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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.
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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.
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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.

A new take on indexing plungers

JW Winco has expanded its extensive standard parts range with the GN 823 indexing plunger. Featuring an intuitive operating lever, it allows easy activation with a single finger, even when wearing gloves or out of sight. Available in screw-on or weldable stainless steel variants, this robust component suits both delicate installations and heavy-duty industrial applications. Available in two installation options: screw fastening or welding.
Learn more.

Fast-cure composite for aero and defense manufacturing

Toray Composite Materials America has launched 3960-FC, a fast-cure variant of its high-performance 3960 prepreg system for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. This material reduces cure time by up to 45% while maintaining proven mechanical performance, stiffness, and exceptional toughness. It is highly compatible with automated manufacturing technologies like AFP and ATL, as well as traditional processing methods.
Learn more.

Best high-speed rotary bearing in THK history

THK's High-Speed, Double-Row Angular Contact Ring BWH is the fastest rotary bearing in company history. By utilizing balls inside a cage instead of rollers, this new structure achieves unprecedented speeds. It supports loads from all directions while matching the high rigidity and rotational accuracy of standard cross-roller ring design options.
Learn more.

100,000 hours: KNF diaphragm pump achieves exceptional lifetime

Reaching 100,000 hours of uninterrupted performance is a remarkable achievement for micro diaphragm gas pumps. It represents more than 11 years of continuous operation in a controlled environment, exceeding the demands of most real-world applications. This milestone highlights KNF's engineering expertise and the reliability built into every pump.
Get a closer look at the 100,000-hour lifetime test.

Smart ceramics reveal a new way to control heat transfer

New research from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in collaboration with The Ohio State University and Amphenol Corp., challenges conventional understanding about controlling heat flow in solid materials.

The study, published in PRX Energy, shows that applying an electric field to a ceramic material changes how phonons (tiny vibrations that carry heat) behave. Phonons with atoms moving along the field direction (poling direction) last longer than those with atoms moving perpendicular to the field. As a result, the material conducts heat almost three times more efficiently along the field direction than in perpendicular directions. This promising approach could lead to new solid-state devices that control heat flow in everyday technologies.

Yellow waves show propagating atomic vibrations observed at ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source. In a smart, switchable ceramic, an electric field aligns charges so vibrations along white field lines travel farther with fewer disruptions -- boosting heat flow nearly threefold. [Credit: Phoenix Pleasant/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy]

"Being able to control both how fast and in what manner heat flows could lead to devices that manage thermal energy far more efficiently," said Puspa Upreti, an ORNL postdoctoral research associate.

Controlling heat flow is important for high-performance systems such as modern electronic coolers with no moving parts, energy converters that change heat into power, chip-based circuits used in everyday technology, and cogeneration systems, which capture and repurpose industrial heat. Regulating heat in these systems creates the right conditions for peak efficiency and performance.

The link between efficiency and heat flow is shown by the Carnot cycle, an idealized model of a heat engine that sets the highest possible efficiency by precisely controlling the transfer of heat between hot and cold reservoirs. In this study, applying an electric field removes barriers to phonon transport. This lets the vibrations travel farther, much like reducing traffic on a busy road, and improves heat conduction along the electric field direction, which leads to better efficiency.

Experiments took place at the Spallation Neutron Source, a DOE Office of Science user facility operated by ORNL. The researchers used advanced inelastic neutron scattering techniques to capture both the static arrangement of atoms (structure) and their movements (dynamics). Neutrons help scientists see exactly where the atoms are in the material and how they move, a concept recognized in the Nobel Prize-winning work by Clifford Shull and Bertram Brockhouse.

The detailed dataset from the Spallation Neutron Source offers a clear understanding of how adjusting the electric field not only speeds up the phonons but also extends their lifetimes, which is key for developing future ways to manage heat.

The study focused on a special type of ceramic called relaxor-based ferroelectrics. When these ceramics are exposed to an electric field, tiny electrical charges inside them align. This alignment reduces scattering of the heat-carrying vibrations, allowing energy to flow more efficiently. The crystals used in this study were carefully grown and then subjected to the electric field, or "poled," by Raffi Sahul at Amphenol. The work produced solids that enable precise control of energy flow.

ORNL senior researcher Michael Manley designed and led the inelastic neutron scattering experiments along with ORNL senior R&D staff member Raphael Hermann. "Earlier work on bulk ferroelectric materials achieved modest improvements in thermal conductivity of 5 percent to 10 percent, while the new measurements reveal an enhancement close to 300 percent -- mainly because the phonons are able to travel much longer before they stop," Manley said.

By integrating their thermal conductivity measurements with neutron scattering data, the researchers directly connected changes in heat flow to the behavior of atomic vibrations within the crystal. The late Professor Joseph Heremans of Ohio State designed the thermal conductivity experiments and guided doctoral candidate Delaram Rashadfar through the data interpretation. "While earlier work led us to expect only a modest effect, observing a threefold difference turned out to be a significant result," said Rashadfar. "Professor Heremans always stressed the importance of trusting the data first and letting the theory follow."

Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Published March 2026

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