#3DExpress: NY Bill for 3D Printer Background Check Reintroduced

In this week’s 3DExpress, learn about the reintroduced NY bill that would require a background check for anyone who wishes to buy a 3D printer. A controversial topic that has been revived for the 2025–2026 Legislative Session. Next, Forward AAM will be joining forces with RP American to ensure its continued operation in North America. Meanwhile, researchers have found a way to scan bridges to track damage, while LEHVOSS will be introducing new materials. Last but not least, engineers are seeking to find new materials that could replicate meat and fat for 3D printed food. Happy reading and have a great weekend.
NY Bill Would Require Background Check for Anyone Buying a 3D Printer
Ghost guns, or unmarked, untraceable firearms, are increasingly scrutinized by police departments over the world, as well as politicians, after a number of high-profile cases involving them, such as Luigi Mangione. This in turn has put 3D printers in the spotlight as one of the ways to make these weapons. As such, a New York state senator, Jenifer Rajkumar, has reintroduced a bill, named Assembly Bill A2228, to require a criminal background check for anyone who purchased a 3D printer capable of making guns for the 2025 – 2026 Legislative Session. The proposal is a controversial one, and perhaps for good reason, 3D printer makers have criticized it for its general tone which would put a burden on all interested in 3D printing, including an increasing number of schools, while lawmakers stress the need to find ways around growing difficulties in regulating guns. There doesn’t seem to be an answer one way or the other, but it will be interesting to see how the case evolves and how it will ultimately affect 3D printer sales in the state.

Photo Credits: Office of the New York State Attorney General
Forward AM Joins Forces With RP America
2024 was a turbulent year for Forward AM. In the middle of the year, the company broke away from BASF through a buy-out and was able to operate as an independent brand, but turbulence arose at the end of the year. The supplier of 3D printing materials had to file for insolvency and is currently undergoing restructuring. A new partnership with RP America should now ensure that the North American market can continue to be served. RP America is a sales and service provider that has also proven itself in the AM sector and will ensure the availability of Forward AM solutions in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Photo Credits: Forward AM
3D Scanning for Bridges
Found all over the world, bridges are structures often supported by steel girders which, over time, can deteriorate. The collapse of a bridge can be extremely dangerous, and sometimes even fatal. To avoid this, in addition to the financial consequences, researchers at Technische Universität Dresden and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst have used 3D scanning, and more specifically the Artec Leo 3D scanner, to develop a method for inspecting bridges. The data obtained is much more detailed, and the process is very fast, enabling rapid reaction. Simos Gerasimidis, Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, explains: “Usually corrosion happens to beams – the support structures of the bridge deck. Because of the deck of the bridge, you have to scan one side, stop, move the bucket, then scan the other. So being handheld, versatile, and easy to move around is very important. Leo also tells you if you’re too close or too far away, so you know on the spot if the scan was good or not. With Leo, you’re gathering (at least) hundreds of thousands of points in five minutes. Using traditional methods, you capture one point in three minutes. So, if you measure efficiency by time per data captured, it’s in a different universe.” Building on the scanned data, the researchers went a step further and fed it into analysis software to design overload scenarios. These were used as material to train an AI to instantly assess a powder’s ability to sustain loads.

Researchers are able to analyze the strength of bridge girders more quickly (photo credits: Artec 3D)
LEHVOSS Introduces New Range of Materials
Chemist LEHVOSS has just announced the launch of a new range of high-performance materials, available in pellet form. Called LUVOPRINT, this range will be particularly useful for creating molds, components and jigs for a variety of industries. The group has developed four types of polymer: ECO PC/ABS, which offers good dimensional stability and is easy to print; ECO PA6, which offers excellent resistance to abrasion, wear and impact; ECO PPS, which is a flame-retardant and has good chemical resistance; and PESU, also a flame-retardant, with very good thermal stability and mechanical resistance. LEHVOSS’ aim is to promote the adoption of additive manufacturing and offer materials with good reproducibility, thus guaranteeing mass production. The group will officially present its granules at the JEC trade show, which kicks off on March 4.

Photo Credits: LEHVOSS
New Materials to Reproduce Meat Muscle and Fat
A team of engineers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed a technology for producing meat analogues that mimic the structure of muscle and fat. Using the principles of materials science, they have created two new metamaterials: one reproduces the fibrous texture of muscle and the other animal fat. These materials make it possible to produce complex cuts such as steaks and chops, using a process similar to injection molding, which improves scalability and reduces costs compared with 3D printing. This technology offers a more affordable and sustainable solution to traditional meat production, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock farming. It also overcomes the obstacles associated with imitating the texture and composition of traditional meat, unlike 3D printing. These advances could therefore transform the food industry, making alternative proteins more affordable and better accepted by consumers.

Photo Credits: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
What do you think of this new bill for background checks for anyone who buys a 3D printer? Do you think it is justified? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.