Philosopher by training, writer by trade. I'm an editor at engineering.com. I post stories about #mfg, #3dprinting and #technology.
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Articles by Ian Wright
Overcoming inertia in additive manufacturing
Plastometrex CTO discusses PIP testing, adoption, and reliability in metal 3D printing. When you work in additive manufacturing (AM), your biggest competitor is often inertia. As a technology, 3D printing found easy purchase in prototyping because its capacity for enabling rapid iteration fit perfectly with the trial-and-error nature of the process. Manufacturing, in contrast, tends to be much less experimental and much more conservative.
Additive research update: self-aware tools, soft robot skins, and more
Bleeding-edge 3D printing research from MIT, Oak Ridge, Sichuan University, SUTD, and Tianjin University. With Formnext only a few weeks away, the additive manufacturing (AM) industry has been holding its collective breath in anticipation of the latest products and partnerships to be announced at one of the world’s largest industrial 3D printing events.
In conversation with the head of HP Additive Manufacturing
Alex Moñino talks about quality, education, and competition in 3D printing. On a recent press trip to HP’s new Vancouver, WA facility, I found myself thinking of a meme I’ve come across occasionally featuring a bell curve. On the left is the foolish or “low IQ” person espousing some naïve belief that turns out to be shared by the wise “high IQ” person on the right.
Additive construction update: overcladding, avalanches, concrete printing, and more
3D printed infrastructure updates from the U.S. Army, Concordia University, ICON, and ETH Zurich. At a recent industry event, I got into a conversation with an analyst from a market intelligence firm on the subject of 3D printing in construction. He told me that while he and his colleagues monitor the additive manufacturing (AM) industry closely, they aren’t particularly interested in AM for construction. Why not?
Additive business update: BLT, ExOne, Stratasys, and more
Automotive expansions, new certifications, and a theory about the iPhone Duo’s 3D printed hinge cover. With Formnext just over a month away, it’s been relatively quiet in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry as companies from across the globe prepare to descend on Frankfurt and announce their latest products and partnerships. Even so, there have been a few recent developments in the AM business world worth noting, particularly when it comes to automotive and consumer goods applications.
Contract manufacturing and the future of industrial 3D printing
Additive manufacturing’s near-term growth may be driven more by suppliers than OEMs. We started with the promise of a 3D printer in every home and, when that didn’t pan out, 3D printers in every factory. Nowadays, if we’re talking about volume production—the difference between 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM)—some of the best examples can be found in large contract manufacturers and small job shops.
The speed paradox in 3D printing
On production bottlenecks in additive manufacturing and whether AI can solve them. The funny thing about 3D printing is that it’s both faster and slower than its conventional counterparts. Need a single prototype or a couple hundred parts for bridge production? Sure, you could wait the 6-18 months it takes these days to get the necessary molds or tooling before you can actually start making those parts in earnest, or you could get them 3D printed and have your parts in hand in under a week.
Additive IMTS update: Hidden gems from the show floor
News from DN Solutions, Farsoon, Grenzebach, and Omni3D. The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is back this week, dominating McCormick Place and filling the Windy City with even more hot air than usual. My colleague, Jim Anderton, has compared the event to drinking from a firehose, and for good reason. With so many attendees, exhibitors, and announcements, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
Additive research update: sensors, sustainability, and single-shot shapes
Bleeding-edge 3D printing research from Heidelberg University, USC, the University of Utah, and more. With another summer drawing to a close, students will soon be returning to their classrooms to the relief of many parents and the chagrin of many teachers. Meanwhile, researchers at institutions of higher learning across the globe have been hard at work advancing 3D printing technology. Here are a few of the latest developments.
This is how you do AM for defense
Beehive Industries Chief Product Officer talks drones, additive casting, and the challenge of scaling up. It’s no secret that additive manufacturing (AM) has been gaining ground in defense in recent years, with numerous new machines, materials, and partnerships. From drones to small arms, defense use cases for AM are exploding, but there’s a tendency to talk about this sort of progress in generalities rather than specific examples.
The end is nigh for G-code
Model-based control promises to bring machine tool programming into the 21st century. For all the cutting-edge technology touted to entice more young people into manufacturing, much of the sector remains mired in the past. In some cases, it’s the very distant past, going all the way back to the origins of engineering.
Additive medical device update: Point-of-care 3D printing, custom blood vessels, and 20-minute contact lenses
Medtech news from 3D Systems, EOS, Harvard, and Waterloo. Without a doubt, the two biggest industries for additive manufacturing (AM) are aerospace and medical devices. But while we’ve covered AM in the former industry extensively here on engineering.com—from applications to materials to benefits—our 3D printed medical device coverage is less comprehensive.
In conversation with AMUG’s new president
William “Dallas” Martin discusses the past, present, and future of additive manufacturing. It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG). So when I learned that the organization had just elected a new president, William “Dallas” Martin, I immediately reached out to learn about his perspective on additive manufacturing (AM) as well as his plans for the future of the organization.
Würth Additive Group shutters operations
After five years, the additive manufacturing and digital inventory provider announces the closure of its business operations. Details are sparse but it’s been confirmed that Würth Additive Group, the additive manufacturing (AM) and digital inventory arm of one of the world’s largest private industrial distributors, is closing its business operations. The announcement, which appeared on LinkedIn earlier today but is dated June 29, 2026, is extremely brief: Würth Additive Group, Inc.
Additive business update: EOS, Protolabs, Velo3D, and more
New partnerships, upscaling capacities, and startups to watch. We’re well into the summer now and that typically means a slowdown in manufacturing industry news. It’s the time of year when plants are retooling, people are taking vacations, and everyone catches their breath as we move into H2. Even so, there’s been no shortage of additive manufacturing (AM) industry news. Here are some of the latest developments in the business of 3D printing.
33DPQ Podcast – Sarah Hoyos
Carbon’s senior marketing manager discusses a surprising application for 3D printing. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Sarah Hoyos from Carbon.
Can you make metal powder from scrap for additive manufacturing?
Materials scientist discusses the role of comminution in recycling metals into 3D printer feedstocks. Whether additive manufacturing (AM) is more sustainable than its subtractive counterparts is a more complicated question than you might think. Still, it’s hard to deny the tantalizing possibility of taking the waste from those conventional processes in the form of scrap metal and turning it into feedstock for metal AM.
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33DPQ Podcast – Brigitte de Vet-Veithen
Materialise CEO explains why additive manufacturing's potential is still underestimated and the difference it can make in people's lives. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ.
Additive aerospace and defense update: Divergent, EOS, Meltio, and more
New metal 3D printers, materials, and partnerships for aerospace and defense. When it comes to additive manufacturing (AM) news, you can always count on aerospace and defense. Here are a few of the most recent 3D printing developments from those industries.
33DPQ Podcast – Eric Utley
Protolabs applications engineering manager suggests a simple question for deciding whether you should 3D print a part. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. This week, it’s my first non-RAPID guest: Eric Utley from Protolabs.
33DPQ Podcast – Rajeev Kulkarni
Axtra3D’s Chief Strategy Officer talks about one of additive manufacturing’s biggest mistakes and how to avoid it. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Rajeev Kulkarni from Axtra3D.
Formlabs announces Fuse X1 for industrial-scale SLS
Latest offering from MIT spinout boasts large build volume, low price. To paraphrase co-founder and CEO Max Lobovsky, Formlabs was created to build tools that enable anyone to make anything. “Any tool that helps accelerate going from an idea to a real thing, I recognize that that’s really valuable,” he told Todd Grimm on stage at this year’s AMUG.
Additive research update: recyclable resins, musical metasurfaces, secret spices, and more
Bleeding-edge 3D printing research from EPFL, Hunan University, Penn State, and Yokohama National University. Holographic projection of a human ear model on a sample vial. (IMAGE: Adrien Buttier/EPFL) Though summer is practically upon us and schools are soon to unleash their captive charges upon the world, research labs continue to fill journals with novel discoveries and innovations even as classrooms empty.
33DPQ Podcast – Eric Beardslee
AON3D product marketing and content manager says there’s no silver bullet in additive manufacturing. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Eric Beardslee from AON3D.
Stratasys and Markforged: ‘The perfect match’
Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif discusses his company’s recent acquisition of Markforged. It may not be surprising, but it is a big deal: Stratasys is acquiring Markforged in an all-cash transaction valued at $42.5 million. Unlike several of Stratasys’ other recent acquisitions—e.g., Forward AM or Nexa3D—this deal includes not only Markforged’s technology, but also its partner and reseller networks. The result is an increase in Stratasys’ distribution channels as well as its product offerings.
33DPQ Podcast – John Kawola
BMF CEO reflects on 27 years in the industry and the forgotten magic of 3D printing. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is John Kawola from Boston Micro Fabrication.
Lessons learned from 60 years of additive manufacturing
3D printing business owners share their experiences and advice. One of the most attended and engaged sessions I saw at this year’s AMUG wasn’t about materials or post-processing or even Lego. It was a panel discussion with the almost-suspiciously-catchy title, “So You Want to Start an Additive Manufacturing Business” and panelists representing a combined 60 years of experience with 3D printing.
33DPQ Podcast – Joe Dopkowski
3D Systems business development manager talks about 3D printing as a square peg for a round hole. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Joe Dopkowski from 3D Systems.
Additive business update: 3D Systems, Stratasys, Velo3D, and more
Major AM industry players release Q1 2026 financial results. We’re coming up on the halfway point of 2026 and so, with AMUG and RAPID behind us and IMTS and Formnext still several months away, now is as good a time as any to take stock of how the additive manufacturing (AM) industry has been performing financially thus far. Several of the largest publicly traded 3D printing companies recently announced their first quarter results, so let’s dive into those reports and see how they’re performing.
33DPQ Podcast – Bruce Bradshaw
Why machine utilization matters more than machine sales when it comes to the health of the AM industry. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Bruce Bradshaw from 6K Additive.
5 Things I love about AMUG
Recapping the 2026 Additive Manufacturing Users Group conference. I knew from my first encounter with the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) conference last year that it was unique amongst industry events. Now, with two of them under my belt, I’m more certain than ever. In fact, I’ve yet to meet anyone familiar with AMUG who hasn’t gone out of their way to say how much they enjoy it.
Additive research update: interlocking electrodes, sustainable steel, and three-sided zippers
3D printing research news from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, MIT, and Meltio. One of my favorite things about 3D printing research is that it spans so many different disciplines and applications. In this update alone we have electrical engineering, metallurgy, mechanical design, and more. Read on for the details.
33DPQ – Arvind Rangarajan
Does complexity really come for free with 3D printing? I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions. The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. My guest this week is Arvind Rangarajan from HP Additive Manufacturing.
33DPQ Podcast – Rich Garrity
Stratasys Chief Business Officer talks about additive manufacturing’s PR problem and how to fix it. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions (plus a bonus question). The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. Listen to the latest episode or read the transcript below.
Additive business update: BLT, EOS, Farsoon and more
Strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and divestments shake up the 3D printing business world. With AMUG, TCT Asia, and RAPID + TCT now behind us, you can expect the additive manufacturing (AM) industry to take a bit of a breather on big announcements. To be sure, the year is far from over in terms of industry events, with IMTS just around the corner in September and Formnext not long after that in November.
The future of additive manufacturing in defense
Understanding the barriers and opportunities for 3D printing in the defense sector. Stratasys has deployed thousands of systems across aerospace and defense productions environments worldwide. (IMAGE: Stratasys) No matter how you look at it, additive manufacturing (AM) is growing rapidly in defense. Barring some systemic (and entirely welcome) change, that’s likely to continue as warfare evolves.
33DPQ – Pavan Muzumdar
Pavan Muzumdar explains why one of 3D printing’s greatest strengths can also be its Achilles’ heel. I wanted to try something different at this year’s RAPID + TCT, so after I wrapped up my initial interviews with industry leaders and experts, I asked them to indulge me with a second, shorter interview consisting of just three questions (plus a bonus question). The result is a new weekly short-form podcast from engineering.com called 33DPQ. Listen to the first episode or read the transcript below.
RAPID Update: 3D Systems & Stratasys announce new hardware, software, and materials
Next-gen SLA and PBF machines, filaments and powders, plus processing monitoring updates and more. Well, RAPID + TCT is here again and some of the biggest names in additive manufacturing (AM) are already showing off their latest and greatest, with both 3D Systems and Stratasys making their announcements in advance of the exhibition. Here’s what you can expect to see on the show floor from each of them this week.
Why engineers should care about dental prosthetics
Evolution Dental Science CTO shares his perspective on CAD and AM for dentistry. If you pay attention to the additive manufacturing (AM) industry for long enough, you’ll start to notice that there’s a lot happening in dental 3D printing. Already this year we’ve seen announcements from both 3D Systems and Stratasys about new materials and new certifications, to name just two.
3D printing safety at home
Understanding the risks of additive polymers and resins in residential environments. There’s a lot to be said about safety in additive manufacturing (AM), especially when it comes to metals. But even the polymer filaments and resins used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) or stereolithography (SLA) respectively carry risks, especially when used at home. These days, it’s rare to find an AM engineer who doesn’t have at least one desktop machine for personal use.
The dirty secret of powder bed fusion
How Stratasys and Tronix3D are addressing the challenge of PBF waste powder. Many people would probably agree that additive manufacturing (AM) is always more sustainable than its traditional, subtractive counterparts, but those in the know, know better. Depending on the particular processes and materials involved, 3D printing can be just as wasteful as molding or machining.
Additive research update: simulated seas, super foam, bone scaffolds, and more
Bleeding-edge 3D printing from Johns Hopkins, Texas A&M, EPFL, and other leading institutions. With the majority of my mental energies devoted to preparing for, attending, and then recovering from two of the biggest events in additive manufacturing (AM) in short succession, it’s easy to forget that 3D printing research is continuing to advance around the globe.
What engineers need to understand about metal AM surface finishing
Insights from a panel of experts on mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical post-processing. One of the great things about the AMUG conference is that it brings together experts from across the additive manufacturing (AM) workflow. From design to material selection to quality control and every other step in between, I swear I learn more in a few days of AMUG sessions than I do in months of independent research.
Additive business update: 3D Systems, Materialise, Stratasys, and more
Financial results and new industry partnerships. With RAPID + TCT 2026 just a few weeks away, we should expect more announcements from the major players in additive manufacturing (AM) coming soon. Until then, however, there have been several recent developments on the business side of the AM industry that are worth noting. 3D Systems announces financial results and new CFO Earlier this month, 3D Systems announced its financial results for 2025.
Great expectations for AMUG 2026
Looking forward to this year’s Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference. Last year was my first experience of the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference and I came away with a very good impression. I often hear from others in 3D printing—from students to professionals to my colleagues in the media—that AMUG is their favourite event, and it didn’t take long for me to understand why.
Getting started with metal AM safety
Essential resources for storing and handling metal powders. When it comes to health and safety concerns in additive manufacturing (AM), the metal side of 3D printing technology is where the majority of the action is. To be sure, there are health hazards with photopolymer resins, and even medically inert powders can pose safety hazards by making the workplace slippery or contaminating mechanisms.
Additive aerospace update: GE Aerospace, Rocket Lab, Velo3D, and more
3D printed turbine blades, hypersonic airframes, and aviation program heat exchangers. Aerospace applications continue to be fertile ground for additive manufacturing (AM), with the latest indicators coming from some of the biggest names in 3D printing and manufacturing more broadly. Combined with additive growth in defense, these new developments seem to vindicate some of the findings from a recently published survey commissioned by Xometry.
What can we do about 3D printed guns?
The engineering question of 3D printing firearms and their parts. The 3D printed Liberator gun, by Defense Distributed. (IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons.) I’ve been thinking about 3D printed firearms and 3D printed parts for firearms for a while now, but it’s a difficult subject to broach. Obviously, there are a lot of ethical issues with this topic but—as much as the philosopher in me might wish it were—this is not ethics dot com.
Engineering challenges in software-defined vehicles
SDVs present many novel opportunities and obstacles for the auto industry, but not all of them are engineering problems. Change is difficult, whether at an individual or institutional level. Your first “real” job out of college was probably equal parts intimidating and exciting. Same with your first leadership role. If you’ve been in the auto industry for long enough, you probably remember the beginnings of modern electrification.
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