This week across additive manufacturing: Defense agencies expanded qualification and procurement of additive manufacturing; Desktop FDM ecosystems integrated material recycling and circularity tools.
Defense agencies expanded qualification and procurement of additive manufacturing
Government bodies adopted multi-year contracts and pilot programs to shift sustainment and production for mission-critical aerospace/defense components to certified 3D printed parts.
Defense agencies have moved to formalize the adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) through a series of multi-year procurement and qualification programs. On April 6, 2026, Stratasys Direct was selected for the U.S. Department of War’s Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) IV pilot program. This initiative, supported by a fiscal year 2026 defense budget of $3.3 billion, aims to transition additive manufacturing from prototyping to a certified supply chain sustainment method.
In the same week, Velo3D secured a $9.8 million, five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract under the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) JAMA Pilot Parts Program. The company will utilize its Sapphire Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) systems to address supply chain obsolescence for military hardware across the U.S. Armed Forces. Separately, LinkSolution signed a memorandum of understanding with the ROK Army 72nd Infantry Division to deploy additive manufacturing for field-level drone repairs and the reverse engineering of legacy components.
These government-led programs align with recent commercial developments in defense-focused manufacturing facilities. AML3D recently opened a dedicated U.S. manufacturing facility in Ohio to house its Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) technology, following an AU$16.5 million order intake that includes contracts with Newport News Shipbuilding and the U.S. Navy. Additionally, Divergent formalized a partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to integrate its Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS) for the production of unmanned aerial system structures.
These events mark a transition toward integrating AM into formalized defense procurement cycles. The primary open question remains whether these pilot programs and multi-year contracts can achieve the necessary throughput and consistent material certification to fully displace legacy casting and forging workflows within established defense supply chains.
Desktop FDM ecosystems integrated material recycling and circularity tools
Consumer hardware manufacturers adopted integrated pellet-to-filament recycling systems and specialized hardware support to improve material efficiency and sustainability at the desktop scale.
Creality has secured over $4 million in funding via an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to support the production of its M1 filament maker and R1 shredder. This ecosystem is designed to process FDM printing waste-including failed prints and support structures-into 1.75mm feedstock. The system, which follows Creality’s recent deployment of FDM hardware in academic environments like the Hamburg University of Technology, marks the manufacturer's entry into the material-processing segment of the desktop additive value chain.
The integration of recycling tools occurs as manufacturers increasingly move to standardize the periphery of the FDM workflow. In the same week, Häfner & Krullmann released precision-engineered spools specifically optimized for the edge-roller drive mechanisms found in systems like Bambu Lab’s Automatic Material System (AMS). These spools, available in polystyrene or polycarbonate, address mechanical feeding reliability, a recurrent challenge for users operating high-throughput, multi-material desktop machines.
Separately, product lifecycles in the desktop segment have accelerated as manufacturers consolidate their offerings. Bambu Lab officially discontinued its X1 series as of March 31, 2026, following the earlier retirement of the P1P model in February. While Bambu Lab has transitioned to newer hardware architectures, such as the X2D dual-extrusion system, the company has committed to a multi-year support roadmap, with security patches and spare parts availability guaranteed through 2031.
These developments highlight a broader push toward vertical integration within desktop FDM ecosystems. As Creality expands from core hardware into pellet-to-filament recycling and Bambu Lab focuses on multi-nozzle automation and standardized material handling, the sector is prioritizing the optimization of the entire print lifecycle-from waste reclamation to support material efficiency-rather than hardware speed alone.
This Week in Brief
Funding
- iNEW3D - iNEW3D secured $1.47 million on Kickstarter for its QC2A desktop material jetting 3D printer.
- Aspect Biosystems - Aspect Biosystems secured $280 million to scale production of its bioprinted tissue therapies.
Product & Technology
- Klinikum Erfurt - Klinikum Erfurt launched a clinical study with over 1,000 patients for 3D-printed, personalized medication.
- Bambu Lab - Bambu Lab's H2C printer is used by hobbyists to manufacture custom servo frames for radio-controlled aircraft.
- 3DSearch - 3DSearch aggregates 3D model data from eight repositories, including Thingiverse and Printables, into one platform.
- Additive-X - Additive-X now offers FFF, Metal FFF, SLS, and SLA printing technologies from its UK-based service hub.
- Parker - Researcher Dan Parker created 3D-printed, biodegradable prosthetic bird nests for endangered cavity-nesting species.
- IIT Guwahati - IIT Guwahati researchers developed a framework for steel reinforcement in 3D printed concrete for seismic zones.
- Studio RAP - Studio RAP will fabricate custom ceramic tiles using robotic clay extrusion for a Utrecht student residence.
- restor3d - restor3d commercially launched its 3D-printed Aeros Modular Stem System for total ankle replacement.
- Ruliweb - A hobbyist showcased a 1/24 scale Afro Samurai figure produced via high-resolution resin 3D printing.
- Formlabs - Formlabs filed a patent for an automated post-processing system combining centrifugation, washing, and curing.
- MIT - MIT researchers developed VisiPrint, an AI tool that generates realistic previews of FDM 3D prints.
- Danit Peleg - Danit Peleg released an AI tool that automates conversion of 2D sewing patterns into 3D printable files.
Partnership
- Exotrail - Korean Air and Exotrail signed a memorandum to collaborate on Orbit Transfer Vehicle business development.
- Kureha - Kureha Corporation invested in Z-Polymers to commercialize the Tullomer liquid crystal polymer for AM.
Compiled from 31 sources across AMPulse's news index. Week 15 of 2026.