Research

Construction 3D printing promises many advantages over traditional methods. It is often hailed as faster, cheaper and more sustainable than typical builds. However, there is still room for improvement. Concrete, the most commonly used material for construction 3D printing, leaves…

This year, we have seen a surge in popularity in large-format additive manufacturing solutions. Directed energy deposition especially has seen quite a lot of buzz, with applications in aerospace and defense taking center stage. Now there is yet another. AML3D…

While 3D printing has been around for decades, silicone 3D printing technology is something relatively new. The material is compatible with photopolymerization and material extrusion, but there are relatively few manufacturers making silicone 3D printing solutions. That does not mean…

3D printing can be used to overcome some of the key challenges facing the food industry. For example, specific shapes, flavors and consistencies can create special foods for children or people with swallowing problems, or to achieve an individual nutrient…

A team of researchers at Swansea University have 3D printed a coral-inspired bone graft. What’s remarkable? Their study found that the new material not only dissolves naturally in the body after the repair is complete but that it also promotes…

All 3D printers, despite the diversity of technology, must be anchored in one place to print. They can, of course, be transported from place to place, but always by humans: none of them have a mechanism that allows them to…

Biology has long been a source of design inspiration—think of Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine, a contraption with wings inspired by bats. Today, engineers continue the practice, often integrating models inspired by nature into 3D printed designs. In a new…

At the Purdue Energetics Research Center, researchers are exploring new ways of improving the performance of energetic materials using 3D printing. These materials, capable of releasing significant energy during reactions, include explosives, propellants and pyrotechnic devices. They also have applications…

In solar energy production, a solar cavity receiver maximizes light captured from the sun, converting it into thermal energy. However, high-temperature solar receivers tend to distribute heat unevenly, causing thermal stress. This can lead to plastic deformation and a shorter…

NASA has been exploring the power of additive manufacturing since the late 1990s. Initially, they were 3D printing with plastics, and in the early 2000s, they began using metal for prototypes. By the 2010s, NASA was 3D printing rocket engines.…

Directed energy deposition (DED) is one of the more versatile metal additive manufacturing technologies. Used for everything from large metal parts to repairs, the process is gaining popularity in different sectors. One area where we are particularly seeing a growing…

Concrete is a popular material for 3D printing, especially in the construction sector. It’s a composite material of aggregate—usually geological materials such as gravel, sand and crushed rock—that is bonded by fluid cement and hardened over time. In recent years,…