3D printing

Everytown for Gun Safety is celebrating what it calls a victory: California, described as the world's fourth-largest economy, has become the second US state to require the 3D printer industry to build in safeguards against illegal gun manufacturing. The law is aimed at stopping people from using desktop printers to produce untraceable, homemade firearms, and gun safety advocates are promoting it as a model for other states.

A maker has released JBR-001, an open-source desktop companion robot built around the Arduino Uno Q, with all files needed to 3D-print and assemble it at home. The project, published on Arduino's Project Hub, is being shared and discussed by hobbyists interested in affordable, printable robotics.

Hackaday has published a piece exploring the use of OpenSCAD, the open-source 3D modelling software usually associated with parametric design and 3D printing, in a gardening context. The writeup has drawn modest attention among open-source hardware enthusiasts, who enjoy seeing maker tools applied outside their usual workshop settings, though details of the project itself remain limited to the article.

3D printer maker Bambu Lab has partnered with fashion label SUSAN FANG to create 3D-printed pieces shown at London Fashion Week. The collaboration highlights the growing use of 3D printing technology in high fashion, translating the studio's airy, sculptural aesthetic into printed garments or accessories on the runway.

A pool owner repaired a worn pool robot drive by designing a replacement part in FreeCAD and 3D printing it. The new orange drive spins constantly and locks into the propeller via a helical dog clutch, so the propeller only turns when engaged, solving the slipping problem. The fix is being shared as an example of using free CAD software and 3D printing for practical home repairs.

Researchers have introduced a new tool that lets users repair flaws in AI-generated 3D models and then fabricate the objects to their own specifications. The system addresses a key weakness of generative 3D design, where outputs are often too imperfect to be physically printed or manufactured, and gives users control over how the final product turns out.

The Manyfold 3D printing project, an open-source model library application, is being discussed after its AGENTS.md file — instructions written for AI coding agents working on the repository — was shared and praised as refreshingly sensible. Commenters appear to be highlighting it as a good example of how projects can set expectations for automated contributors.

Jussi Pakkanen, creator of the Meson build system, has been invited by Norwegian Unix user group NUUG to speak in Oslo. His talk, "Building a Super 8 Film Scanner at Home", describes how he repaired a 1970s projector and built a scanner using a Raspberry Pi, stepper motors, 3D-printed parts and machine vision to digitise Super 8 film.

A course provider is offering a first educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) workshop in Hamburg on 11 November, titled "From Idea to Product - With Design Thinking and 3D Printing to Implementation". A few places are still open, and the announcement asks for help spreading the word. The course combines creative problem-solving methods with hands-on 3D printing to take participants from concept to finished product.

A new open-source project called JBR-001 offers a fully 3D-printable desktop companion robot powered by an Arduino Uno Q. The design and build instructions are published on Arduino's Project Hub, letting anyone download, print and assemble the robot themselves. Makers and hobbyists are sharing the project, praising its accessibility and the growing range of open-source robotics hardware available to home builders.

3D printing is reshaping how robot components are made, allowing engineers to print lightweight parts, complex geometries and custom designs that traditional manufacturing cannot easily produce. New materials and additive design techniques are enabling faster prototyping and more capable robots across industry, healthcare and research, with outlets highlighting practical applications now emerging.

Adafruit has highlighted a second version of a 3D-printable enclosure that houses a Meshtastic LoRa node together with a 3-watt solar panel, designed to work as an outdoor base station for off-grid mesh networking. The design is being shared with the maker community as part of the weekly 3D printing roundup, drawing interest from hobbyists building self-sufficient community radio networks.

A Frederick County, Maryland business is working on converting plastic waste into filament for 3D printers, offering a recycling solution for a material that is difficult to reuse. The plan pairs local waste collection with the growing demand for 3D printing supplies. Details about the company, its process and timeline have not yet been widely reported, but the idea has drawn local attention as an example of small-scale recycling innovation.

A hobbyist has designed and 3D printed an unusual custom part with a spiral inset featuring an internal grid structure, created in CAD software. The purpose is being kept secret until the wider project is finished and shared. Fellow makers are responding to the technical challenge of modelling the spiral interior.