3D Printing Daily: Thursday, April 2nd, 2026

Thursday, April 2nd, 2026

🚨 Breaking: China 5 Million Export Milestone

• China Exports 5.03 Million 3D Printers — Up 33% YoY, export value hit $1.6B. The US took ~2M units, Germany ~1M. This is desktop AM going truly global.

📈 Market & Industry

• AMPOWER Report 2026 — Market projected to grow 13.5% annually through 2031. Industrial metal AM and desktop polymer segments leading the charge.
• Artemis II Launches — NASA mission carries 3D printed components on Orion and SLS engines, marking larger role for AM in space manufacturing.

🖨️ Hardware & Tech

• Mobile AM Robots — New closed-loop control lets mobile manufacturing robots print while navigating dynamic factory floors.
• Thales Alenia Space — Uses AM to cut antenna bracket weight by 45%.
• Raised3D + AMT Partnership — Vapour smoothing support for Raise3D RMS220 SLS printer.

💻 Software & AI

• Prompt2CAD — Uses Claude to convert plain-language furniture descriptions into parametric 3D models.
• Novineer NoviVision — Image to editable CAD in minutes.
• Prusa OpenPrintTag — New NFC smart spool contest launches for upcycling old spools.

Materials & Tech

• Sparkling Water Support — Effervex soluble filament requires specific fluid recipe.
• BLT 100K Copper — Bright Laser Technologies surpasses 100,000 copper alloy components.

Quick Fixes

• PLA corners lifting? Check PEI sheet cleanliness and first-layer adhesion.
• Ghosting/ringing? Reduce print speed and check belt tension.
• Layer delamination? Ensure consistent temperature and layer adhesion.

Total articles: 618+