Category: 3D Printer

A research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has introduced a novel 3D printing method that significantly simplifies post-processing and reduces material waste. The innovation centers around a custom-formulated photopolymer resin whose behavior changes depending on the light wavelength used during printing. With this approach, both durable parts and easily removable support structures can be printed in a single pass.

The technique builds on vat photopolymerization, a method where layers of liquid resin are cured using specific light patterns. Traditionally, support structures made of the same resin are printed along with the object and must be carefully removed and discarded afterward. MIT’s new system avoids this waste by using UV light to cure strong, permanent parts while using visible light to create temporary support structures that dissolve easily after printing.

MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) is leading a new chapter in 3D printing—one where printed objects don’t just look good, but also feel realistic, move like living organisms, and even carry built-in electronics. These advances aren’t happening in isolation; they’re part of a larger shift toward smarter, more interactive, and more sustainable design and manufacturing.

In recent years, CSAIL has unveiled a range of projects that blend artificial intelligence, materials science, and automation to push the boundaries of what’s possible with additive manufacturing. These innovations are transforming how we interact with 3D-printed objects—making them more tactile, mobile, intelligent, and accessible.

Holographic imaging has taken a significant step forward thanks to a new quantum-based technique developed by engineers at Brown University, including two undergraduate students. This innovative approach harnesses the power of quantum entanglement to generate detailed 3D holograms—without relying on traditional infrared cameras.

The method uses invisible infrared light to illuminate microscopic objects, while entangled visible light captures both the intensity and phase of the light waves—an essential element for creating true holographic images. The process, called Quantum Multi-Wavelength Holography, overcomes longstanding technical hurdles such as phase wrapping and significantly expands the depth range of holographic imaging.

At the core of a promising new development in biomedical engineering is a nano-reinforced composite material composed of a fat-like triglyceride and nanoscale hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite, a natural component of bone, plays a dual role in this material: it provides essential mechanical strength and offers a biocompatible surface that encourages the growth and integration of bone cells. Studies conducted in 2024 demonstrated that these properties support the gradual integration and eventual replacement of the implant by the body’s own tissue.

Dr. Thomas Willett from the Department of Systems Design Engineering observed that existing successful methods for bone grafts were highly complex and skill-intensive. This observation led him to explore engineering solutions, particularly the use of 3D printing, to simplify the production of bone grafts. He emphasized that 3D printing not only enables the creation of custom grafts but also allows for the integration of engineered features to secure the graft in place, eliminating the traditional reliance on metal screws and plates.

Walmart, in partnership with 3D printing company Alquist, has completed the expansion of a Supercenter in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama using large-scale 3D concrete printing (3DCP). As part of a pilot project to explore innovative construction methods, the companies built a 5,000-square-foot pickup area for online orders in just seven days—a major improvement in speed and efficiency over traditional construction.

The project utilized two large-format 3D concrete printers to produce 16-foot-high wall segments in a total of 75 hours. A five-person crew was able to complete the structure about 50% faster than conventional building methods, showcasing the potential for rapid deployment in commercial construction.

A clever 3D-printed model by the maker “Overton Prints” is providing gardeners with a humane and effective way to manage woodlice (also known as pillbugs) in their garden beds. Shared for free on the Thingiverse platform, the design can be printed using any standard FDM 3D printer, making it accessible to hobbyists and gardening enthusiasts alike.

Rather than eliminating the woodlice, the goal of the design is to relocate them from sensitive garden areas to locations where they can continue their beneficial role in decomposition—such as compost heaps. The trap works without any bait. Instead, it uses the natural behavior of woodlice, which are drawn to cool, damp, and dark environments. The printed model is designed to recreate this ideal microclimate, making it an attractive refuge for the pests.

An interdisciplinary project at the University of South Florida (USF) is leveraging 3D printing to enhance ophthalmological research focused on dry eye disease. This collaboration between the Morsani College of Medicine and the USF IT 3D Print Lab centers on developing a specialized, curved test model to support a newly designed laser scanner. The goal is to improve measurement accuracy of the tear film thickness on the cornea, a key factor in understanding and diagnosing dry eye conditions.

A major obstacle in this type of imaging diagnostics is the complex, curved geometry of the human cornea. Traditional calibration tools, such as the flat 1951 USAF Resolution Test Chart, are inadequate for scanners intended to map curved surfaces. To overcome this, the USF 3D Print Lab team, led by Lucas Tometich, designed a model that closely replicates the natural curvature of the cornea.

A research team led by Alshakim Nelson at the University of Washington is pioneering a new frontier in 3D printing—one that prioritizes sustainability and biological functionality by designing custom bioplastics rather than modifying existing printer hardware. These novel materials are fully biodegradable and exhibit mechanical properties that rival traditional 3D printing polymers.

“We needed a material that was 3D printable and biodegradable but also had good mechanical properties,” Nelson explains. “It had to be competitive with the commercial plastics [for 3D printing] that are out there today.”

A fully self-replicating 3D printer has long been seen as a theoretical goal, largely hindered by the reliance on non-printable components such as motors and electronic controls. Developer Brian Minnick has unveiled a working prototype that marks a major step forward: a 3D printer built with core mechanical and electrical components that are themselves 3D-printed.

At the heart of the design is a custom-built, three-pole DC motor, composed almost entirely of 3D-printed parts. Coils are fabricated using a syringe-based extrusion method that deposits solder paste, which is then sintered to form conductive traces. These printed wires exhibit an impressively low resistance of 0.001 Ω-mm, adequate for use in magnetic motors.

In the quiet town of Arida, Japan—best known for mandarin oranges and scabbardfish—the modest Hatsushima train station recently became the site of a groundbreaking construction project. Although the station only serves about 530 daily passengers with one to three trains per hour, it is now home to one of Japan’s most innovative infrastructure experiments: a 3D-printed station shelter.

With Arida’s population shrinking, like much of rural Japan, the demand for large-scale infrastructure is dwindling. But rather than simply downsizing the old wooden structure, West Japan Railway (JR West) saw an opportunity to trial a new method of rapid, cost-effective station construction. Partnering with Serendix—a construction company known for building 3D-printed homes for around $38,000—the team created a new shelter in just seven days.

In an exciting advancement, scientists have successfully developed a method to print high-resolution 3D microstructures using MXene, a revolutionary two-dimensional nanomaterial composed of alternating metal and carbon layers. Discovered in the U.S. in 2011, MXene has earned the nickname the “dream material” due to its exceptional electrical conductivity and powerful electromagnetic shielding properties. Despite its promise, MXene had never been applied to 3D printing due to several technical challenges.

The breakthrough comes from the Smart 3D Printing Research Team at KERI (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute), led by Dr. Seol Seung-kwon. The team introduced a novel technique called the Meniscus method to overcome the hurdles associated with using MXene in 3D printing. The primary challenge was finding the right ink viscosity for printing; a high concentration of MXene would clog the nozzle, while a lower concentration made the ink ineffective. Furthermore, the addition of binders typically weakened the material’s intrinsic properties, limiting its potential.

Adipose tissue, recognized as an endocrine organ, plays a crucial role in regulating the repair processes of various damaged tissues, including the skin. This unique function suggests that adipose tissue could be engineered to regenerate other damaged organs. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology has significantly impacted regenerative medicine by enabling the creation of engineered and functional 3D organs and tissues, including adipose tissues. However, existing biofabrication techniques have struggled to replicate the native structure and densely packed lipid droplets of adipose tissue, limiting the therapeutic potential of 3D-printed adipose tissue.

To address this challenge, a team of researchers led by Assistant Professor Byoung Soo Kim from Pusan National University in Korea has developed an innovative biofabrication method for adipose tissue. Their findings, published online on February 2, 2025, in Advanced Functional Materials, describe a new hybrid bioink that overcomes some of the key limitations of current tissue biofabrication methods. The bioink combines 1% adipose-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) with 0.5% alginate. This hybrid bioink significantly restricts the migration of preadipocytes, the precursors to fat cells, while simultaneously promoting their differentiation into mature adipocytes.