Carolyn Schwaar

The 140-kg laser metal printer still needs 6 kW of three-phase power, reactive-metal-powder handling, inert-gas purging, and dedicated post-processing to run.

Hold onto your filament: The Smithsonian just dropped a Triceratops. The famed museum recently posted an updated 3D scan of its complete Triceratops horridus, ready for makers who prefer fossil-grade accuracy over cartoon dinosaurs. Print it for the classroom, your desk, or an ill-advised full-scale hallway display — just bring plenty of filament. The scan is part of the Smithsonian’s effort to digitize more than 155 million artifacts and specimens available in OBJ format for free at Smithsonian 3D Digitization.

Step up from TinkerCAD with this open-source parametric modeling tool that turns surface patterns into physical, 3D-printable geometry without needing a subscription—just keep in mind it's still an early beta.

We used Hi3D Studio to divide a humanoid model, add articulated connectors, and arrange the resulting parts for printing. The tools produced a usable result, but several essential steps have a learning curve.

The experimental SegviGen system can automatically identify individual components within a 3D model, and its researchers have already released the code, pretrained models, and an interactive demo.

iAM3D's enormous LPW Z2500 combines powder- and wire-fed laser DED in one machine, with a 2.5-meter-tall build envelope, 6-kW laser, and controlled argon atmosphere.

Greenguard certification is becoming a selling point for school and home 3D printers. We break down which machines and filament combos actually qualify, and what the label leaves out.

Machines have gotten better. Operators haven't kept pace, and in aerospace and defense supply chains, that gap is starting to matter.

The Prusa XL+, Core One L+, and second-generation Core One+ bring nozzle wiping, revised belts, and other quality-of-life upgrades while existing owners are promised upgrade paths.

Bambu Lab is finally letting its laser loose. The company is teasing the R1, its first standalone laser cutter and engraver. Lasers are already a part of its multi-function machines, but apparently the beam has now earned its own apartment. Details are scarce: full specs are due in late August and pre-orders open in September. Bambu says the R1 applies the same philosophy behind its 3D printers to laser cutting and engraving: less fiddling, more making.