At the Space Architecture Studio at MIT, inflatable work boots for astronauts have been designed. They contain 2 parts, one a lock and the other air support. The bottom of the boots is made of 3D printed soles that can rotate, while transparent tubes are attached to inflate the air bags before the astronauts put them on. As soon as the bags are filled with air, the astronauts can put on the boots, feeling as though they were standing on solid ground even though they are really floating in space.

In a small pilot study, a magnetic 3D printed pen might be able to identify people with Parkinson's Disease. The pen can capture tell-tale motions associated with Parkinson's, is inexpensive, and excellent for low-income nations. The device would be linked to a phone app for analysis. The study was 96% accurate in identifying Parkinson's vs. healthy patients.

One note of caution: 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 2025