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What can replace a coil spring? You've got better options!

Traditional coil springs can limit mechanical designs. Wave springs offer a space-saving alternative, providing equivalent force and deflection in up to half the operating height while reducing assembly size and weight. There are four wave spring types that can replace a coil spring. Learn how each variant delivers unique performance capabilities to optimize space, efficiency, and reliability.
Read this informative NEW Smalley technical article.

Next-gen metal bonding: 3M Scotch-Weld 8500 Series

Replace traditional fasteners and streamline assembly with 3M Scotch-Weld Acrylic Adhesive DP8507NS. Engineered for direct bonding to bare or slightly oily metals with minimal surface prep, this high-performance adhesive withstands paint bake cycles up to 200 C (392 F), resists corrosion, and holds strong down to -40 C. Upgrade durability, aesthetics, and design flexibility. Bonds many plastics too!
View the video.

3 things you need to get right when 3D printing gears

When businesses decide to 3D print their own gears, they can reduce lead times and costs associated with replacements, prototypes, and small-batch production runs significantly. According to the experts at igus, however, "achieving industrial-grade reliability requires more than just a digital file; there are several fundamental technical basics you must master first to ensure your gears can withstand the rigors of real-world use."
Read this informative igus tech tip.

DURACON polymer with 30% recycled content

Daicel Corporation's High Performance Polymers SBU has launched four new DURACON^® POM grades featuring 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Unveiled at CHINAPLAS 2026, the lineup includes Standard, Low VOC, Sliding, and Tough options. Leveraging advanced compounding expertise, Daicel maintains quality and mechanical performance comparable to standard virgin resin grades for demanding global industrial and automotive components.
Learn more.

Renishaw unveils revolutionary LIBERTAS™ 3DP tech

Renishaw's new LIBERTAS software technology addresses two of the most persistent challenges in metal AM: poor downskin surface finish and the need for support structures. Users have greater freedom to manufacture complex geometries.
Read the full article.

Innovate like a PRO: Protolabs' new AI-enabled manufacturing platform

ProDesk by Protolabs accelerates innovation for product development and procurement teams. It features real-time, AI-powered quoting with design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis across injection molding, CNC machining, and 3D printing. The platform enables seamless team collaboration and customizes quotes with instant feedback on materials, lead times, secondary operations, and finishes prior to production.
Learn more.

SDP/SI Shaftloc Fastening System

Shaftloc is a unique, reusable locking device for securely mounting mechanical components like gears and sprockets onto shafts without the need for keyways, set screws, or adhesives. Its simple, two-piece design offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional fasteners, providing high clamping force and vibration resistance. Installed with standard tools, Shaftloc is perfect for designers seeking flexible, hubless mounting solutions. Available in four styles.
Learn more from SDP/SI.

How Autodesk Research uses Markforged 3D printing

In advanced R&D, "good enough" doesn't cut it. To pioneer its Performance-Aided Design (PAD) workflow, Autodesk Research partnered with Markforged to close the gap between digital simulation and reality. Using sensors and digital twins, PAD replaces delayed field reports with real-time feedback. To test this high-stakes system, Autodesk built massive UAV platforms -- including a 300-lb aircraft. Facing extreme dynamic loads and weather, these drones provide the ultimate torture test for rapid design iteration.
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Top Tech Tip: How do you 3D print STL files?

Learn the basics of 3D printing STL files -- the files that serve as the digital foundation for 3D printing -- and a whole lot more from the experts at Xometry. These files have advantages, of course, but did you know they have disadvantages too? Also learn about STL tools and programs, and how to reduce file size or even repair a file you are having trouble with.
Read the Xometry article.

When metals can't survive: Machined ceramics as an alternative

Technical Ceramics are so hard and wear resistant that they cannot be machined with conventional tools -- but they can outlast and outperform other materials in demanding or harsh applications. INSACO's proprietary diamond grinding process and specialized techniques developed over many decades allow the company to produce and document parts to exacting specifications consistently. Learn all about the alternatives you have when metals just can't take it.
Read the INSACO article.

Radio Flyer cuts ebike prototype time radically with Fuse X1 large-format SLS 3D printer

Radio Flyer cut prototype lead times for its Flyer Loop cargo ebike frame from two months to two days using Formlabs' new Fuse X1 SLS large-format 3D printer. "We can now print an entire Flyer Loop cargo ebike overnight and be gluing it together the next day," said Agostino LoBello, product development engineer at Radio Flyer. "I can iterate three times as often with nine times less labor." The Fuse X1 delivers production-quality parts with 50% lower costs and triple the throughput of comparable industrial systems, featuring automated powder handling and a compact, easy-to-install design. [Credit: Image courtesy of Formlabs]
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Compact industrial sand 3D printer

ExOne has launched the S-Print Pro, a compact industrial sand 3D printer that brings production-grade binder jetting to smaller foundries, pattern shops, and print service providers. Aimed at businesses competing on cost and flexibility, it handles low-volume casting, spare parts, and custom components. The system processes furan binder with silica sand, CeraBeads, or silicon carbide.
Learn more about this capable machine.

Engineer's Toolbox: How to pin a shaft and hub assembly properly

One of the primary benefits of using a coiled spring pin to affix a hub or gear to a shaft is the coiled pin's ability to prevent hole damage. Another is the coiled pin absorbs wider hole tolerances than any other press-fit pin. This translates to lower total manufacturing costs of the assembly. However, there are a few design guidelines that must be adhered to in order to achieve the maximum strength of the pinned system and prevent damage to the assembly.
Read this very informative SPIROL article.

Get reliable labeling done right

Videojet Technologies has released the Videojet 9310 label applicator, designed to simplify everyday labeling on rigid and flexible packaging. Using Intelligent Motion technology, it digitally controls label tension and alignment to ensure consistent placement with minimal manual adjustments. The system features a simple label path, an intuitive touchscreen, and flexible mounting options to reduce downtime and keep production moving.
Learn more.

Your phone is now your smartest hydraulic tool

Commissioning a proportional valve traditionally requires cables, laptops, and complex software. The new Bosch Rexroth 4WRAE valve changes that. Featuring integrated digital electronics and Bluetooth connectivity, it pairs with the "easy2connect" app. Technicians can now visualize performance, adjust settings, diagnose errors, and force solenoids directly from their phones, simplifying setup for IO-Link or analog systems.
Learn more.

New recyclable resin could enable sustainable 3D printing

The highest-quality 3D-printing method used to create extremely precise structures at the atomic scale -- a method called stereolithography -- uses a process that involves photocuring resin by exposing the material to ultraviolet (UV) light. This irreversibly chemically changes the resin, making it impossible to recycle.

Until now, that is.

A team led by researchers based at YOKOHAMA National University in Japan has developed a new recyclable resin that could enable high-resolution and sustainable 3D printing. They published their approach in ACS Omega on February 21, 2026.

"Photocured 3D models cannot be recycled, so there are concerns about the negative environmental impact of discarding 3D-printed resin parts," said co-corresponding author Shoji Maruo, professor on the Faculty of Engineering at YOKOHAMA National University. "Research into reusable photocurable resins is progressing, but conventional resins form irreversible cross-linked networks. As a result, previously proposed 'recyclable' resins either require the addition of chemical additives for reuse or rapidly degrade after one or a few reuse cycles."

The researchers set out to investigate whether a unique property of anthracene and its derivatives, a material used to produce dyes and plastics and to preserve woods, could offer a solution. When exposed to light, anthracene undergoes a process called photodimerization. This process forms the chemical bonds into cross-linked 3D structures that, when heated, can revert to their original 2D format.

"We found that the reversible photodimerization reaction of anthracene could be a practical method for developing a truly reusable resin free from initiators, or chemicals used to induce a reaction, that can maintain performance through multiple recycling cycles while supporting high-precision stereolithography," Maruo said.

The team used a chemical compound previously developed as a reversible adhesive to produce the resin that then contains the anthracene chemical group. They then custom built two systems to cure the new resin: single-photon microstereolithography that employs one photon of light to precisely cure the resin layer by layer; and two-photon lithography that induces simultaneous absorption of two photons by the resin. To test the two-photon lithography system, they 3D printed a butterfly-shaped model and assessed the printing accuracy at different speeds, finding that their resin behaved similarly to other resins.

When exposed to light, anthracene and its derivative -- a chemical used in producing dyes and preserving woods, among other applications -- undergoes a process called photodimerization. This process breaks the chemical bonds down and reforms it into cross-linked 3D structures that, when heated, can revert to its original format. This conceptual illustration represents how, when irradiated, a 3D-printed resin rabbit's constituent parts break down into single 2D structures that can be recycled into material that can be used to 3D print something new. [Credit: Image courtesy of YOKOHAMA National University]

"These results demonstrate that the recyclable resin can be precisely patterned in arbitrary shapes using laser scanning, confirming its suitability for two-photon lithography," said co-corresponding and co-first author Masaru Mukai, specially appointed assistant professor on the Faculty of Engineering at YOKOHAMA National University who is currently at the Tokyo University of Science.

Their resin undergoes step-growth polymerization, meaning the resin is cured without an additive agent such as an initiator, instead of chain-growth reactions, where the light exposure initiation reaction initiates another and so on.

"Previously reported recyclable resins depended on photoinitiators, but the resin in this study cures via stepwise polymerization without the need for initiators," Maruo said. "This unique feature simplifies resin formulation, eliminates contamination from additives, and enables near-complete recyclability. We demonstrated that the resin could be recycled at least 10 times using two-photon lithography."

They 3D printed one of three letters of "YNU," the acronym for YOKOHAMA National University, and then "erased it" by heating and printing the next letter 10 times. The team also printed a cube shape, heated it to 150 degrees C for 15 minutes, and then printed a disc shape from the melted cube. They compared material degradation during reprocessing and found that the degradation was relatively minor even when compared to previous studies on reusable stereolithography resins.

"Reversible photodimerization of anthracene provides a practical route toward recyclable materials for light-based 3D printing," Mukai said. "By using an initiator-free, step-growth mechanism, we show that a photocurable resin can be recycled multiple times with comparatively small changes in material performance, while remaining compatible with both two-photon and single-photon stereolithography. Our results indicate that reusability and high-precision fabrication can be combined more effectively than in previously reported recyclable resins."

Next, the researchers said they plan to adapt the resin to a larger-scale 3D-printing system and to improve the thermal response and long-term stability of the material.

Source: YOKOHAMA National University

Published August 2026

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