submitted by /u/thatfreshjive [link] [comments]

Into The SunsetHarrison Ford isn't bothered by Indiana Jones 5 flopping and thinks Troy Baker's performance in The Great Circle proves AI isn't needed to "steal" his soulAt the same time, he isn't too worried about what happens in the future.Image credit: Disney/Lucasfilm News by Fran Ruiz Contributor Published on Feb. 6, 2025 Even though 2023's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny did well enough with critics and fans alike, and is generally better regarded than the fourth installment if you ask around, it turned out to be a box office flop with less than $400 million worldwide on a massive production budget of over $300 million. Legendary actor Harrison Ford isn't too bothered by this though. Moreover, he seems to believe there's a future for the series without him.Via WSJ's latest piece on the actor ahead of Captain America: Brave New World's release on February 14, we've learned a bit more about his thoughts on Indiana Jones 5's financial performance and reception, and why he thinks Troy Baker's fantastic performance in The Great Circle is proof that AI isn't needed to rejuvenate old characters.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "S happens," Ford straight-up told WSJ about Indy 5 coming in below expectations. While many fans and moviegoers will maintain it was all about Disney and Lucasfilm milking that cow dry, it's worth pointing out that simply rebooting without Ford and starting anew would've been a cheaper and more 'open' next step for the adventure series, especially after 2008's Kingdom of the Crystal Skull disappointed damn near everyone. However, Ford wanted another ride as Indiana Jones after begrudgingly returning to Star Wars as Han Solo; this has been common knowledge for years."I was really the one who felt there was another story to tell. When [Indy] had suffered the consequences of the life that he had to live, I wanted one more chance to pick him up and shake the dust off his ass and stick him out there, bereft of some of his vigor, to see what happened," he reminded WSJ and anyone reading. In a way, one can also see the creative angle here of revisiting his most popular role during his late 70s (when the movie was prepped and shot), injecting some of his experience and late wisdom into Professor Jones.Even if he's definitely out of the franchise now, the general feeling is that Disney and Lucasfilm won't be keeping it buried forever. When and how a revival will happen is anyone's guess, but meanwhile, Indiana Jones might've found a second life in the realm of big-budget video games after MachineGames' The Great Circle wowed most critics and players. Part of its secret sauce? Troy Baker's spectacular performance as a younger Indiana, who made us forget about Ford for a second."You don't need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent... He did a brilliant job, and it didn't take AI to do it," he said about the game and Baker replacing him. He's not opposed to his likeness being used in the future one way or another though: "My plan is to keep working behind that face till I don't care what happens anymore... There won't be any need for me. There's somebody behind me. Doing what I did." Honestly? I also wouldn't care at 82 and with such an amazing career behind me.

More layoffs?PlayStation appears to have just laid off an unspecified number of developers from its software divisionA seemingly now former senior design technologist at the console maker claims they and other members of their team have been let go.Image credit: VG247/PlayStation News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Feb. 6, 2025 PlayStation is seemingly enacting a fresh round of layoffs, according to a software developer who claims that they and "most" of their team have just been let go by the console maker. It's currently unclear what the full scale of these cuts, if indeed they are taking place, is."Most of my team was just laid off from PlayStation," allegedly now former PlayStation senior design technologist Oscar Diaz - who appears to also go by the name/online handle Ryosuke Hana - wrote in a post to both Twitter and Mastodon yesterday, "It was a dream to get to work with Sony on the platform I'd grown up playing since the PS1 and contribute to the PS5, Portal, PSVR2, PS App, and future consoles. If you know anyone who needs an engineer, feel free to reach out."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As of writing, Hana looks to be the only developer who has posted publicly about having been let go. The reasoning behind the alleged layoffs isn't clear right now, but there is speculation online that it could potentially be connected to Sony having announced plans to fully integrate SN Systems, a subsidiary originally acquired by SIE in 2005 and "developer of programming tools for game creators on PlayStation consoles", into itself yesterday.VG247 has reached out to PlayStation/Sony for comment. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.If indeed these layoffs have taken place, they would follow the cuts PlayStation enacted last year, with it having laid off 900 people and outlined plans to close London Studio in Februrary 2024. It also shuttered Concord developer Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi in October, with that move reportedly leaving just over 200 staff in the limbo of needing to find new posts either at PlayStation or elsewhere."The industry has changed immensely, and we need to future ready ourselves to set the business up for what lies ahead," former PlayStation boss Jim Ryan wrote in a blog post about those February 2024 layoffs, while the head of the console maker's studio business group Hermen Hulst wrote that Firewalk and Neon Koi's closures were part of "ongoing efforts to strengthen SIEs Studio Business".

Image: SEGASega has filed a new trademark for something called Sonic Blitz, as revealed via Chizai Watch (thanks, Sonic Stadium).Naturally, very little is known about the trademark, but it covers all the usual categories you might expect from a company like Sega: education and entertainment, machinery, ROM cartridges, programs for home consoles, optical discs, headphones, speakers, electronic circuits...Basically, everything that could potentially be linked to a major video game franchise like Sonic.Honestly though, with a name like Sonic Blitz, we're making a baseless assumption that it could simply be another mobile game. "Blitz through 50 variants of Green Hill Zone in the brand new auto-runner, Sonic Blitz!"... Y'know?Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube Whatever it is, it's likely we probably won't find out for a good while yet. If we ever do, that is. Trademarks may not result in a tangible product for years, and for now, we've got Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds to look forward to on the Nintendo Switch.Sega recently launched its own account service for fans of the brand, with users able to redeem unique rewards and track their playtime across Sega and Atlus games. Meanwhile, the firm also recently confirmed that Sonic X Shadow Generations passed 2 million units sold after its launch in October 2024. Sign up! Y'know, if you wantUpdate: Confirmed for March 2027What do you think Sonic Blitz might be? Are we looking at another mobile game, or could this be a full-blown mainline console entry? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.[source chizai-watch.com, via sonicstadium.org]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesSuper Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Update Adds Among Us DLCWatch your backIs Skies Of Arcadia Coming Back? New SEGA Trademark Gets Fans ExcitedMoons, give me strength...Sega Launches Its Own Free Account Service With Unique Member RewardsSign up! Y'know, if you wantSonic X Shadow Generations Speeds Past Two Million Sales WorldwideAs SEGA continues new "transmedia development" strategy

In BriefPosted:2:18 AM PST February 6, 2025Image Credits:MeatlyFirst lab-grown meat treats go on sale in the UK for dogsCultivated chicken doggie snacks have gone on sale at a U.K. pet food retailer, Pets at Home. The retailer also happens to be a major investor in Meatly, the startup producing the meat ingredient contained in dog food brand The Packs Chick Bites, as the slaughter-free, low carbon treats are billed. (Other ingredients in the snacks are plant-based.)Meatly is claiming a world first for retailing cultivated meat for pet food, as the Guardian reports. The company gained regulatory clearance for the use-case last summer claiming a European first. Chick Bites are its first foray into commercializing Meatly Chicken, its name for the meat its growing in bioreactors, after a one-time harvest of cells from a single chicken egg. But it has big plans to scale up.While this first doggie snack is a limited release, suggesting production capacity is still capped, Meatly said its next steps will focus on scaling production and making products more widely available to consumers.Topics

When you think about platforms in the construction industry, chances are the concrete slabs designed to support steel beams and tall pillars will come first to your mind. Munich-based startup Comstruct wants to design a different kind of platform for the construction industry a software platform.At its core, Comstruct is a procurement platform for construction materials. For large-scale projects, processing materials orders can take a lot of time, as materials providers still print out delivery notes and invoices. Orders are often placed over the phone, and it can be difficult to reconcile invoices and create comprehensive data reports.Today, the procurement process of materials in construction is very analog. You could place a phone call to order 10 cubic meters next Thursday. Then you get a physical delivery note on the site that is then typed out into an Excel sheet, Comstruct co-founder and CEO, Henric Meinhardt, told TechCrunch. And then theyd sometimes send it via post to the headquarters, where they then manually compare invoices to the receipts.Each materials supplier could build its own app to process orders, but the problem is that contractors dont want to deal with 100 different apps to get documents. Thats where Comstruct comes in with its platform that can unify these processes.Comstruct first contacts general contractors to understand how they get their materials, as they generally work with myriad suppliers depending on the location of the construction sites and other specific needs.We approach those material suppliers. We call them and ask them: how can you share the data? Do you have an EDI interface? Do you have an email where you can forward the information? Do you have a customer portal that we can scrape to find materials? And then we structure the information, Meinhardt said.The startup then uses machine learning to integrate each supplier on its platform. This technical improvement enabled us to integrate 800 material suppliers over the last two years, which is quite a significant amount already, Meinhardt said.On top of this data layer, Comstruct has built four modules around ordering, digital delivery receipts, invoice reconciliation and ESG reporting. The startup runs on a usage-based pricing model with a simple per-document pricing strategy.With the [Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive] in Europe, [contractors] need to report how much material went into construction projects. Until now, they didnt know how much concrete they used [] thats a number they didnt have, Meinhardt said.Comstruct competes with Kojo in the U.S. and Qflow in the U.K, but each competitor has its own positioning. According to Meinhardt, Kojo focuses a lot more on the procurement side, while Qflow focuses a lot on waste management.The company originally started working in Switzerland because Meinhardt studied there. Comstruct claims that it already has good coverage of the materials industry in that country, and it has 70% to 80% of requested suppliers on its platform already. The company is currently expanding to Germany, Austria and other European countries depending on construction projects.Some large-scale construction sites have used Comstruct already to manage construction materials, including several tunnel projects, a highway project in Stockholm and a big train project in Munich. For instance, the Gotthard Tunnel project in Switzerland (pictured below) relies on Comstruct to handle all delivery notes and link them to invoices.Image Credits:Comstruct

3D Printing Industry reviews the Voron 2.4-300 RevD.In collaboration with open-source 3D printer kit designer Voron Design, Shenzhen-based LDO Motors offers a lineup of DIY CoreXY 3D printers. These include the Voron 0, Voron 2.4, Trident, and Switchwire.This article reviews the Voron 2.4-300 RevD, the latest version of LDOs flagship Voron offering. Boasting impressive stability and accuracy, the assemble-at-home 3D printer is tailored to professionals and hobbyists seeking a configurable, high-speed production system.With prices starting at $1,299.00, the kit includes all of the required structural and electrical hardware and the LDO specific 3D printed parts. The remainder of the Voron standard printed parts need to be sourced and/or printed by the user. We 3D printed these ABS components in under 200 hours.Users considering a foray into the world of DIY 3D printer construction should be aware that building the Voron 2.4 is not straightforward. We wouldnt recommend this for newcomers, the 263-page manual is better suited to those with more experience and technical knowledge looking to build a high-performance machine.However, building, programming, and calibrating the 3D printer from scratch is an incredibly rewarding experience. This is a long-term project, a key part of the kits appeal. Makers will come away with a better understanding of how 3D printers function, allowing them to customize the system for their needs and preferences.The LDO Voron 2.4-300 RevD 3D printer. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.Why choose the Voron 2.4?LDOs Voron 2.4-300 RevD combines advanced 3D printing features into an affordable, desktop-sized package.Build volume options range between 250, 300, and 350 mm for the X, Y, and Z axes. The single-extruder CoreXY FFF 3D printer also offers compatibility with a wide range of high-performance materials, including ABS, ASA, PETG, CPE, Nylon, TPU, and TPE. This makes it well-suited for those wanting to produce functional prototypes and end-use parts with engineering-grade properties.A key draw of the Voron 2.4 over other open-source 3D printer projects is the inclusion of high-quality, premium hardware sourced by LDO. A large 4.3 touchscreen, Bondtech extruder parts, LDO Leviathan controller, Raspberry Pi, and two E3D Revo high-flow brass nozzles are included in the kit. The latter includes 0.6 mm and 0.4 mm diameters, which both performed reliably with minimal clogging, even when extruding hygroscopic materials prone to blockages. A Nitehawk SB tool board is also included for the Voron Stealthburner tool head, which offers compatibility with virtually all commercial hotends.The Voron 2.4s tool head and printhead assembly. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.High-speed 3D printing is another key selling point. The system boasts 25,000 mm/s tool head acceleration and a 500 mm/s maximum printing speed. While reliable parts can be produced at these rates, they will require precise machine configuration and tuning. Therefore, we found 300 mm/s to provide the best balance between 3D print speed and acceleration.The robust metal frame ensures LDO and Vorons DIY 3D printer remains stable at these speeds, while stainless steel linear rails further support fast printhead movements. The system is advertised as offering impressive accuracy, repeatability, and print quality, claims we have assessed through several stringent benchmarking and application tests.The Voron 2.4 also uses four independent motors, offering extensive print bed adjustment capabilities. Automatic bed leveling is enabled by an inductive probe, which measures four points on the print bed three times. Using the average of these readings, the system automatically adjusts each motor, ensuring the bed is always optimized for a successful first layer.The LDO Voron 2.4s key hardware boxes and assembled architecture. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.Building the LDO Voron 2.4LDOs Voron 2.4 targets makers and tinkerers who enjoy configuring, optimizing, and personalizing their tech. Therefore, a major part of its appeal lies in the building process. Plenty of other companies offer high-quality 3D printing straight out of the box. The 3D printer kit, however, is a great choice for those seeking a more hands-on approach. As an open-source project, Voron supports the integration of third-party hardware and softwareoptions that arent available with most pre-assembled systems, offering greater flexibility.Assembling the Voron 2.4 was a long and challenging process. It took approximately 50 hours to complete the kit construction and programming steps. Those with little or no knowledge of 3D printers and electronics will likely struggle, as multiple stages require familiarity with mechanical and electrical components. LDO has a channel with a support team on the Voron Discord server as well as a very active community of volunteers to help answer build questions.LDO Voron 2.4 3D printed parts. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. Programming the 3D printers firmware involved adding pre-written scripts to its configuration files, which was relatively straightforward. However, identifying and resolving missing elements required frequent trial and error, creating a steep learning curve. Fortunately, the active and supportive Voron Discord community proved to be an invaluable resource here. Support teams often responded to our queries in just 10 to 15 minutes.The build process was further aided by LDOs addition of pre-cut and crimped wires, which allowed for simple plug-and-play installation. However, a steady hand is needed for the soldering operations, which could frustrate less experienced makers.Key components and electronics of the Voron 2.4. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. Voron 2.4 benchmarking testsOnce built, how does the Voron 2.4 stack up against other desktop FFF 3D printers? To find out, we conducted a range of benchmarking prints. The first, a test cube included with the 3D printer, sought to identify and correct performance inconsistencies. This served as a quality control measure before conducting application-specific or accuracy-critical prints.Our first 3D print on the Voron 2.4 was somewhat disappointing. The cube featured a disrupted first layer and noticeable layer lines caused by rapid changes in the nozzles direction.To fix this, we integrated the Klipper Adaptive Meshing & Purging (KAMP) configurations and macros, as well as re-tensioning the drive belts on all axes. While KAMP contains four configurations, we only activated the purging line option, which purges filament near the print area, rather than along the side of the bed.This resulted in a much improved second attempt, completely eliminating surface gaps. After additional tuning, including updating the PA, EM, and Input shaper settings, the third test cube featured a smooth first layer and improved surface finish.The first, second, and third 3D printed test cubes. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.When 3D printing batches of identical parts, repeatability is essential. To assess how the LDO Voron 2.4 handles repeatability, our team 3D printed square, hexagon, and tube models 12 times each. These were then measured and compared against their intended dimensions. Adept 3D printers will generally achieve an average deviation under 0.1 mm, and a standard deviation below 0.05 mm.3D printed repeatability test parts. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. The Voron 2.4 performed well here. The mean difference for all parts came to 0.0974 mm, while the collective standard deviation came to 0.0357 mm, easily within the 0.05 mm maximum limit. Both the square and hexagon parts demonstrated impressive results, showcasing the 3D printers value for batch production. Dimensional inaccuracies were noted for the tube parts. However, both ratings were within the expected limits, showcasing the Voron 2.4s high precision.Difference between the measurement and reference for the square (first), hexagon (second), and tube (third) parts. Images by 3D Printing Industry.How well does the Voron 2.4 handle circular parts? To evaluate this, we 3D printed several models with circular sections measuring 100 mm, 65 mm, and 20 mm in diameter. Unfortunately, the printer struggled, with both the mean dimensional error and standard deviation exceeding ideal limits of 0.1 mm and 0.05 mm. Our tests collectively achieved a mean difference of 0.2083 mm and a standard deviation of 0.0635 mm, disappointing results reflecting poor consistency and accuracy in the X and Y axes.This below-par performance was exacerbated by the 3D printers asymmetric belt tension setup. Additionally, the gcode files structureusing triangular surfaces to approximate curved shapesintroduced jagged edges, further reducing the precision of the 3D printed circles.Circular trajectory 3D printed models. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.Parts with more complex geometries often include overhanging features that arent reinforced by support structures. We tasked the DIY 3D printer with fabricating test parts featuring 6 overhangs each, increasing by five degrees from 40 to 65.The results were quite impressive. Strong consistency was achieved across both axes up to the 65 angle. At this point, the surface quality of the part deteriorated due to insufficient cooling, which caused warping and layer inconsistencies. Reducing the 3D print speed could mitigate this issue by allowing more time for layer cooling and solidification. The standard overhang limit for most FFF printers is around 55, with the Voron 2.4 clearly exceeding typical overhang performance.3D printed overhang tests. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.To further assess the Voron 2.4s ability to achieve support-free 3D printing, we conducted a bridging test. This is another good evaluation of the 3D printers cooling ability, with faster cooling resulting in a better surface finish on the underside of the bridges.Although shorter bridges showed minimal sagging, the longer sections did not fare as well, possessing clear drooping and uneven formation. While the standard bridging limit among FFF systems is 20 mm, LDOs offering demonstrated good performance until the 60 mm mark. As such, the DIY kit once again outperformed many of its pre-assembled counterparts.3D printed bridge test parts. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.Our Voron 2.4s advertised build volume was 300 x 300 x 300 mm. Unfortunately, our testing found the systems Z-axis limit is unreachable. By default, the printers configuration file limits this height to 270 mm, 10% less than advertised, due to the hotend configuration. On a more positive note, our 3D printed 270 mm-tall tower exhibited excellent layer stacking and consistency without visual defects.3D printed tower test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. Unlike the Z axis, our perimeter test confirmed that 3D printed parts can utilize the entire 300 x 300 mm X and Y axes. The part came out well, free of defects. Heated build beds often experience temperature variations at the corners, causing warping. However, the Voron 2.4s bed maintained a consistent temperature, resulting in a successful test.3D printed perimeter test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.We next conducted our in-house 3DPI test, which provides a comprehensive view of the 3D printers ability to handle intricate geometries and common challenges. The Voron 2.4 achieved an impressive score of 87.41/100, which exceeds many competing products in the FFF 3D printer market.3DPI benchmark 3D printed model. Photos by 3D Printing IndustryA week of fine-tuning hardware, firmware, and slicer settings allowed us to achieve this result, reflecting a key benefit of the 3D printers adjustable, open-source architecture. Clean overhangs were achieved until the 70 point, while the bridging test showed uniformity and consistency until the 50 mm length. Some defects were noted with stringing, cornering, and internal features. However, these were minor footnotes in an otherwise admirable display.3DPI test radar chart. Image by 3D Printing Industry.Our team also assessed the Voron 2.4s ability to 3D print a nut and bold part with tight tolerances and functional thread. This test piece was fabricated to a high standard, showcasing excellent detail and functionality. Its impressive detail and surface finish confirmed the DIY 3D printers ability to accurately fabricate small and precise parts.Small and precise parts test. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.Testing 3D printing applicationsThe creation of functional parts is a common use case among desktop 3D printer users. To evaluate the Voron 2.4s capability in this area, we fabricated a multi-part soft claw grip. The design included a gauntlet, claw side, hand support, tendon, and tri-claw, along with 14 bolts and 10 nuts.Our self-assembled 3D printer performed exceptionally well with the larger components, producing them with excellent precision. The smaller parts also met the required tolerances, and all sections fit together seamlessly, enabling flawless functionality of the claw grip. We were particularly impressed by the 3D-printed bolts and nuts, which securely held all the parts together, resulting in what we believe will be a durable and long-lasting device.3D printed soft claw grip. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. Prospective customers may also wish to 3D print functional end-use parts for personal use. The Voron 2.4s ability to meet these requirements was confirmed by our in-house developed performance airbox lid for a Yamaha motorcycle. Produced in ABS with a print time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, this part featured an excellent surface finish with a perfect layer overlap on both sides.All logo features were clearly visible and free of ringing, while bulging was minimized by the enclosed build volume, which maintains a stable internal temperature. The 3D printed part has since been used on a real motorcycle with no issues, confirming its value as a functional, end-use part.3D printed motorcycle performance airbox lid. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. We next sought to test the DIY 3D printers high-performance material compatibility. High-temperature nylon (PAHT) filament, an engineering-grade material known for its strength and durability, was used to 3D print a bicycle bottle holder.PAHT is a particularly hygroscopic material, meaning it is sensitive to moisture. To counteract this, our team dried the filament at 75C for over 24 hours. Despite this measure, moisture absorption caused the part to exhibit stringing, oozing, and layer distortion defects. Nonetheless, the 3D printer completed the print with accurate geometry. Surface issues were easily removed by sanding and applying a heat gun to the part, marking another success for the Voron 2.4.3D printed PAHT bicycle bottle holder. Photos by 3D Printing Industry. The footwear market is increasingly embracing additive manufacturing, with many high-end brands now offering end-use 3D printed shoes. Manufacturing these products using a single material offers notable recyclability and sustainability benefits.To determine whether the Voron 2.4 is well positioned to address the demand of this growing application, we 3D printed a Croc-like shoe using the printers full height capacity. A flexible TPU material was used to support comfort and natural foot movements.After a 20-hour print, the 3D printer successfully fabricated the shoe model. While this came out well using shore 90A TPU, a softer shore 50A material would be ideal for added flexibility. Excellent layer consistency was achieved, with no significant defects on the main body leaving a glossy finish. As such, LDO and Vorons DIY 3D printer is certainly capable of producing large-scale, functional parts with flexible materials.3D printed Croc-like shoe. Photos by 3D Printing Industry.The Voron 2.4: A DIY 3D printer done rightLDOs Voron v2.4-300 RevD kit stands out as a great addition to the DIY 3D printer market. The high-performance, customizable system is ideal for users wishing to build their own precise and reliable, desktop-sized production systems. Its premium components give the system a high-quality feel, while its CoreXY motion system unlocks significant flexibility and substantial speed.The open-source architecture and easy integration of aftermarket components allow users to freely personalize the system to meet their individual requirements. This addresses a notable gap in a desktop FFF market increasingly dominated by wholly proprietary systems, such as Bambu Labs closed-source 3D printers.The Voron 2.4 passed most of our tests with flying colors, achieving an impressive score on our 3DPI test. It certainly offers high accuracy, precision, and repeatability, making it well-suited to the production of functional prototypes and end-use parts.Issues were encountered with build size and circular trajectory, which could pose issues for certain user applications. However, these minor issues pale in comparison to the systems impressive performance and tunability.The assembly process for the DIY kit should not be underestimated. LDOs build guide currently lacks clear, sequential figures and diagrams, making it a somewhat scattered resource unfit for entry-level users. However, the impressive level of configuration freedom and customization makes the Voron 2.4 perfectly suited to more experienced, hacker-minded makers. We found the building process to be challenging, but rewarding. Ultimately, it offers the unique chance to create a 3D printer that rivals or exceeds the performance of most other options in the desktop market.Technical specifications of the LDO Voron 2.4-300 RevD3D Printing TechnologyFused Filament Fabrication (FFF)Build VolumeUp to 300 x 300 x 280 mm3D Printer Dimensions460 mm x 460 mm x 500 mm3D Printer Weight20 kgConfigurationCoreXY3D Printing Speed500 mm/s (Maximum) / 300 mm/s (Typical)Tool Head Acceleration25,000 mm/sLayer Thickness0.1 0.3 mmNozzle Diameter0.4 mm, 0.6 mmFilament Diameter1.75 mmMax. Extruder Temperature270CHeated Build Plate TempUp to 120CExtruder Quantity1, Direct DriveConnectivityWiFi/EthernetFile Output.gcode3D Printing Industry is hosting alive webinar to preview the 2025 AMUG Conference. Join us and our guests on Wednesday, 12th February.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?All the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on X, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows the LDO Voron 2.4-300 RevD 3D printer. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.

Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) have developed a Kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) bioink that could streamline in vivo tissue engineering. Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules on December 1, 2024, the study outlines how nanocellulose from SCOBY can be partially hydrolyzed, reinforced with chitosan and kaolin, and printed onto irregular wounds using a hand-held device called the Biowork biopen.Kombucha SCOBY produces cellulose during tea fermentation, resulting in nanocellulose with biodegradable and cell-compatible properties. However, the default entangled structure can be difficult to extrude. The team, led by Professor Insup Noh, used acetic acid to loosen the nanocellulose fibers (partial hydrolysis), improving flow through fine nozzles but simultaneously reducing the materials mechanical strength.To restore structural stability, they introduced chitosan (a positively charged polymer) and kaolin (a negatively charged clay). Electrostatic interactions among these three componentsnanocellulose, chitosan, and kaolincreated a polyelectrolyte complex without the need for chemical crosslinkers. According to the published paper, tests showed the resulting hydrogel could withstand typical mechanical stresses encountered in soft tissue applications.Graphical Abstract. Image via International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.Hand-Held Biopen for Real-Time MixingThe Biowork biopen features two counter-rotating screws that mix nanocellulose, reinforcing particles, and live cells moments before extrusion. This real-time blending removes the need for lengthy pre-mixing, potentially speeding up clinical workflows. Professor Insup Noh, who also heads MatrixCell Bio Inc., a firm focusing on biomaterials and regenerative devices, stated, This technology allows for a quick and easy one-step process where the drug and hydrogel are mixed and immediately applied on-site to injured areas of different shapes.In demonstration models of cranium and femoral head defects, the bioink maintained its layer-by-layer architecture above one centimeter in height. Researchers recorded stable deposition even on irregular surfaces, suggesting that the chitosan-kaolin network provided effective cohesion in spite of the partial hydrolysis. Cell viability also remained high, which the team attributed to the gentler blending forces inside the twin-screw mechanism.Investigations so far suggest that Kombucha SCOBY-derived nanocellulose can form the basis of a 3D printing platform with potential use in in vivo treatments. The systems reliance on electrostatic bonding between cellulose, chitosan, and kaolin removes additional crosslinking steps that might complicate procedures or introduce foreign agents.Tissue regeneration with Kombucha-SCOBY. Image via International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.Future Directions and Practical ImplicationsThe research team plans further exploration of this bioink, including tests on larger or more complex tissue defects. Adjusting viscosity, mechanical properties, and biological additives may tailor the formulation for specific clinical needs, such as cartilage regeneration, skin reconstruction, or wound healing in emergency settings. Early feedback from tests on anatomically shaped models indicates that uniform mixing in the Biowork biopen could help ensure consistent cell distribution, which is often difficult in standard syringe-based methods.Observations reported in the article do not draw conclusions about long-term tissue integration or clinical efficacy. Instead, they focus on the ability of this hydrogel to maintain shape, support viable cells, and fill irregular defects without using a separate crosslinker. Ongoing collaborations with medical researchers may clarify next steps for translating the method into clinical trials.SEOULTECH is a national university located in Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Established in April 1910, it has grown to span more than 500,000 m and now includes 10 undergraduate schools and 6 graduate schools serving around 14,595 students. Research programs focus on engineering, science, and technology, fostering interdisciplinary efforts like those led by Professor Nohs group in chemical and biomolecular engineering.SEOULTECH logo. Image via Seoul National University of Science & Technology.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured image shows Graphical Abstract. Image via International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Since 1896, The Architectural Review has scoured the globe for architecture that challenges and inspires. Buildings old and new are chosen as prisms through which arguments and broader narratives are constructed. In their fearless storytelling, independent critical voices explore the forces that shape the homes, cities and places we inhabit.Subscribe Now

Even the smallest feature can have a big impact. Now that Tab Traces has been added as a browser default, you have no reason not to try this little efficiency gem.