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I used to teach at a school.
We bought an expensive 3d printer.
It was nice and all.
But what really bothered me,
was that the printing material was very expensive.
I am absolutely convinced, that the manufacturers,
cannot make a bigger mistake, than to make the printing material expensive.
They should go the opposite route.
Make using their products super easy and effective.
Make using their printer a no-brainer.
Every time people print.
They are advertising the printer.
Whoever is doing the 3d printing,
is getting to know that printer.
Learning how to use it
Getting used to using it.
Getting ideas on how to use it further.
Nobody wants a printer that can barely be used anyways.
The manufacturers were doing the cash-it-in-and-run.. approach.
But they should have been doing the, take-over-the-universe.. approach.
Which is to make their products absolutely awesome.
People will see how the world is, eventually.
And 3d printing really should be done in some specialized offices.
A place with a 3d printer.
And some individual who knows how to operate it.
And people just go on a website,
And send a file and press "print"
And result can be delivered in the mail.
Prefereably via drone.
An office like that could provide the world with 3d printing abilities.
Could eventually offer the world to print in any material etc.
You just draw it in some program.
Select material.
Press print.
Few days later, its in your mailbox.
How is that not a win.
And user could watch on camera as their unit is being printed.
And why dont we have automated drone delivery yet.
Whats taking so long.
But it seems to take forever to take off.
This 3d printing thing.
Like everything.
Last edited by offtherock (2025-09-28 03:43:36)
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Its in the manufacturers short term interest.
for its printer to be printing with material
only they or their partners can make.
and is then sold expensively.
so its in their short term interest.
to kill their own future.
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This post in Louis' 3D Printers topic is about the interesting challenge posed by Calliban in late 2025.
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 62#p235662
Calliban has proposed a 200 meter diameter brick dome for Mars. This topic is about how a 3D printer design tool might create specifications for custom made wedge shaped "bricks" that would be assembled to create the strong structure that calliban has described.
Given a shape for the dome, and a thickness, it would be possible for a 3D printer design tool (such as Blender but there are many) to create wedge shaped specifications for each "brick" to be laid to build the structure, from the foundation far below ground, all the way to the peak.
Since domes of this type would be assembled all over Mars, once the first one is complete and proven, it would make sense to mass produce the unique shapes needed. Each "brick" would be wedge shaped, both in the Y dimension and in the Z dimension, so that the force of gravity acting downward, and the force of internal pressure acting upward, and caused to flow evenly throughout the structure.
I'd like to invite any readers of this forum who are learning how to use 3D Printers (or who already know and are interested in this problem) to contact us to see if we might be a suitable venue for their creativity.
This initiative is a part of Louis' Sagan City concept.
The proposed dome could most definitely be printed on Earth in a miniature form, such as 1:200 scale.
A 1:200 scale 3D printed dome would be 1 meter across. it would be assembled in exactly the same way as the full sized version on Mars.
Wedge shaped "bricks" would be laid on a foundation (such as a table top) and the structure would be assembled layer by layer, just as would be done on Mars by robot "workers".
3D Printer designs could be published by NewMars (in association with the Mars Society) so that prospective builders could simply download the plans and feed them into their 3D design tool.
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This post is inspired by an email received by NewMars.com/forums, from a gent in Mexico who appears to be working on design of advanced turbine devices. It occurred to me that such complex shapes might be ideal for 3D Printing.
We have only one member of the forum who owns and operates a 3D printer, but many members share knowledgeable about 3D printing in general, and metal 3D printing in particular.
To see examples of designs that might be rendered with 3D printing, you can visit the link in the post below:
https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 19#p236919
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Serendix and JR West build Japan’s first 3D printed railway station overnight
https://www.voxelmatters.com/serendix-a … overnight/
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This post is about a 3D printer able to print unlimited objects in the Z dimension.
I just learned about this printer yesterday, and today I find that it has been discontinued.
CR-30 3D Printer
Creality CR-30, Batch Print Models, Infinite Z-Axis for Long Model Production, Up to 200-hour Continuous Operation without Malfunction, Stable Core-XY Structure
14 reviews
$599.00
$949.00
Save $350.00Earn 119 points. ≈ US $12
Note：The CR-30 3D Printer is currently out of stock and will not be restocked.
We apologize for the inconvenience. Please visit our Ender-5 Max to explore if it suit your needs. Thank you for your understanding!
Batch Print Models
Infinite Z-axis Printing
Durable Operation with Stability
Intelligent Protection System
Sturdy Structure for Precision Printing
Dual-gear Metal Extrusion System
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A 3D printer with unlimited Z would be helpful for creating long objects such as ribs of wings for model even small aircraft.
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This post is about the manufacturer of a kind of 3D Printer that is capable of printing in the Z dimension without the usual limits.
The company is (apparently) located in the Netherlands, and (apparently) it may have been inspiration for Crealty's version of the belt printer that is now discontinued.
This kind of printer is of interest for manufacture of the ribs for a wing that kbd512 is in the process of learning how to design.
Blackbelt 3D: world-leading conveyor belt 3D printing ...
BlackBelt 3D
https://blackbelt-3d.comJun 26, 2024 — Blackbelt 3D's endless belt 3D printing technology empowers you to create complex designs with the precision that only a conveyor belt system can offer.
The Printer
The Blackbelt 3D printer is a type of 3D printer using fused ...Download area
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Blackbelt 3D Printer — STANDARD PRINT CO.STANDARD PRINT CO.
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The BLACKBELT 3D printer truly bridges the gap between rapid prototyping and low-volume manufacturing. Open Build Volume - 340mm x 340mm x ∞ mmRead more
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Blackbelt 3D BV ; WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - 3D printed by BLACKBELT 3D. 4.4K views ; Burj Khalifa - Blackbelt 3D. 767 views ; BLACKBELT collaborations. 502 views.Read more
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Belt 3D Printer: All You Need to KnowAll3DP
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Jan 17, 2025 — Our first belt printer example is the famous Blackbelt, the pioneer of belt FDM 3D printing. It was produced by Blackbelt 3D, a Dutch ...Read more
BlackBelt 3D BV The BLACKBELT 3D PrinterTreatstock
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The BLACKBELT 3D Printer is a unique machine that thanks to it roller table enable to manufacture rows of objects and/or very long parts.Read moreConveyor Belt 3D Printers - Are they a viable design or just ...
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The exception being the Blackbelt 3D printer. The Blackbelt can print super high quality parts but it cost 10k+ so it's slightly out of my price...Read more
Fabrication Friday - Blackbelt 3D - Continuous and Infinite 3D ...YouTube · Ascent Fabrication
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3D printing...on a conveyor belt?! That's what the Blackbelt 3D printer has perfected - continuous and infinite additive manufacturing on an ...
$10,000 would definitely be out of range for me as well.
However, if kbd512 were to design an aircraft wing that could be made using 3D printing, and if a buyer were found, then this certainly looks like a candidate to be considered for the job.
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This post is about 3D printing of an earthquake proof ??? house in Japan.
The structure was created in 14 days, using a large overhead crane.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/07/business … wtab-en-us
Marketplace Asia
Business
5 min read
This startup built Japan’s first 3D-printed two-story home. It wants to solve the country’s construction crisis
By
Rebecca Cairns
May 7, 2026“Stealth House” is Japan’s first 3D-printed two-story home.
ONOCOM Co., Ltd
Japan’s construction industry is facing a productivity crisis, as soaring material costs and an aging workforce threaten the future of the nation’s $625 billion sector.
But an earthquake-proof 3D-printed house is giving hope that additive manufacturing could be the answer.
Unveiled in February, “Stealth House” is Japan’s first 3D-printed two-story home. Building-tech startup Kizuki collaborated with more than 20 companies, including ONOCOM to create the home, which meets strict building codes for seismic design in a country where earthquakes are common.
“It marked the first time in Japan that a full process — from feeding design data directly to the printer, to continuous on-site construction, and finally finishing works — was successfully realized at a two-story residential scale,” Rika Igarashi, Kizuki CEO, told CNN in an email.
Unveiled in February, “Stealth House” is Japan’s first 3D-printed two-story home. Kizuki Co. Ltd
Inspired by natural cave formations, the 6-meter (20-feet) tall, 50-square-meter (538-square-foot) house took just 14 days to print on site — from foundation to rooftop parapet — using a giant gantry printer, says Igarashi. The exterior walls employed a “hollow structure” filled with a reinforced concrete frame to meet building codes.
3D-printed construction (3DPC) technology has long been heralded for its ability to save time, reduce labor, increase safety at work sites, and substantially cut material waste, while enabling more flexible and unusual designs.
But governments and institutions have been cautious around new construction innovations, and slow to update regulations, creating a barrier to adoption.
Kizuki’s “Stealth House” is more than a demonstration, though: the home, in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture, sold (for an undisclosed price), which the company says is proof that there is demand.
The house takes inspiration from natural cave formations for its design.
ONOCOM Co., Ltd
The home features a kitchen designed by Spacewasp, and interior design by Sekisaisha.ONOCOM Co., Ltd
Labor shortage solutionJapan’s falling birthrates and aging workforce have seen its productive population decline: in the construction sector, according to some calculations, 1.5 million skilled workers (45% of the total) are expected to retire within the next decade.
Daisuke Katano, a managing partner at Japanese construction consultancy firm YCP, says that 3D printing can combine “up to seven traditional on-site trades.” This can streamline coordination and bolster Japan’s productivity in residential construction — which is less than half the US level and has barely improved in decades, says Katano: “Recovering even five to 10 of those (percentage) points would be worth trillions of yen (billions of dollars) in unlocked output capacity.”
Printing the house on-site took 14 days.
ONOCOM Co., LtdCurrently, civil infrastructure — such as the world’s first 3D-printed train station, or a 273-meter (896-foot) road — accounts for around 62% of 3DPC applications in Japan.
But other markets, like entry-level and disaster-recovery housing, are growing: Katano points to Japanese construction startup Serendix’s 3D-printed budget bungalows, which were deployed to provide quick and affordable housing in the aftermath of a 7.5 magnitude quake in Noto Peninsula in 2024.
Kizuki is also looking at opportunities to supply housing in depopulated and remote regions, which it presented to representatives from seven municipalities at the SusHi Tech conference in Tokyo last week, one of Asia’s largest global innovation events.
“Even in areas with severe shortages of skilled workers, 3DCP makes it possible for a small team of operators to construct high-quality buildings,” says Igarashi. “In that sense, the technology has the potential to directly address regional disparities in housing supply.”
Financing fears
Despite the high upfront costs for 3DPC equipment, Igarashi says the main challenges to adoption are “increasingly institutional rather than technological.”
“From a regulatory perspective, compliance is currently confirmed through individual building approval applications on a case-by-case basis,” she says. “For wider adoption and greater efficiency, dedicated technical standards and regulatory frameworks built around 3DCP methods will be necessary.”
Tetsuya Ishida, a civil engineering professor at the University of Tokyo, agrees: standardized evaluation methods — such as technical guidelines recently developed by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers — need to be adopted to reduce bureaucracy.
The exterior walls employed a “hollow structure” filled with a reinforced concrete frame.
ONOCOM Co., Ltd“While regulators have historically been cautious, the tide is changing significantly,” says Ishida. He highlights the inclusion of 3D printing in the government’s “New Technology Introduction Promotion Plan,” as well as the precedent set by “Stealth House” as key steps to make future approval processes “dramatically smoother.”
While Katano at YCP agrees that “Stealth House” helps to give 3D-printed homes more credibility, “the risks relative to conventional construction remain substantial” for investors, including a lack of long-term durability data, uncertainty over the resale of these properties, and caution from insurers.
Additionally, one of Japan’s most common long-term mortgages requires a minimum 70-square-meter (753-square-feet) floor area for detached houses, which “excludes most current units from standard financing,” says Katano.
“(That) confines the buyer pool largely to cash purchasers and retirees, until either the products grow or the financing rules adapt,” he adds.
An automated ecosystemStartup Kizuki collaborated with more than 20 companies, including ONOCOM, to build the house.
ONOCOM Co., Ltd
Japan has invested heavily in automated construction since the 1980s, and launched the “i-Construction” initiative in 2015 — a collaboration between government and private sector to digitize the sector and integrate IT solutions into construction machinery. In 2024, the initiative was extended into a second phase, targeting a 30% labor reduction by 2040.
“3DPC plays a crucial role here as a technology that directly materializes digital data into physical space,” says Ishida. These technologies could also attract young talent to the sector, transforming construction from a “demanding, dirty, and dangerous” job into a “creative, cool and challenging” one, he adds.
Related article
1_ Credits_ Karolina Pajak, Sika Group Switzerland.jpg
Masoud AkbarzadehAlthough 3DPC can’t close the productivity gap on its own, Katano says that in combination with other technologies — such as prefabrication (a $26-billion market in Japan in 2025, according to YCP), AI-driven design, and autonomous heavy equipment — there are potential productivity gains of up to 40% by 2030.
Meanwhile, Kizuki is working on creating a “3DPC Academy,” which it plans to launch later this year, to train operators for a future where 3D printing will be the new normal.“Construction tech — especially 3DCP — is still often perceived as something almost futuristic, even science-fiction-like,” says Igarashi. “It is only when people see real construction footage, hear the story behind it, and engage in direct conversation that they begin to recognize it as a real business.”
Additional reporting by Junko Ogura and Ayuka Nitta.
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This post is about increasing use of 3D printing in manufacture of weapons...
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/science/arti … 00397.html
SlashGear
Why Companies Making High-Tech Weapons Are Turning To 3D Printing
Travis Butson
Mon, July 13, 2026 at 7:45 AM EDT
Cutaway of missile - Piotr Sawejko/ShutterstockFor decades, high-tech weapons have been designed around maximizing sophistication. Increasing the capability itself through longer ranges, increased maneuverability, and more sophisticated guidance systems mattered far more than how quickly the weapon could be manufactured. That approach is now changing. As conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have highlighted the enormous rate at which modern munitions are consumed, defense manufacturers are encountering a critical challenge. We know how to build capable missiles, but how can we build enough of them?
That shift has pushed additive manufacturing, better known as 3D printing, into the spotlight. Once viewed as a useful prototyping tool, industrial-scale metal printing is increasingly being adopted by major defense contractors to accelerate production, simplify supply chains, and reduce dependence on specialized suppliers.
There are limitations though, and the reality is less dramatic than headlines describing 3D-printed missiles might imply. Manufacturers are not printing complete precision weapons. Instead, they are focusing effort on streamlining sectors of the production process where additive manufacturing offers genuine advantages. 3D printing today is not yet replacing traditional manufacturing, it's simply delivering the greatest possible benefit as weapons development adapts to suit a new era of warfare.
3d Printed Tomahawk airframes - Divergent Technologies
If building missiles were simply a matter of printing metal components, defense companies would have embraced 3D printing years ago. The real obstacle isn't just producing parts; it's proving those parts can survive some of the harshest operating environments imaginable.
A modern cruise missile may spend years inside a storage container, aboard a ship, or in a military depot prior to being launched. From that moment, every structural component must withstand violent acceleration, sustained vibration, aerodynamic loading, rapid pressure changes, and significant temperature variation without the slightest loss of integrity. Even microscopic flaws can become catastrophic failures when encountering the extreme limits of high speed flight.
This demand for consistent dependability is why aerospace manufacturing remains one of the world's most tightly controlled industries. Components typically incorporate a vast array of rare earth minerals, extremely tight-tolerance machining, heat treatment, precision finishing, and rigorous inspection before they are ever approved for service. The result is that component qualification, not manufacturing, is often the greatest bottleneck in ensuring trust in a munition that may be employed above or near civilians, or friendly forces.
From next year, additive manufacturing will produce select structural parts of the Tomahawk's mid-body airframe and warhead casing, with rumors this may expand into printing avionics and guidance computer parts with Silicon-photonics-enabled 3D printers. However, 3D printing has not advanced enough to produce the rare-earth-element-intensive critical components that make the Tomahawk a truly state-of-the-art smart munition. Although additive manufacturing of samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron magnets, dysprosium and terbium-doped materials, and guidance and electronic components containing gallium, germanium, and tantalum is technically achievable, these technologies have yet to see implementation across live production lines. We can't 3D print a Tomahawk, and we probably never will.
3D printing of munition body - MarinaGrigorivna/Shutterstock
Ultimately, the greatest impact of 3D printing may not be simply increasing the production of today's missiles, but enabling an entirely new generation of weapons designed from the outset for rapid, high-volume production.
Military planners are recognizing that advantage in future conflicts may be based on quantity, more so even than technological sophistication. Precision-guided weapons remain essential, but expensive missiles built slowly from limited supplies of rare-earth minerals are difficult to replace once wartime demand begins to outpace production. The answer to this problem is affordable mass, larger numbers of less sophisticated weapons built at a fraction of the cost, but at a much greater scale.
This is precisely where additive manufacturing excels. Engineers can consolidate dozens of conventionally machined parts into a single printed structure, reduce material waste, shorten production timelines, and simplify supply chains. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense is encouraging industrial expansion through multi-year procurement programs that give manufacturers confidence to invest in higher production capacity.
The result is unlikely to be a warehouse stocked with 3D-printed Tomahawksas we know them. Instead, tomorrow's missiles will increasingly be designed around the realities of modern manufacturing and supply. A combination of additive manufacturing, commercial production techniques and modular components to deliver weapons that are easier to build at scale and less dependent on foreign-controlled raw materials. In an era where raw production capacity is returning to its Second World War level of value as a strategic asset, additive manufacturing is likely to be critical in attaining strategic advantage.
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This post is about increased use of 3D printing in manufacture of jet engines.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/technolog … 45461.html
Forbes
Beehive Pushes 3D-Printed Drone Jet Engines Into Full Production
Carolyn Schwaar, Contributor
Updated Wed, July 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM EDT
Behive industries Frenzy 8Beehive Industries' Frenzy 8, a 200-pound-force-thrust jet engine designed for uncrewed defense systems, is at the center of the company's push to scale additive manufacturing into high-volume engine production.
Beehive Industries
Beehive Industries is moving quickly to turn its additively manufactured jet-engine program into a high-volume production business.
Since April, the Denver-based aerospace manufacturer has secured a $29.7 million U.S. Air Force contract, committed more than $50 million to metal additive manufacturing equipment, acquired two Ohio machine shops and announced a $70 million expansion expected to create more than 200 jobs in Southwest Ohio. It has also ordered multiple ultra-large-format metal printers from Nikon SLM Solutions for aerospace, defense, and space production.
Together, the moves amount to more than an equipment-buying spree. Beehive is assembling an end-to-end manufacturing system in which additive manufacturing produces complex engine hardware, dedicated machining operations finish the parts, and specialized facilities support serial production. If the company can execute the plan at the scale it projects, the vertically integrated model could offer a trailblazing blueprint for producing small turbine engines faster and in far greater volumes.
The immediate focus is Frenzy 8, a 200-pound-force-thrust engine designed for swarm-class drones, expendable aircraft and other uncrewed defense systems. The engine has progressed through ground and high-altitude testing, and Beehive says it is ready for full-rate production.
From Flight Readiness to Production Readiness
beehive frenzy 8Beehive Industries developed and tested its Frenzy engine under a $12.46 million U.S. Air Force contract awarded in October 2024 in collaboration with the University of Dayton Research Institute.
Beehive completed high-altitude testing of Frenzy 8 in late 2025 at a government facility in Ohio. The company said the campaign validated ignition, acceleration, operability, durability, and performance across the planned flight envelope. Hardware reportedly remained in "like new" condition after mission-life-equivalent runtime.
"The milestone confirms Frenzy's readiness for flight integration," said David Kimball, Beehive's chief technology officer.
Beehive said it moved from concept to proven high-altitude performance in less than a year, after testing six engines on the ground in four months and sending two prototypes to the Ohio facility.
"Frenzy is now flight-ready, and our production system is ready to scale alongside it," Kimball said.
That production claim gained substance in April, when the Air Force awarded Beehive a $29.7 million contract covering vehicle integration, flight testing, and qualification of Frenzy 8. The award also funds initial manufacturing and testing of the smaller, 100-pound-force Frenzy 6 engine.
The work supports an Air Force effort to develop affordable turbine engines for uncrewed aerial and standoff systems. The broader objective is often described as "affordable mass": fielding systems that can be manufactured and deployed in much larger quantities than traditional, high-cost weapons.
"This collaboration ensures our warfighters will have the high-volume, mission-ready capabilities they need to maintain a competitive edge in any theater," said Gordie Follin, Beehive's chief product officer.
EOS Onyx
The M4 ONYX metal 3D printer from EOS debuted at the 2025 Formnext trade show for additive manufacturing.
A contract establishes demand, but it does not create capacity. Beehive's answer is a major expansion of its additive manufacturing fleet.
In June, the company announced an agreement valued at more than $50 million for 30 M4 ONYX metal additive manufacturing systems from the German 3D printer manufacturer EOS. The machines are scheduled for delivery to Beehive's Colorado and Tennessee facilities over 12 months, bringing its installed EOS fleet to 50 systems. EOS described it as the company's largest publicly announced single order.
The M4 ONYX uses six lasers and incorporates automated powder handling, process monitoring, and production-data capabilities. All features that become increasingly important as additive manufacturing moves from development work to repeatable series production.
Beehive's strategy is not simply to print more copies of a conventionally designed engine. Frenzy was developed from the ground up to be 3D printed, allowing the company to consolidate parts and shorten supply chains.
The potential advantage is speed. Traditional turbine-engine programs can depend on specialized castings, forgings, tooling, and networks of qualified suppliers. Designing around additive manufacturing may reduce that dependency, though high-rate production still requires machining, inspection, testing, and tightly controlled material processes.
Machining Becomes Part of the Additive Strategy
Two weeks after announcing the EOS order, Beehive acquired the assets of Able Tool Corporation and its subsidiary, Planet Products Corporation, both in the Greater Cincinnati area. The purchase price was not disclosed.
The businesses bring more than 120 years of combined precision-machining capacity, and their acquisition reflects an often-overlooked reality of metal additive manufacturing: printed aerospace components rarely leave the build chamber ready for installation.
Surfaces must be finished; interfaces, holes and sealing features may require precision machining; and components must be separated from build plates, heat treated, inspected and documented. At higher volumes, control over those downstream steps can be as important as access to printers.
Beehive is organizing the acquired Cincinnati operations as a Production Machining Center of Excellence. Knoxville, Tennessee, will serve as its Production Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, supporting multiple printing and post-processing operations.
The company says the combined system is being built to manufacture more than 8,000 engines annually. That remains a target rather than a demonstrated production rate, but it explains the scale of the equipment orders and acquisitions.
Large-Format Printing Expands the MarketBeehive also recently acquired large-scale metal 3D printers from Nikon SLM Solutions, which adds another dimension to the strategy. Unlike the EOS systems being purchased primarily for engine production, the NXG 600E machines will give Beehive capacity to print much larger aerospace and space structures for outside customers.
Each NXG 600E has a build envelope measuring 600 x 600 x 1,500 millimeters and uses twelve 1-kilowatt lasers. Beehive plans to dedicate one system to aluminum and another to titanium.Edit: 600 mm >> 23.622 inches and 1500 mm >> 59+ inches
The size makes it possible to manufacture complete vehicle bodies, satellite substructures and other large components that might otherwise be divided into smaller pieces and joined.The purchase suggests Beehive does not intend to operate solely as an engine supplier. Its equipment base could also support contract production for space and defense customers seeking domestic access to large-format metal additive manufacturing.
That diversification may help keep expensive equipment utilized as Beehive ramps its own propulsion programs. It could also create overlap between customers purchasing engines and those needing airframes or structural hardware.
Ohio Expansion Adds People and InfrastructureThe latest piece of the buildout is a planned $70 million expansion in Southwest Ohio. Announced at this week's Farnborough International Airshow, the project is expected to create more than 200 jobs and expand Beehive's regional manufacturing operations.
Beehive's next challenge is operational: installing and qualifying machines, integrating acquired businesses, hiring skilled employees and producing engines repeatedly at the promised cost and rate.
Additive manufacturing can shorten development cycles and simplify assemblies, but printers alone do not guarantee economical serial production. Build consistency, powder management, machine uptime, inspection throughput and post-processing capacity will determine whether Beehive can turn its investments into thousands of qualified engines.
Metal printing has spent years proving it can make sophisticated turbine components. Beehive is now betting it can organize those capabilities into a production system built not for dozens of engines, but for thousands.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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