A new silicone lets 3D printers turn out custom-fit contact lenses
A team at the University of Waterloo has built a digital manufacturing system that prints custom contact lenses in roughly 20 minutes, raising the prospect that a patient could be measured, have a lens designed, and walk out wearing it after one clinic visit. The approach pairs a purpose-built silicone material with additive manufacturing, and…
From the wireSWISSto12 Raises $70M to keep pace with multi-orbit demand
Swiss satellite and payload maker SWISSto12 has closed a $70 million (€61 million) Series C, funding it says will expand manufacturing as orders climb across commercial and government customers.  The Series C lands after a stretch of steep revenue gains. SWISSto12 reported $140 million (€121 million) in 2025 revenue, and its cumulative contract value ha
From the wireConcordia researchers use 4D printing of composites to produce wind turbine blades on flat molds
Researchers at Concordia University have developed an inverse 4D printing of composites method for producing curved vertical-axis wind turbine blades from carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy. The process forms the blades on a flat mold, removing the need for tooling that matches the final curved geometry. The method, detailed in Polymer Composites by Emad Fakhimi
From the wireSolukon launches SPR-Pathfinder PRO for complex LPBF depowdering simulation
Solukon, a German manufacturer of automated depowdering systems, has launched SPR-Pathfinder PRO, an upgraded software package for planning and simulating powder removal from complex laser powder bed fusion parts. The software is intended particularly for components with fine internal channels and densely packed surfaces. The PRO edition removes the previous
From the wireEPFL’s 3D Printed Elastomer Resists Both Fracture and Fatigue
A new study in Science Advances finds that a rubbery material first engineered for 3D printing may resolve a problem that has long dogged materials science: producing printable elastomers that are simultaneously tough and durable.  Researchers at EPFL’s Soft Materials Laboratory (SMaL) report that the same architecture giving their double network
From the wireSkyDefense Unveils CobraJet, a 3D Printed VTOL Interceptor
Colorado-based defense company SkyDefense has introduced CobraJet, an AI-controlled vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft designed to detect, identify, track, and destroy hostile drones at speed. The autonomous multirole jet targets the growing threat that unmanned systems pose to critical infrastructure, borders, airports, military bases, and public
From the wirePrint Your Own Gear: Inside the Insta360 × Bambu Lab Luna Ultra Challenge
Insta360 and Bambu Lab’s MakerWorld have teamed up on the Luna Ultra Design Challenge, a global call for makers, designers, and creators to dream up fresh accessories, mods, and concepts for the Luna Ultra, Insta360’s flagship dual-lens 8K gimbal camera. The competition puts more than US$11,000 in prizes on the table, giving entrants a chanceR