Un estudio de la Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA), realizado en Italia en colaboración con Dyloan Bond Factory y Stratasys, destacó que el uso de la impresión 3D en los sectores de la moda y el lujo podría suponer un considerable

There has been a new update to the ongoing Stratasys v. Bambu Lab patent infringement lawsuit.  Both parties have agreed to consolidate the lead and member cases (2:24-CV-00644-JRG and 2:24-CV-00645-JRG) into a single case under Case No. 2:25-cv-00465-JRG.  Industrial 3D printing OEM Stratasys filed the request late last month. According to an official court document, Shenzhen-based Bambu Lab did not oppose the motion. Stratasys argued that this non-opposition amounted to the defendants waiving their right to challenge the request under U.S. patent law 35 U.S.C. § 299(a). On June 2, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, ordered Bambu Lab to confirm in writing whether it agreed to the proposed case consolidation. The court took this step out of an “abundance of caution” to ensure both parties consented to the procedure before moving forward. Bambu Lab submitted its response on June 12, agreeing to the consolidation. The company, along with co-defendants Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Lunkuo Technology Co., Ltd., and Tuozhu Technology Limited, waived its rights under 35 U.S.C. § 299(a). The court will now decide whether to merge the cases. This followed U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap’s decision last month to deny Bambu Lab’s motion to dismiss the lawsuits.  The Chinese desktop 3D printer manufacturer filed the motion in February 2025, arguing the cases were invalid because its US-based subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, was not named in the original litigation. However, it agreed that the lawsuit could continue in the Austin division of the Western District of Texas, where a parallel case was filed last year.  Judge Gilstrap denied the motion, ruling that the cases properly target the named defendants. He concluded that Bambu Lab USA isn’t essential to the dispute, and that any misnaming should be addressed in summary judgment, not dismissal.        A Stratasys Fortus 450mc (left) and a Bambu Lab X1C (right). Image by 3D Printing industry. Another twist in the Stratasys v. Bambu Lab lawsuit  Stratasys filed the two lawsuits against Bambu Lab in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, in August 2024. The company claims that Bambu Lab’s X1C, X1E, P1S, P1P, A1, and A1 mini 3D printers violate ten of its patents. These patents cover common 3D printing features, including purge towers, heated build plates, tool head force detection, and networking capabilities. Stratasys has requested a jury trial. It is seeking a ruling that Bambu Lab infringed its patents, along with financial damages and an injunction to stop Bambu from selling the allegedly infringing 3D printers. Last October, Stratasys dropped charges against two of the originally named defendants in the dispute. Court documents showed that Beijing Tiertime Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototyping and Mould Technology Co., Ltd were removed. Both defendants represent the company Tiertime, China’s first 3D printer manufacturer. The District Court accepted the dismissal, with all claims dropped without prejudice. It’s unclear why Stratasys named Beijing-based Tiertime as a defendant in the first place, given the lack of an obvious connection to Bambu Lab.  Tiertime and Stratasys have a history of legal disputes over patent issues. In 2013, Stratasys sued Afinia, Tiertime’s U.S. distributor and partner, for patent infringement. Afinia responded by suing uCRobotics, the Chinese distributor of MakerBot 3D printers, also alleging patent violations. Stratasys acquired MakerBot in June 2013. The company later merged with Ultimaker in 2022. In February 2025, Bambu Lab filed a motion to dismiss the original lawsuits. The company argued that Stratasys’ claims, focused on the sale, importation, and distribution of 3D printers in the United States, do not apply to the Shenzhen-based parent company. Bambu Lab contended that the allegations concern its American subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, which was not named in the complaint filed in the Eastern District of Texas. Bambu Lab filed a motion to dismiss, claiming the case is invalid under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19. It argued that any party considered a “primary participant” in the allegations must be included as a defendant.    The court denied the motion on May 29, 2025. In the ruling, Judge Gilstrap explained that Stratasys’ allegations focus on the actions of the named defendants, not Bambu Lab USA. As a result, the official court document called Bambu Lab’s argument “unavailing.” Additionally, the Judge stated that, since Bambu Lab USA and Bambu Lab are both owned by Shenzhen Tuozhu, “the interest of these two entities align,” meaning the original cases are valid.   In the official court document, Judge Gilstrap emphasized that Stratasys can win or lose the lawsuits based solely on the actions of the current defendants, regardless of Bambu Lab USA’s involvement. He added that any potential risk to Bambu Lab USA’s business is too vague or hypothetical to justify making it a required party. Finally, the court noted that even if Stratasys named the wrong defendant, this does not justify dismissal under Rule 12(b)(7). Instead, the judge stated it would be more appropriate for the defendants to raise that argument in a motion for summary judgment. The Bambu Lab X1C 3D printer. Image via Bambu Lab. 3D printing patent battles  The 3D printing industry has seen its fair share of patent infringement disputes over recent months. In May 2025, 3D printer hotend developer Slice Engineering reached an agreement with Creality over a patent non-infringement lawsuit.  The Chinese 3D printer OEM filed the lawsuit in July 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division. The company claimed that Slice Engineering had falsely accused it of infringing two hotend patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 10,875,244 and 11,660,810. These cover mechanical and thermal features of Slice’s Mosquito 3D printer hotend. Creality requested a jury trial and sought a ruling confirming it had not infringed either patent. Court documents show that Slice Engineering filed a countersuit in December 2024. The Gainesville-based company maintained that Creaility “has infringed and continues to infringe” on both patents. In the filing, the company also denied allegations that it had harassed Creality’s partners, distributors, and customers, and claimed that Creality had refused to negotiate a resolution.   The Creality v. Slice Engineering lawsuit has since been dropped following a mutual resolution. Court documents show that both parties have permanently dismissed all claims and counterclaims, agreeing to cover their own legal fees and costs.  In other news, large-format resin 3D printer manufacturer Intrepid Automation sued 3D Systems over alleged patent infringement. The lawsuit, filed in February 2025, accused 3D Systems of using patented technology in its PSLA 270 industrial resin 3D printer. The filing called the PSLA 270 a “blatant knock off” of Intrepid’s DLP multi-projection “Range” 3D printer.   San Diego-based Intrepid Automation called this alleged infringement the “latest chapter of 3DS’s brazen, anticompetitive scheme to drive a smaller competitor with more advanced technology out of the marketplace.” The lawsuit also accused 3D Systems of corporate espionage, claiming one of its employees stole confidential trade secrets that were later used to develop the PSLA 270 printer. 3D Systems denied the allegations and filed a motion to dismiss the case. The company called the lawsuit “a desperate attempt” by Intrepid to distract from its own alleged theft of 3D Systems’ trade secrets. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows a Stratasys Fortus 450mc (left) and a Bambu Lab X1C (right). Image by 3D Printing industry.

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a novel resin system for multicolor digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing that enables rapid fabrication of freestanding and non-assembly structures using dissolvable supports. The work, led by Zachariah A. Page and published in ACS Central Science, combines UV- and visible-light-responsive chemistries to produce materials with distinct solubility profiles, significantly streamlining post-processing. Current DLP workflows are often limited by the need for manually removed support structures, especially when fabricating components with overhangs or internal joints. These limitations constrain automation and increase production time and cost. To overcome this, the team designed wavelength-selective photopolymer resins that form either an insoluble thermoset or a readily dissolvable thermoplastic, depending on the light color used during printing. In practical terms, this allows supports to be printed in one material and rapidly dissolved using ethyl acetate, an environmentally friendly solvent, without affecting the primary structure. The supports dissolve in under 10 minutes at room temperature, eliminating the need for time-consuming sanding or cutting. Illustration comparing traditional DLP 3D printing with manual support removal (A) and the new multicolor DLP process with dissolvable supports (B). Image via University of Texas at Austin. The research was supported by the U.S. Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation, and the Robert A. Welch Foundation. The authors also acknowledge collaboration with MonoPrinter and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. High-resolution multimaterial printing The research showcases how multicolor DLP can serve as a precise multimaterial platform, achieving sub-100 μm feature resolution with layer heights as low as 50 μm. By tuning the photoinitiator and photoacid systems to respond selectively to ultraviolet (365 nm), violet (405 nm), or blue (460 nm) light, the team spatially controlled polymer network formation in a single vat. This enabled the production of complex, freestanding structures such as chainmail, hooks with unsupported overhangs, and fully enclosed joints, which traditionally require extensive post-processing or multi-step assembly. The supports, printed in a visible-light-cured thermoplastic, demonstrated sufficient mechanical integrity during the build, with tensile moduli around 160–200 MPa. Yet, upon immersion in ethyl acetate, they dissolved within 10 minutes, leaving the UV-cured thermoset structure intact. Surface profilometry confirmed that including a single interface layer of the dissolvable material between the support and the final object significantly improved surface finish, lowering roughness to under 5 μm without polishing. Computed tomography scans validated geometric fidelity, with dimensional deviations from CAD files as low as 126 μm, reinforcing the method’s capability for high-precision, solvent-cleared multimaterial printing. Comparison of dissolvable and traditional supports in DLP 3D printing. (A) Disk printed with soluble supports using violet light, with rapid dissolution in ethyl acetate. (B) Gravimetric analysis showing selective mass loss. (C) Mechanical properties of support and structural materials. (D) Manual support removal steps. (E) Surface roughness comparison across methods. (F) High-resolution test print demonstrating feature fidelity. Image via University of Texas at Austin. Towards scalable automation This work marks a significant step toward automated vat photopolymerization workflows. By removing manual support removal and achieving clean surface finishes with minimal roughness, the method could benefit applications in medical devices, robotics, and consumer products. The authors suggest that future work may involve refining resin formulations to enhance performance and print speed, possibly incorporating new reactive diluents and opaquing agents for improved resolution. Examples of printed freestanding and non-assembly structures, including a retainer, hook with overhangs, interlocked chains, and revolute joints, before and after dissolvable support removal. Image via University of Texas at Austin. Dissolvable materials as post-processing solutions Dissolvable supports have been a focal point in additive manufacturing, particularly for enhancing the efficiency of post-processing. In Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), materials like Stratasys’ SR-30 have been effectively removed using specialized cleaning agents such as Oryx Additive‘s SRC1, which dissolves supports at twice the speed of traditional solutions. For resin-based printing, systems like Xioneer‘s Vortex EZ employ heat and fluid agitation to streamline the removal of soluble supports . In metal additive manufacturing, innovations have led to the development of chemical processes that selectively dissolve support structures without compromising the integrity of the main part . These advancements underscore the industry’s commitment to reducing manual intervention and improving the overall efficiency of 3D printing workflows. Read the full article in ACS Publications. Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us onLinkedIn and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel to access more exclusive content. At 3DPI, our mission is to deliver high-quality journalism, technical insight, and industry intelligence to professionals across the AM ecosystem.Help us shape the future of 3D printing industry news with our2025 reader survey. Featured image shows: Hook geometry printed using multicolor DLP with dissolvable supports. Image via University of Texas at Austin.

Harris Tweed, a Scottish textile brand, is working with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) to integrate 3D printing technology into its traditional loom systems. The integration seeks to improve part accessibility and support the long-term sustainability of its weaving operations in the Outer Hebrides. Kelly McDonald, operations manager at The Harris Tweed Authority, noted that while the organization takes pride in its craftsmanship and tradition, it also recognizes that innovation is essential to maintaining the strength and resilience of the industry. “Working with NMIS is a significant step forward in future-proofing the looms critical to the production of Harris Tweed. With the ability to replace parts quickly, easily, and affordably, our weavers can focus on what they do best without worrying about delays. This not only safeguards the future of our fabric but also supports the livelihoods of the island community who dedicate their skills to preserving the craft.” Harris Tweed Fabric. Photo via Harris Tweed. The Traditional Harris Tweed Process and New Innovations To address these issues, The Harris Tweed Loom Spares Co. partnered with NMIS—operated by the University of Strathclyde and part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult—to develop 3D printed loom parts. The collaboration focuses on improving access to essential components and reducing dependence on long supply chains. At NMIS’s Digital Factory in Renfrewshire, engineers applied reconditioning techniques and tested durable materials to create high-quality parts. One key loom assembly, initially comprising seven separate pieces, was redesigned into three components made from strong composite material. This new version reduces costs by 99% and can be printed locally using a desktop 3D printer in approximately two hours. “When a vital part of the loom breaks, it can halt production for weeks, which is incredibly frustrating. Finding a way to keep the loom running smoothly is essential, and it’s been great to be one of the first to try out the new 3D printed assembly. The ability to get what we need, when we need it, will make a huge difference, as it means we can minimise downtime and focus on our work without unnecessary interruptions.” Old and new assemblies side by side. Photo via Harris Tweed. Ongoing Development and Future Goals Andrew Bjonnes, R&D engineer at NMIS Digital Factory, stated: “This project really showcases how modern manufacturing can boost traditional industries and help preserve valuable heritage skills. With additive manufacturing, we’re promoting self-sufficiency and giving weavers a smart, cost-effective, and user-friendly way to keep their looms up and running. It has been an incredibly rewarding project, making a tangible difference and allowing weavers to concentrate on their craft instead of worrying about equipment failures.” Andrew Bjonnes with new assembly. Photo via Harris Tweed. 3D Printing’s Impact on Fashion Design  3D fashion printing is expanding the range of possibilities for designers, providing new tools and techniques that enhance durability, sustainability, and creativity in the industry. In February, the New York Embroidery Studio (NYES), a surface design studio specializing in embroidered designs and textile embellishments for high-profile events like the MET Gala, integrated the Stratasys J850 TechStyle, marketed as the world’s first additive manufacturing system designed for direct printing on textiles. This addition enables the studio to create detailed, tactile designs, improve workflow efficiency, and reduce material waste. “The J850 TechStyle is an extraordinary addition to our capabilities. Our clients are thrilled by the possibilities this technology opens up—from high-end fashion to VIP and entertainment projects. Combining the precision of 3D printing with our expertise in embroidery allows us to push boundaries like never before,” said Michelle Feinberg, Owner and Creative Director of NYES. Elsewhere, Coperni introduced its gel bag at Disneyland Paris, created using Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP), a technique developed by MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab. RLP fabricates objects directly within a gel suspension, enabling the creation of soft, stretchable, and durable designs. Made from recyclable platinum-cured silicone, the bag highlights how advanced manufacturing techniques can seamlessly blend with fashion design while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability. Take the 3DPIReader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows Andrew Bjonnes with new assembly. Photo via Harris Tweed.

Stratasys, a 3D printer OEM, has announced the acquisition of assets from Forward AM GmbH, a BASF spin-off based in Germany. This strategic transaction expands Stratasys’ materials portfolio, particularly enhancing its capabilities in Selective Absorption Fusion (SAF) and Digital Light Processing (DLP) technologies. The acquisition also reinforces Stratasys’ commitment to driving innovation and maintaining its leadership in the additive manufacturing (AM) industry through differentiated solutions. The Stratasys F3300 3D printer. Photo via Stratasys. Acquisition Update: What Remains and What Changes In a related announcement, Forward AM confirmed it will continue operating as an independent materials brand, committed to open collaboration across the additive manufacturing ecosystem. Moving forward, the brand will operate under a new legal entity within Stratasys, named Mass Additive Manufacturing GmbH. “With the backing of Stratasys, we now have greater resources and reach to drive innovation, expand our offering, and better serve your needs. This partnership empowers us to do more of what we do best: helping you succeed in additive manufacturing,” the company stated. Forward AM also reassured customers that, despite its new position within the Stratasys family, it remains firmly committed to confidentiality. Strict internal protocols and dedicated security systems are in place to ensure that all client data remains secure and is never shared beyond the Forward AM team. Looking ahead, the company plans to keep clients updated on new developments and opportunities for collaboration.  Formwork being 3D printed. Image via Forward AM. Business Report: Stratasys Stratasys recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024) and full year 2024 (FY 2024).  For FY 2024, Stratasys reported revenue of $572.5 million, an 8.8% decrease from $627.6 million in FY 2023. Q4 2024 revenue reached $150.4 million, down 3.8% from the same period in 2023 but up 7.4% sequentially from Q3. Despite the impact of macroeconomic challenges and constrained capital spending, Stratasys maintained strong customer engagement and saw a rise in manufacturing applications, which accounted for 36% of total revenue—up from 34% in 2023.   Stratasys’ focus on high-value applications, particularly in the industrial and healthcare sectors, provided resilience during a challenging year. A key highlight was its expanding role in manufacturing, notably with ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s largest steel manufacturers, adopted Stratasys’ FDM technology and GrabCAD software at its European Research Center, enabling faster tooling production.  In motorsports, Stratasys became the official 3D printing partner of NASCAR through a multi-year agreement, for the design and production of parts and tools across its operations, fully replacing previous systems used alongside Stratasys solutions. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows Formwork being 3D printed. Image via Forward AM. Paloma Duran Paloma Duran holds a BA in International Relations and an MA in Journalism. Specializing in writing, podcasting, and content and event creation, she works across politics, energy, mining, and technology. With a passion for global trends, Paloma is particularly interested in the impact of technology like 3D printing on shaping our future.

Prague-based startup Additive Appearance, a spin-off from Charles University, has released PrismSlicer, a slicing and design-for-additive-manufacturing (DfAM) software developed specifically for multi-material inkjet 3D printing. PrismSlicer focuses on delivering high-fidelity color accuracy, precise volumetric control, and efficient material use, addressing needs across sectors such as industrial design, healthcare, dental, model making, education, and rapid prototyping. To address limitations found in traditional slicing software, PrismSlicer incorporates a photorealistic rendering engine, material-aware slicing algorithms, and voxel-level volumetric authoring. These capabilities aim to reduce trial-and-error, decrease print failures, and accelerate production workflows. “Many users struggle to anticipate how a print will turn out, especially with complex gradients and intricate color textures, ” said Tobias Rittig, Ph.D., CTO at Additive Appearance. “We built PrismSlicer to eliminate that uncertainty. With precise previews and interactive controls, it becomes much easier to get it right on the first print.” PrismSlicer Software. Image via Additive Appearance. Key Differentiators Distinct from conventional surface-based slicers, PrismSlicer adopts a volumetric approach that supports native 3D gradients, material property interpolation, and adaptive color mixing. This approach enables precise spatial distribution of visual and functional features, maximizing the utilization of hardware capabilities. Core features include photorealistic visualization with realistic translucency effects, automated color and texture optimization through device-specific material profiles, and volumetric design tools allowing integration of pre-sliced models with 3D gradients and digital materials. The software supports widely used platforms such as Stratasys PolyJet, Quantica NovoJet, and various custom inkjet printing systems, running across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Printout 3. Image via Additive Appearance. “The early version released in collaboration with Quantica validated our core technology, ” noted Rittig. “Now, the full-featured PrismSlicer is here and it’s ready to support a much wider user base across multiple ecosystems.” Designed to meet the evolving needs of industries dependent on multi-material, full-color 3D printing, PrismSlicer combines speed, accuracy, and intuitive workflows—including guided steps to simplify complex processes. For users without direct access to printers, its predictive preview capability provides a cost-effective way to test designs digitally before production. PrismSlicer Photorealistic Preview. Image via Additive Appearance. In addition, PrismSlicer supports sustainability by significantly reducing the need for physical test prints, thereby cutting material waste, saving time, and lowering costs. This digital print verification aligns with broader efforts to promote environmentally responsible manufacturing. Offered through a subscription licensing model, PrismSlicer benefits from regular quarterly updates and feature enhancements. Future development plans include expanding support for additional printer models, refining design tools, and further improving visualization accuracy. Additive Appearance is also actively growing partnerships across sectors such as medical prosthetics and dentistry, commercial printing, industrial prototyping, toy and figurine production, and visual effects. Developments in Multi-Material 3D Printing  Multi-material 3D printing is a growing area throughout the additive manufacturing industry. In 2024, a team from the University of Colorado Boulder conducted a study that developed a “Pantone system for material properties.” Their findings outline how repeatable 3D printed properties can be achieved by mixing three “primary” materials – a soft elastomer, a rigid plastic, and liquid constituents. Custom software was used to design hundreds of digital composite material samples. The mechanical properties of the 3D printed samples were then tested, characterized, and mapped. This ultimately allowed users to find the perfect material mixture to achieve the desired properties of their 3D printed part.  Elsewhere, researchers from the MIT Media Lab, Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute used multi-material inkjet 3D printing to fabricate hybrid living materials.  Called the Hybrid Living Material (HLM) fabrication platform, the team created customized material recipes to combine resins and chemical signals. These signals can activate certain responses in biologically engineered microbes, offering the potential for producing 3D printed medical devices with therapeutic agents.       Take the 3DPIReader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows PrismSlicer Software. Image via Additive Appearance.