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Today’s top stories: Prusa announces enclosures for both their XL and Mini 3D printers, a small startup is attempting to bring complex 3D computations to the mainstream, and MIT researchers demo the first chip based 3D printer.

🤩 Hobbyist 3D Printing

Prusa announces enclosures for XL and Mini 3D printers - Link

Prusa Research is releasing two new enclosure accessories for their 3D printers: the XL Enclosure and the MINI Enclosure.

The XL Enclosure integrates with the printer's software, allowing users to control filtration and temperature. It has a built-in HEPA filter, an LED light, and a two-part design for easy access to the printer. The upper part has a hatch, and the lower part has a bellows cover that folds for better airflow when printing with PLA filament.

The MINI Enclosure is similar to the XL Enclosure but smaller and with fewer features. It can be expanded with optional add-ons like a filtration system, a lock, an LED strip, and a fire suppression system. It also supports advanced materials and faster printing speeds thanks to a recent firmware release.

Prusa is offering discounts to existing XL and MINI printer owners and will release printer bundles with enclosures in two weeks.

🏭 3D Printing Industry

PanOptimization Moves to Bring Complex 3D Modeling Computations Mainstream - Link

The startup PanOptimization is challenging established FEA software with their innovative PanX program. Designed specifically for 3D printing, PanX allows complex simulations on commercially available computers, unlike traditional tools needing speciality/supercomputers.

PanX caters to the unique needs of additive manufacturing, enabling organizations to define various printing processes within a single model for accurate simulations. This is crucial for real-world applications.

The software excels at handling intricate, large parts with detailed features, overcoming limitations of existing simulation tools. This is achieved through a novel multi-grid modeling approach.

MIT Researchers Demo First Chip Based 3D Printer - Link

Researchers from MIT and UT Austin created a chip-based 3D printer the size of a coin. This tiny device uses light to cure resin into 3D shapes. It has no moving parts and relies on an array of antennas to steer light beams. The current version can print 2D patterns in seconds. The long-term goal is to create a system that emits a 3D hologram of light to print entire objects in one go.

This technology has the potential to be portable and create medical devices or prototypes on-site. It combines silicon photonics with photochemistry, enabling light-based 3D printing. The researchers achieved this by developing a special resin that cures quickly with visible light and integrating liquid crystal modulators on the chip for precise light control.

🤣 3D Printing Meme of the Week

🔗 Quick Links

Deal of the Week

🛠️ $200 OFF - Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3-in-1 3D Printer - Link

Not only can you 3D print, but laser etch, and CNC too!

This 3-in-1 printer, laser etcher, and CNC machine is now $200 off during the Snapmaker 8th anniversary sale. With it’s quick swap modules, this printer makes it easy to 3D printer, etch designs into wood with the laser module or do simple CNC jobs with the CNC module. Included is the 3-in-1 software for each of these functions, Snapmaker Luban.

Here are some highlights of the machine:

• Quick swap modular design

• 3D printing, laser etching, and CNC functions

• Up to 350mm X 350mm build volume

• All metal design

• Smart, 5 inch touchscreen

🤩 Recent Slicer Updates

• OrcaSlicer - 2.1.0 Beta - 5/31/2024 -(GitHub)

• Cura - 5.7.2 - 6/03/2024 (GitHub)

• PrusaSlicer - 2.7.4 - 4/5/2024 (GitHub)

• Bambu Studio - 1.9.1 Public Official- 5/12/24 (GitHub)

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Until tomorrow!