2025 was an extraordinary year for 3D printing, with innovations reshaping fields as diverse as medicine, automotive, and aerospace. In this article, we’ve brought together a selection of our favorite videos from the year, where creativity and technology come together to shape the future. From inspiring stories to groundbreaking projects and applications, discover how 3D printing continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our top videos of 2025, listed below.
Between Layers: An Exclusive Interview With Joel Telling
We open our selection with the first episode of Between Layers, the new original series from 3Dnatives that looks beyond technical specifications to spotlight the human side of additive manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Elliot sits down with Joel Telling, widely known as the 3D Printing Nerd. Joel takes us behind the scenes of his journey, from his first experiments in 2014 with a FlashForge Creator Pro, printing My Little Pony figurines and troubleshooting at home, to running a modern print farm. The video also explores how his background in software development has shaped his approach to 3D printing and reflects on the power of technology as a source of inspiration for future generations of engineers.
Customized Drones on the Battlefield
The role of additive manufacturing in the defense sector reached new heights in 2025, as highlighted in this in-depth report by The Wall Street Journal. The video takes viewers inside the United States Army’s Lightning Labs in Hawaii, where soldiers are no longer just operators but have become manufacturers in their own right. Using 3D printing, the Army can now design, print, and assemble lethal FPV drones in just a few hours, starting from simple digital files. This frontline manufacturing capability removes reliance on vulnerable Pacific supply chains, while significantly reducing both costs and delivery times.
3D Bio-Resorbable Heart Valves
Medicine continues to make major strides thanks to 3D printing, and research in 2025 has once again delivered remarkable breakthroughs. In this video, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology present a groundbreaking solution that could transform the lives of millions of patients living with heart disease. The innovation is a 3D-printed artificial heart valve made from bio-resorbable materials. Unlike traditional prostheses, the valve is designed to be gradually absorbed by the body, allowing the patient’s natural tissue to grow around it and regenerate. This technology is particularly promising for pediatric patients, as a valve that adapts as the body grows could spare children from the multiple and high-risk surgeries that are currently required throughout childhood.
Japan’s First 3D-Printed Train Station
The construction sector also delivered its share of surprises in 2025. This spring, Japan completed the world’s first 3D-printed train station in just one week. The compact white structure, featuring a curved roof and a minimalist design, was installed in a rural area of western Japan. Assembly began shortly after midnight, once the last train had departed from Arita Station, and was completed before the arrival of the first scheduled service at around 5 a.m. The entire structure was assembled in just two hours.
Prusa CORE One: The Professional Evolution of Desktop 3D Printing
In this edition of 3D Snapshot, we take a closer look at the Prusa CORE One, the first fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer from Prusa Research. Designed to blur the line between hobbyist and professional use, the system combines speed, precision, and accessibility in a sleek form factor that has already earned the prestigious Red Dot Design Award 2025. Whether for makers, educators, or engineers, the CORE One redefines the standards of prosumer systems by bridging the gap between the ease of a desktop machine and the reliability expected from industrial solutions.
3D Printing and Bio-Pastry: The Future of Italian Taste
After Italian cuisine was recognized as part of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage, Italy’s gastronomic tradition has begun to extend beyond the hands of chefs and into the realm of advanced technologies. Researchers are developing sweet snacks produced through 3D printing, using laboratory-grown plant cells and fruit byproducts to create a nutritious material that can be shaped into fully 3D-printed pastries. Following early experiments with products such as Barilla’s star-shaped pasta, 3D printing is now extending to pastries. Would you be willing to try them?
McLaren W1: 3D Printing for Formula 1 Inspired Suspension
The luxury automotive sector reaches a new technological milestone with the McLaren Automotive W1, the British manufacturer’s latest supercar that leverages additive manufacturing to redefine on-road performance. Through a partnership with Divergent Technologies, McLaren has integrated 3D-printed front suspension components directly into the Aerocell carbon fiber monocoque. This design freedom has enabled engineers to rapidly test and refine concepts, resulting in groundbreaking structural components that enhance both driving performance and driver engagement to an unprecedented level.
Australia’s First 3D-Printed House
Throughout the year, we have seen numerous examples of how 3D printing is being applied in the construction sector. Genesis, the first 3D-printed house in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, represents a major step forward in residential architecture. Built in Sydney, the project combines rapid construction, sustainability, and customization, highlighting the potential of 3D concrete printing through elegant curves, distinctive textures, and improved environmental efficiency.
Incredible 3D-Printed Guitars
The world of music has also given us some amazing innovations this year. In our 3D Interview series, we had the opportunity to interview Olaf Diegel, professor of AM and founder of ODD Guitars, a company that is revolutionizing the music world thanks to 3D printing. From the design process to the finished product, discover how additive manufacturing is transforming the music industry, overcoming traditional limitations in guitar creation and pushing the boundaries of instrument design and customization.
Honorable Mention: The 5-Axis 3D Printer
In the final entry of our roundup of the best 3D printing videos of 2025, we could not leave out this 5-axis 3D printer in action, which quickly went viral across social media. The machine can move the nozzle along multiple axes simultaneously, enabling the creation of complex geometries through unconventional motion paths and delivering higher precision than traditional 3-axis printers. How many times have you already watched it on loop?
What was you favorite video of 2025? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel. Wishing you a happy New Year from the 3Dnatives team!