Within this year of recovery, IDTechEx has noted the development and/or continuation of micro-trends within each major 3D printing subspecialty: polymer, ceramic, composite, and metal additive manufacturing. In this article, IDTechEx identifies and explains the micro-trends for each material specialty that are worth keeping an eye on going into 2022.

Not only is a 3D-printed prosthetic eye produced in a fraction of the time taken by the conventional process, but the resulting prosthesis also looks more realistic. This is made possible by the algorithms of Cuttlefish:Eye, a software solution from the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD.

Platelet-rich plasma is a natural healing substance in our blood. This study explores ways of enhancing the wound healing process by extracting PRP from the blood of a patient with a complex skin wound and manipulating it through 3D printing to form an implant for tissue repair which can be used to treat difficult-to-heal skin wounds in a single surgical procedure.

Thursday 9 December 2021 - Assessment of the key mergers and acquisitions; Important funding rounds across; Notable partnerships; Establishment and expansion of production facilities; Role in key application areas including electronic devices, energy storage and 3D printing; Progression in various fields of green technology

Skin is the body's first line of defence against toxins, radiation and harmful substances. It has at least six functions, regenerates itself approximately once each month, and consists of up to seven layers of tissue. It's no wonder, then, that researchers and clinicians are interested in producing this remarkable organ in the lab so that it can be used to repair injuries caused by burns, surgery or disease.

Computer-aided-manufacturing software introduced today by Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division provides the digital tools needed to prepare 3D-printed components for manufacturing using powder bed fusion technologies.

With the pandemic still raging, supply chain disruptions, the chip shortage, climate catastrophes, and geopolitical turbulence, it is safe to say 2021 has not been smooth sailing. The materials and chemical sector provides the backbone of every industry and remains under pressure from all these challenges. In this article, IDTechEx highlights the key news from their independent perspective on this crucial industry.

Stratasys Ltd continues to enhance anatomic modeling solutions for healthcare providers through the introduction of a new software module, Digital Anatomy Creator, for Stratasys Digital Anatomy 3D Printers. The new software allows users to easily manipulate material formations and customize the internal structures of their prints to achieve patient-specific anatomic models that are a direct replication of a patient's pathologic and biologic anatomy.

Xaar's Ultra High Viscosity Technology is providing manufacturers with an array of new and practical production possibilities, offering the chance to print without limits and drive creativity.

The massive new challenges of desertification, rising sea levels, starvation, increasingly violent weather, dysfunctional national governments and the accelerating move to cities can be tackled on a human scale.

AML3D has 3D printed the world's largest high-pressure Oil & Gas piping component to be successfully tested and verified by Lloyd's Register.

Researchers have designed a novel polymer to bind and strengthen silica sand for binder jet additive manufacturing, a 3D-printing method used by industries for prototyping and part production.

Prusa Research unveiled the game-changing Original Prusa XL. The large-scale CoreXY 3D printer with a 36 cm (14.17 in) cubed build volume is more than four times the size of the Original Prusa MK3S+ and eight times the size of the Original Prusa MINI+. I

Nexa3D announced that it partnered with AI-powered manufacturing software leader Oqton to meet the growing demand for additively manufactured patient specific dental appliances and aligners worldwide.

Nexa3D announced the pre-launch of its QLS 350 selective laser sintering system. The QLS 350 thermoplastic 3D printer delivers significant cost savings compared with traditional methods and provides unprecedented production throughput and flexibility, enabling users to bring additive manufacturing to the production floor at scale.

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division has revealed new developments that advance the application of Directed Energy Deposition technologies to industrial applications, including collaborations with printer manufacturers pro-beam, Sciaky, DM3D, Gefertec and Meltio.

To provide engineers with more flexibility when using additive manufacturing systems, Renishaw has launched a new range of 3D printing machinery.

XJet Ltd has signed two different distribution agreements, one with Tri-Tech 3D, a supplier of leading edge AM solutions to UK and Irish manufacturers and the other with Portuguese distributor Emetrês. Both partners will supply customers in their respective regions with XJet Metal and Ceramics AM systems as well as materials, local installation, training, and customer support services.

Researchers have received $1.3 million from the Office of Naval Research through the Defense Research University Instrumentation Program to create the world's first printable military "smart helmet" using industrial-grade 3D printers.