3D Printing & Additive — 2026-04-24
This week in additive manufacturing, Craftcloud and HP launched a new on-demand Multi Jet Fusion parts portal, Scrap Labs unveiled a lower-cost metal LPBF printer at RMRRF 2026, and Stratasys expanded its PolyJet and materials portfolio. Meanwhile, post-RAPID+TCT coverage highlights micro-precision printing advances from Boston Micro Fabrication and Lithoz, and new research applies machine learning to predict FDM mechanical properties.
3D Printing & Additive — 2026-04-24
Key Highlights
Craftcloud & HP Launch On-Demand MJF Parts Portal
HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions and global manufacturing platform Craftcloud launched a new on-demand portal designed to accelerate sourcing of Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) parts. The partnership positions itself as a faster, more streamlined path for engineers and procurement teams to access production-quality MJF components without establishing in-house capacity.
Scrap Labs Debuts Lower-Cost Metal LPBF Printer
Boulder, Colorado-based Scrap Labs unveiled its Scrap 1 Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) 3D printer at the Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival (RMRRF) 2026 in Loveland, Colorado. The system is positioned as a lower-cost metal additive manufacturing solution, a notable move in a segment that has historically demanded enterprise-level investment.
Stratasys Expands PolyJet, Software & Materials Portfolio
Stratasys announced a cluster of product updates: a new PolyJet printer, new software tools for GrabCAD, a new medical silicone material for Origin systems, and a new PA12 powder for SAF production processes. The updates collectively target functional prototyping and production applications across medical, aerospace, and industrial markets.
AMUG Presents DINO Awards; Axtra3D Marks Five-Year Anniversary
At the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) conference, six members received the prestigious DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operators) Award. Separately, Axtra3D celebrated its five-year anniversary as a production-focused additive manufacturing company.
Micro-Precision AM: Boston Micro Fabrication & Lithoz at RAPID+TCT
Post-show RAPID+TCT coverage spotlights Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) and Lithoz, two companies focused on highly detailed micro-precision additive manufacturing for medical, electronics, and semiconductor applications. BMF is described as a leader in micro-precision AM, with both companies showcasing parts at the limits of current additive resolution capabilities.
Post-Processing in Focus: RAPID 2026 Workflow Coverage
PostProcess Technologies and mass finishing solutions were highlighted as key components of the full AM workflow on display at RAPID+TCT. Industry coverage emphasized the growing importance of post-processing as a bottleneck in scaling additive manufacturing from prototyping to production.
Machine Learning for FDM Mechanical Property Prediction
Researchers published a new study in Scientific Reports applying multi-target machine learning models to predict mechanical properties of FDM-printed polymer components. The research addresses a core industrial challenge: process-induced variability in FDM output makes consistent mechanical performance difficult to guarantee, and ML-driven prediction models could help close that gap.
Farsoon Advances Copper Alloy 3D Printing
Farsoon Technologies has made advances in copper alloy LPBF printing, targeting speed, precision, and scale. Copper alloys have historically been difficult to process in LPBF due to their high reflectivity to near-infrared lasers, making this a technically significant development for aerospace, electronics, and advanced energy applications.
BLT Uses Titanium 3D Printing for OPPO Foldable Phone Hinge
Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) collaborated with smartphone maker OPPO to produce titanium 3D-printed hinge components for the OPPO Find N6 foldable smartphone. The titanium parts were engineered to improve display flatness and minimize screen creasing — an early example of metal AM entering mass-market consumer electronics.
Fraunhofer & NMI Develop 3D-Printed Biomimetic Tissue Substitute
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute have jointly developed a patent-pending biomimetic tissue substitute using 3D printing as its structural backbone. The material — combining a polyurethane acrylate polymer film, a 3D-printed wavy metastructure, and electrospun collagen — is described as ready for industrial translation.
Sinterit Launches Free 3D Printing Academy
Polish SLS printer manufacturer Sinterit has launched a free online 3D Printing Academy, structured around three learning tracks: Fundamentals, Engineers, and Business. The initiative targets the persistent knowledge gap between AM technology capabilities and practical industrial adoption.
Bambu Lab Discontinues X1 Series
Bambu Lab has officially ended production of the X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E printers as of March 31, 2026. The company confirmed that support — including spare parts and technical assistance — will continue through March 2031.
Resin Recycling Market Report Released
Global Info Research has published a new market report on the 3D Printer Resin Recycling sector, covering global market share, demand forecasting, and circular economy dynamics through 2032. The report targets AM professionals and sustainability directors tracking waste reduction strategies in additive workflows.
Analysis
The most compelling development this week is the democratization of metal 3D printing via Scrap Labs' Scrap 1. Metal LPBF has long been the domain of well-funded manufacturers and research institutions, with system costs frequently exceeding $500,000. A Boulder-based startup debuting a lower-cost LPBF system at a community-oriented event like RMRRF — rather than at an enterprise trade show — signals a meaningful shift in who can access metal additive manufacturing. If the Scrap 1 delivers on its promise, it could do for metal printing what early desktop FDM machines did for polymer printing: unlock a broader developer and maker ecosystem, drive iteration on metal AM workflows, and ultimately push industrial players to compete more aggressively on price.
Equally notable is BLT's titanium printing work for OPPO's Find N6 hinge. Consumer electronics is one of the few industries where tolerance requirements, material performance demands, and production volumes converge at a level that would seem to rule out AM entirely. The fact that a mass-market foldable phone is now shipping with titanium 3D-printed structural components suggests that metal AM's unit economics are improving faster than many analysts expected.
What to Watch
- AMA: Energy 2026 — An additive manufacturing event focused on the energy sector is scheduled for April 30, 2026, with sessions covering AM's role in fusion energy materials and broader industrial energy applications. Loughborough University's work on fusion energy materials is highlighted as a key topic.
- IMTS 2026 — Additive manufacturing workshops for Aerospace + Defense and Medical applications are open for registration ahead of the September 14–19 show.
- MX3D PIONEER Project outcomes — The EU Horizon-funded PIONEER project, led by MX3D and focused on hybrid Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) for civil engineering at scale, has just concluded. Detailed results and next steps are expected to be published shortly.
- 3D Printing Industry website redesign — The publication has signaled a significant platform redesign launching "in the coming weeks," following reader feedback.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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