Your Daily 3D Printing Briefing

University of Maine Launches 30-Foot 3D-Printed Boat, Japan Approves Mass Production of Interceptor Drones

• The University of Maine launched "3Dirigo X," a 30-foot, high-performance, 3D-printed boat on August 28, 2026. This development, designed and manufactured at UMaine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, aims to accelerate vessel construction, eliminate the need for expensive molds, and enable rapid design adaptation for both commercial and defense applications.

  Umaine Edu

• Japan's Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency has approved the mass production of 3D-printed interceptor drones, selecting the Terra B1 model. This move, announced on August 27, 2026, leverages 3D printing to simplify and shorten the design and prototyping phases, facilitating rapid deployment of a large unmanned fleet by 2027 and allowing for quick modifications to adapt to evolving threats.

  Defensenews

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL) announced a collaboration on August 27, 2026, to develop wire arc 3D printing processes for industrial pressure vessels used in nuclear energy and chemical processing. This partnership aims to reduce risk, accelerate deployment, and strengthen domestic supply chains, with ORNL having already demonstrated the wire arc 3D printing of a small nuclear pressure vessel in July.

  Ans

• Researchers from Pusan National University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a 3D-printable liquid crystal elastomer ink that allows for unprecedented control over material movement. Published on August 27, 2026, this innovation enables the same printed filament to either contract or elongate when heated, simply by adjusting the printing speed or temperature during fabrication, offering new possibilities for soft robotics and wearable devices.

  Techbriefs