3D Printing News
Note: we are now including articles on plant-based foods in the field of vegan nutrition.

New York Embroidery Studios is using both traditional embroidery techniques and 3D printing to create complex patterns with tactile surfaces. The company has previously worked in partnership with designers and celebrities to produce runway shows and special events like the Met Gala.

A robotic 3D printer is being tested in cold wet weather to see if it can build objects like manhole rings outdoors during winter. Success of the process depends on a constant water supply with a temperature of 20 degrees. Initial results have reduced costs by 24% and time savings of up to 70%. The technology is called printfrastructure.

NASA has announced that 3D printing can be used to save space and weight at launchings.

Engineers have produced the first 3D printed microscope, called OpenFlexure Microscope (OFM, offering a lower cost way to accelerate studies in fields like biology, geology, and healthcare. OFM is open-source and can give high spatial resolution and exact sample positioning. It can integrate seamlessly with motorized stages and specialty illumination. New advances have made optical-quality lenses available at a decreased cost. Some objects that have been tested include onion cells, plant tissue, and cyanobacteria.

TCT Asia has become China's 3D printing showcase. Among the attractions this year was Eplus 3D, with its expertise in copper and copper alloy 3D printing. Jiangsu Harson Smart Manufacture Tech Co. Ltd., showed printers that could reach temperatures up to 350 degrees C with another compact dual-laser system that combines a printer and filtration system. There was a tiny high-precision foldable phone and a polymer light fixture. Improvements in electric vehicle production were featured as well. The article has photographs to accompany the text, and an announcement about TCT Shenzhen which will take place in September, 2025.

Japan is launching the world's first "self-repairing" sneaker. The "Heal Sneaker" was designed by the creative collective called Lom Baby along with Transeeds Inc., and is described as a regenerative medicine technology. It repairs itself as the user walks, making it potentially an eco-friendly product. Reports indicate that more than 23 billion sneakers are made annually worldwide. Most of them end up in the trash, where it can take an average of 30 to 40 years for one pair to decompose.

New plant-based snacks are being offered by Schouten Europe in the Netherlands. Their 2 new snack products are called Power Bites and Sea Bites. Instead of trying to replicate the flavor of meat and fish, the company is now concentrating on distinct textures and flavors, since plant-based meat and fish tend to discourage consumers. Power Bites specifically contain a nutty flavor without the inclusion of nuts.

Benexia is offering a new plant-based milk alternative called "Seeds of Wellness Chia Milk". Made from whole chia seeds, the milk substitute is said to provide 740 mg of plant-based omega-3 fats in each 8 oz. serving. Without using any added sugar, the Chia Milk claims to be a source of protein, fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Rainwater is used as a watering source and no solvents or enzymes are employed in the production. Original flavor is currently available, with a vanilla variety due soon.

Scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have created a new 3D printing food method that cooks as it is being made. Previous systems worked in 2 steps, outputting a cold food paste and then moving it to an oven or fryer for cooking. That method risked contamination. The new process combines AI and graphene-based infrared heating for improved safety. The first product tested was a starch-based cookie dough. The technique is still in the research phase.

A new bionics 3D printing method has been announced by MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in cooperation with Zheijang University and Tsinghua University. Their objects, called "Xstrings", are automated fabrications of cable-driven assemblies that are capable of bending, coiling, screwing and compression. Only one step is required in their method, eliminating manual assembling. The software used was Rhinoceros 8 and Grasshopper. The article reviews some history of bionic methodologies and the problems they have encountered.

One note of caution: many companies are using high-tech and confusing language to disguise the fact that plastics are part of their product or their process, especially in the food industry. Buyer beware. Demand an easy-to-understand explanation before you eat or buy.

We review many hundreds of articles each month, culling the most significant for you. We also welcome suggestions from our viewers for products and processes that we may have missed.

c.Corinne Whitaker 2025