From desktop printers to rocket engines — additive manufacturing.
America Makes announced JAQS-SQ Project winners this week while Axtra3D expanded its dental material ecosystem through a partnership with Keystone Industries. BigRep and Endless Industries demonstrated continuous carbon fiber reinforcement technology, signaling momentum toward production-ready additive manufacturing. Meanwhile, Utrecht University research suggests 3D printing could democratize global manufacturing power.
Additive manufacturing is making a decisive shift from prototyping tool to full production line asset, according to fresh analysis this week. Simultaneously, new research on maritime and energy applications explores how AM technologies can cut spare-part emissions, while Manufacturing Dive examines how real-world use cases — from NASA's Artemis II mission to dental aligners — are proving the technology's production readiness.
3D Systems reported a strong Q1 2026 comeback with signs of recovery from a multi-year slowdown, while Forbes highlighted the Pentagon's rapidly expanding reliance on additive manufacturing across all defense domains. Industry analysts and practitioners are also taking a closer look at the realities of plastic AM materials and 3D printing's growing role in construction.
This week's additive manufacturing news features Caracol's emergence as a transatlantic 3D printing startup with a five-year stealth strategy, fresh market data projecting the global additive manufacturing industry to reach $133.48 billion by 2032 at a 21.86% CAGR, and coverage of reconstructive surgery applications alongside America Makes project calls. The aerospace 3D printing sector is highlighted with projections to reach $6.80 billion by 2030, while healthcare remains a key growth frontier.
Stratasys reported declining printer hardware sales in Q1 2026, pivoting its strategy toward defense and drone applications while leaning on recurring revenue streams. Separately, the tech community is voicing growing concerns over proposed 3D printer restrictions, and new market data puts the global additive manufacturing industry on track for continued rapid expansion.
A startup successfully tests 3D-printed rocket fuel at 1,800 PSI, marking a significant advance in additive manufacturing for defense applications. Roboze unveils its Argo 500 Hyperspeed Mission Ready printer targeting aerospace and defense with advanced polymer processing capabilities. Meanwhile, the automotive 3D printing market is projected to hit $25 billion by 2033 as additive manufacturing reshapes vehicle production.
Russia's Rosatom has made a significant move into the Indian additive manufacturing market with a large-scale industrial printer delivery, marking a new geopolitical dimension to the global AM industry. Meanwhile, scientific research continues to advance AI-driven quality prediction for FDM polymer printing. The broader industry calendar is shaping up with IMTS 2026 workshops on aerospace and medical applications drawing interest from practitioners.
This week saw major developments across the additive manufacturing spectrum: South Korea's INNOSPACE became the first in the country to commercialize support-free titanium metal AM for aerospace, Rosatom delivered its largest industrial 3D printer to India for the space sector, and a new AI framework promises to predict metal 3D-printed part strength in seconds. Meanwhile, HP hosted a webinar on the realities of scaling 3D printing beyond prototyping, and a fresh roundup of six new AM products hit the market.
The week following RAPID + TCT 2026 saw continued analysis of the show's impact, with industry observers noting a pragmatic, production-focused shift in additive manufacturing. Bambu Lab launched its new X2D printer outside the show floor, while LOOP 3D revealed an industrial-grade machine targeting continuous uptime. Meanwhile, a dramatic story emerged around Eplus3D's cancelled IPO and the world's largest 3D printer ambitions.
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.
RAPID + TCT 2026 concluded in Boston this week, delivering a wave of new hardware, materials, and market moves across the additive manufacturing space. Bambu Lab quietly retired its X1 Series FFF printers, signaling a generational shift in consumer desktop 3D printing. Meanwhile, a peer-reviewed study introduced a sustainable natural rubber elastomer 3D printing process, and Anycubic made a strong showing at the show with next-generation multicolor and large-format resin systems.
RAPID+TCT 2026 is in full swing in Boston this week, generating a flurry of announcements across simulation, materials, and production-scale additive manufacturing. Bambu Lab has officially unveiled its X2D printer, resetting the X-series with a dual-extrusion system, while Axtra3D marked five years as a production-focused company at the event. Lightbridge Corporation also secured a European patent covering an additive manufacturing method for nuclear fuel elements.
3D Systems is set to unveil a major new high-throughput production platform and factory software suite at RAPID + TCT 2026 in Boston, targeting industrial-scale additive manufacturing. Stratasys announced new polymer materials and warped-modeling software ahead of the same event. Meanwhile, Nike's Air Max line, defense contracts, and post-processing advancements round out a busy week for the industry.
The global 3D printing market crossed $16 billion in 2025 and shows renewed momentum, while researchers unveiled an AI-designed steel alloy purpose-built for additive manufacturing. Industry news this week also covers new America Makes project calls, LiDAR scanning advances, and vapor smoothing developments from the additive manufacturing ecosystem.
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