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Tech News
Bambu Lab has released the R1, its first standalone CO2 laser engraver, priced at $2,500 and built to fit into the same ecosystem as its 3D printers. The device borrows acceleration algorithms and vision-encoder camera technology from Bambu's printer lineup to reduce cutting artifacts and improve accuracy when aligning material on the bed.
Nicolas Bras has spent years crafting over 1,500 unusual musical instruments from reclaimed wood, scrap metal, PVC pipe, and 3D-printed parts. His creations blend traditional acoustic principles with unconventional materials and fabrication methods to produce distinctive sounds not found in standard instruments.
A Texas jury ruled that Bambu Lab's X1, P1, and A1 printer lines infringe two Stratasys patents covering prime tower purging and bed-leveling force-sensor methods, ordering Bambu Lab to pay $27.6 million in damages. No injunction was issued against the affected machines, all part of Bambu's first-generation lineup. Bambu Lab's newer H2 and X2 series use dual-nozzle and optical-sensor designs that reportedly sidestep the disputed patents.
Prusa Research and Bondtech have released the INDX, a toolchanging system that can print up to eight colors or materials using slim, moving-part-free toolheads mounted on Prusa's CORE One platform. The system ships pre-installed on new CORE One+ Gen 2 printers or as a $749 conversion kit for existing CORE One owners, and Bondtech also sells it separately as a DIY kit for other open-source printers.
New Orleans nonprofit MakeGood has developed a 3D-printing platform to produce pediatric mobility devices at a fraction of traditional manufacturing costs. The initiative was named a winner in the accessible design category of Fast Company's 2026 Innovation by Design Awards for its work helping children with mobility-limiting conditions.
Apple unveiled its first foldable phone, called the Duo, revealing that its hinge mechanism was engineered using AI algorithms to match each hinge to its housing for precise alignment. The company also used confocal laser scanning and 3D-printed micro layers of photopolymer to smooth out surface irregularities, according to chief hardware officer Johny Srouji.
Japan's Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency has approved mass production of the Terra B1, a 3D-printed rocket-powered interceptor drone built on Terra Drone's battle-tested A1 platform already used in Ukraine. The B1 beat out proposals from 37 other companies after demonstrating strong performance in range, speed, guidance and simultaneous-control capability during trials for Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Domestic production lines are expected to deliver the first units this month.
In a wide-ranging interview, New York Governor Kathy Hochul discussed her positions on AI, teen social media restrictions tied to Meta's multistate settlement, ghost gun bans challenged by activist Cody Wilson, Flock surveillance cameras, and a one-year moratorium on data center construction signed in July. She argued AI development needs stronger guardrails and pushed back on critics who say her policies face legal or technical loopholes.
Scientists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale used CRISPR-edited yeast strains to break down PET plastic and plant waste into edible proteins, fats, and flavor compounds, which were then 3D printed into small cookie-shaped snacks called 'ÂBites.' The plastic is first broken down using heat, water, and oxygen before the yeast converts it into a food-like slurry, though the team has not yet tasted the cookies pending university approval.
The Slice 10, an ultrasonic craft knife that uses high-speed vibration instead of heat to slice materials, has surpassed its Kickstarter funding goal and remains available for backers at $119, roughly $100 below retail. A reviewer tested it on 3D-printed PLA and ABS, leather, DTF plastic, and cloth, finding it excelled at plastics and leather but performed weaker on fabric.
Scientists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale used CRISPR-modified yeast to convert PET plastic and agricultural waste into proteins, fats, and flavor compounds, which were then 3D-printed into cookie shapes called 'µBites.' The team presented the work at the American Chemical Society meeting in Chicago, though the cookies haven't been tasted yet pending university approval.
Walmart is turning to digital fabrication techniques, including 3D printing, to construct parts of its retail stores rather than relying solely on traditional building methods. The company's scale is helping accelerate adoption of this construction approach across the commercial building industry, as it looks to lower its own operating costs.