Here’s your Thursday 3D printing roundup for August 13, 2026:
Printer News & Releases
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Artec 3D Launches Point II Laser Scanner — Artec 3D has released the Artec Point II, an updated metrology-grade handheld laser scanner capable of capturing 5.8 million points per second. The new scanner targets industrial reverse engineering and quality inspection applications, offering improved accuracy and speed over its predecessor. This continues the trend of professional-grade 3D scanning becoming more accessible and capable. (3D Printing Industry, develop3d)
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Revopoint 3D Scanner August Promotions — Revopoint is running major discounts on its popular 3D scanners throughout August, making consumer-grade scanning more affordable for makers and hobbyists. The deals cover the Metro and MIRACO product lines. (3D Printing Industry)
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FlashForge AD5X Multi-Color Printer Drops to $205 — FlashForge’s Adventurer 5X, capable of multi-color printing, is currently available for just $205 shipped on AliExpress, making it one of the most affordable multi-color 3D printers on the market. This aggressive pricing reflects the ongoing price war in the desktop 3D printer segment. (IGN)
Materials & Filaments
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eSUN Unveils PLA-HF: Ultra-High-Speed Filament Breaking the 1000mm/s Barrier — eSUN has introduced PLA-HF, a new high-speed PLA filament engineered to print at speeds exceeding 1000mm/s. This is a significant milestone for desktop FDM printing, where filament has traditionally been the bottleneck at extreme speeds. The filament is designed to pair with the latest generation of high-speed printers from Bambu Lab, Creality, and others. (The Manila Times, Engineering.com)
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Voltage Launches Eclipse X9 Basalt-PETG Composite — Voltage has introduced Eclipse X9, a basalt fiber-reinforced PETG composite filament designed for large-format additive manufacturing. The material offers improved stiffness and thermal stability compared to standard PETG, targeting industrial tooling and jig applications. (VoxelMatters)
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Otsuka Chemical Introduces Poticon Potassium Titanate Fiber Filament — Otsuka Chemical has released a new filament reinforced with potassium titanate fibers under its Poticon brand. The material is aimed at applications requiring enhanced mechanical properties and heat resistance. (VoxelMatters)
Research Breakthroughs
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Scientists 3D Print Tungsten Carbide — One of the Hardest Metals on Earth — Researchers have successfully developed a 3D printing method for tungsten carbide, a material notoriously difficult to process due to its extreme hardness and high melting point. The new method also significantly cuts waste in production. Tungsten carbide is widely used in cutting tools, mining equipment, and wear-resistant parts, and the ability to 3D print it opens up complex geometries that were previously impossible to manufacture. (ScienceDaily, Advanced Manufacturing, All3DP)
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Pusan National University Develops 3D Printing Method for Switchable Soft Actuators — Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a 3D printing technique for creating soft actuators that can switch between different states. This has potential applications in robotics, medical devices, and adaptive materials. (EurekAlert)
Industry Applications
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Hyundai Motor and Kia Open First Dedicated Additive Manufacturing Facility — Hyundai Motor Group has opened its first dedicated 3D printing hub, accelerating product development through additive manufacturing across both Hyundai and Kia brands. The facility supports prototyping, tooling, and production parts, marking a significant commitment to AM as a core R&D capability for one of the world’s largest automakers. (Manufacturing Digital, VoxelMatters, Hyundai.com)
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US Air Force Extends Metal LFAM Program with $9M for 3D Systems — The US Air Force has extended its Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) program with an additional $9 million contract for 3D Systems. The program focuses on producing large-scale metal parts for military applications, demonstrating continued defense investment in additive manufacturing for critical components. (VoxelMatters)
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Lohia Aerospace and Massivit Bring Large-Format Composite 3D Printing to India — Lohia Aerospace has partnered with Massivit to bring large-format composite additive manufacturing to the Indian market. The collaboration targets aerospace and defense applications, expanding the reach of industrial-grade composite 3D printing into South Asia. (VoxelMatters)
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3DEO Metal 3D Printing Pioneer Enters Insolvency, IP Assets Up for Sale — 3DEO, once a promising metal 3D printing startup known for its high-throughput metal injection molding-like additive process, has entered insolvency proceedings. The company’s intellectual property assets, including patents and machinery, were offered for sale with bidding closing August 12. This serves as a reminder that even technically innovative AM companies face significant commercialization challenges. (IPWatchdog, VoxelMatters, TCT Magazine)
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XJET Launches XPARTS 3D Printing Service for Ceramics and Metals — XJET has launched XPARTS, a new 3D printing service offering both ceramic and metal parts using their proprietary inkjet-based additive manufacturing technology. The service makes high-precision multi-material printing accessible without requiring customers to invest in the equipment directly. (VoxelMatters)
Cool Projects & Maker Builds
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Houston 3D-Printed Home Community Along the Gulf Coast — A Houston-based company is building a community of 3D-printed homes along the Texas Gulf Coast, with homes expected to cost under $300K. This adds to the growing list of 3D-printed housing projects across the US, including the ongoing RIC Robotics project in Colorado. (KHOU, Houston Chronicle)
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Peppe’s Ghost LiDAR Scanner Using Raspberry Pi — A maker project combining a Raspberry Pi with LiDAR components to create a ghost-detecting scanner has gone viral in the maker community. While the “ghost” detection is tongue-in-cheek, the project demonstrates creative use of affordable sensing hardware and 3D-printed enclosures. (Raspberry Pi)
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From Hobby to 400,000 Downloads: Mickey from Kit Crafters — A maker who started 3D printing as a hobby has grown Kit Crafters to 400,000 downloads of their designs, showing how the creator economy around 3D printing continues to mature and provide real income for talented designers. (VoxelMatters)
Market & Business
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3D Systems CEO Jeffrey Graves Prepares to Retire — 3D Systems has opened its search for a new CEO as Jeffrey Graves prepares to retire. The leadership change comes at a pivotal time for the company, which is simultaneously expanding its defense contracts and navigating a competitive industrial AM market. (3D Printing Industry)
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Creality Launches $177M Hong Kong IPO — Creality is pursuing a Hong Kong IPO valued at approximately $177 million, as the Chinese 3D printer manufacturer looks to capitalize on its strong position in the budget and mid-range desktop printer market. The IPO reflects the maturation of the consumer 3D printing industry. (3DPrint.com)
Key Takeaway
This week’s roundup captures an industry at an interesting inflection point. On the materials side, eSUN’s PLA-HF breaking the 1000mm/s speed barrier represents a genuine leap forward for desktop FDM, while the successful 3D printing of tungsten carbide opens entirely new industrial applications. Hyundai and Kia’s dedicated AM facility signals that major automakers are moving 3D printing from experimental to essential. Yet the insolvency of 3DEO — a technically innovative metal AM company — is a sobering reminder that technical excellence alone doesn’t guarantee commercial success. Meanwhile, the defense sector’s continued investment ($9M Air Force extension) and Creality’s $177M IPO show that money is still flowing confidently into additive manufacturing from both institutional and public market investors. From $205 multi-color printers to 3D-printed Gulf Coast homes, the technology keeps reaching further into everyday life.
Keep printing! 🔥
Images courtesy of Pexels. Want more 3D printing content? Check back for weekly roundups!
