From desktop printers to rocket engines — additive manufacturing.
This week’s additive manufacturing news highlights a diverse range of applications, from America Makes’ 3D printed drones for National Manufacturing Day to innovative hacks using liquid materials on FDM printers. Additionally, new specialized engineering and dental materials were recommended, and industry analysts pointed to emerging trends in consumer printer markets.
The additive manufacturing sector continues its aggressive expansion, with new market projections indicating significant growth for both equipment and materials. Recent developments include the introduction of specialized engineering and dental printing materials, a shift toward contract manufacturing models, and updated industry benchmarks for consumer and industrial hardware.
Defense contracts and hypersonic applications are driving 3D printing adoption, while India launches 3D concrete-printed rural homes. A busy year of consumer printer launches reflects CoreXY's dominance and multicolor standardization.
Defense contractors and robotics manufacturers are driving new applications for 3D printing technology this week, with major announcements from Massivit and AML3D in the defense sector, while industrial FDM adoption accelerates for functional end-use components. Consumer printer markets remain stable with established models dominating, as manufacturers shift focus from hardware innovation to software and automation features.
The 3D printing market continues shifting from hardware sales to services, with AM services now valued near $2.5 billion. Carbon secured a key patent victory in Europe for dual-cure technology, while software and AI integration are reshaping design workflows ahead of major industry events. Consumer printers like Bambu Lab's P2S remain leaders in desktop manufacturing.
IMTS 2026 drew over 90,000 attendees to Chicago, cementing additive's place at the center of mainstream manufacturing. 3DPrint's weekend briefs covered bioceramic implants, 3D concrete printing, and new industry integrations. Fresh data on consumer and industrial launches remains limited.
This cycle's coverage centers on materials and medical additive manufacturing: 3DPrint.com's September 24 news briefs highlight new photopolymer reference materials, energy-saving metallic alloys for electric motors, and "Nanobone" applications. Medical AM takes the spotlight as AI-driven design and point-of-care integration headline the ADDITIV Medical 2026 program, while two fresh Springer papers push wearable strain sensors and ML-driven process tuning forward.
The global additive manufacturing market reported strong Q2 2026 performance, hitting $4.48 billion in revenue after six consecutive quarters of growth. Recent developments highlight a shift toward industrial production, with new metal platforms showcased at IMTS 2026 and structural applications for 3D-printed infrastructure gaining academic validation.
The additive manufacturing sector is seeing significant market expansion projections, with the 3D printing plastics market forecast to reach nearly $10 billion by 2033. Recent industry developments highlight a shift from prototyping to strategic production, driven by new metal desktop solutions and large-scale production workflows showcased at IMTS 2026.
The additive manufacturing sector is currently dominated by two major industry events: IMTS 2026 in Chicago and IFA 2026 in Berlin. Key developments include Stratasys showcasing production-proven AM solutions across aerospace and healthcare, while consumer-focused multicolor 3D printing innovations are taking center stage at IFA. Additionally, new financial analysis of Q2 2026 public market earnings highlights the sector's ongoing growth trajectory.
Impossible Objects has unveiled a new composite 3D printing technology capable of producing 10,000 drone bodies per month, marking a significant leap in mass production speed. Meanwhile, recent market analyses project the global 3D printing metal market to reach $76.86 billion by 2036, driven by aerospace and automotive adoption.
The additive manufacturing sector is seeing significant financial and operational updates, with AML3D reporting a 70% revenue jump driven by U.S. defense contracts. Meanwhile, major industry events like IMTS 2026 are approaching with a strong focus on aerospace and defense applications.
AML3D has reported a significant 70% revenue jump driven by a surge in U.S. defense contracts, highlighting the growing strategic importance of additive manufacturing in national security. Meanwhile, the US metal 3D printing market is accelerating due to increased adoption in aerospace, automotive, and healthcare sectors, with new research emphasizing lightweight components and design flexibility.
AML3D reported a 70% revenue jump driven by U.S. defense contracts, while new research highlighted advances in sensors and sustainability. IMTS 2026 is set to showcase industrial metal printing from Meltio and Stratasys.
The additive manufacturing sector saw significant developments in aerospace and defense applications, with 6K Additive reporting a sales surge driven by metal powder demand and the US military successfully testing at-sea metal 3D printing during RIMPAC 2026. Meanwhile, Formnext Asia Shenzhen highlighted China's mature AM supply chain, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems was selected to develop corrosion-resistant aluminum alloys for next-generation aerospace components.
Materialise reported a strong Q2 2026, driven by aerospace and defense demand. The industry also saw the launch of Meshy 7 software and the consolidation of ExOne and voxeljet, while a major world summit on additive manufacturing is currently underway in Seoul.
The additive manufacturing sector continues to expand rapidly, with new market analyses projecting the SLA 3D printing market to reach $19.9 billion by 2033 and the metal 3D printing market to grow at a 25% CAGR. Concurrently, industrial applications are deepening in aerospace and medical fields, highlighted by recent developments in certified titanium components for Lufthansa and personalized bone prostheses.
Fresh coverage this week highlights a 3D-printed sternum implant developed by surgeons in Israel and the launch of a new Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Michigan. Consumer-printer coverage also spotlights Bambu Lab’s X2D, while industry commentary from America Makes focuses on the need to accelerate additive-manufacturing adoption.
Additive manufacturing continues to expand across defense, aerospace, materials, and consumer hardware, although the technology remains a niche manufacturing method compared with injection molding and CNC. Fresh reporting this week highlights remote printing of electronics for military applications, rising demand for U.S.-made metal powders, and a possible fall launch for a consumer multifilament upgrade.
The 3D printing industry faces consolidation as major U.S. manufacturers exit the market, while advanced materials for 3D printing are poised for 17.5% annual growth through 2035. Industry model repositories are shifting away from legacy platforms, and resin printer technology continues to mature with improved user experiences.
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