3D Printing Daily: Friday, March 27th, 2026

🔧 Firmware & Software

Prusa MMU3 gets massive 20% speed boost — New firmware slashes filament change times from 52 to ~42 seconds per swap, saving up to 6 hours on complex multi-color prints. The update also brings improvements for CORE One L MMU3 configurations.

🖨️ New Hardware

Prusa Firmware Update Speeds MMU3 — The MMU3 multi-material unit now performs approximately 40-50% faster on average with PLA compared to competitor designs, while wasting 73% less material in default configurations.

🏭 Industry & Business

Velo3D Q4 2025: Record $31M backlog as defense contracts drive production pivot. Revenue of $46M for the full year, up from $41M in 2024. The company aims for positive EBITDA in H2 2026.

Polymaker Goes Direct in Europe — Chinese filament giant Polymaker expands direct-to-consumer webshop to UK, France, Germany, Poland, Czechia, and Spain.

Formlabs Form Now — Formlabs enters the service bureau business with industrial parts delivery in 2 days from $20.

🏥 Medical & Healthcare

3D Systems EU MDR Certification — Full scope certification under EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 achieved. NextDent jetted denture solution launching in Europe this summer.

Spanish Hospital Cuts Costs 97.6% — Using 3D printing for therapy equipment, a Spanish hospital dramatically reduced costs.

🚀 Aerospace & Defense

Agnikul Tests Agnite — Indian spacetech startup tests rocket engine that can be 3D printed in just 7 days at one-tenth the cost of conventional manufacturing.

LEAP 71 + HBD 200kN Engine — World's largest 3D printed aerospike rocket engine demonstrated at TCT Asia 2026.

📊 Market & Research

AMPOWER Report 2026 — Industrial additive manufacturing sector records renewed growth of 5.6% after 2024 stagnation.

BASF Catalyst Plant — World's first production plant for 3D printed catalysts starts up in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

🔬 Research Highlights

IBM Patents Smarter Hollow Fill — New patent turns empty 3D printed cavities into engineered features instead of unused air.

CRAFT Method — Researchers achieve spatial control over crystallinity in 3D printed thermoplastics, enabling new material properties.