3D printing is a great tool for UX design. Imagine crafting physical models for rapid usability testing, iterating on interface designs with tangible prototypes, or even creating custom ergonomic tools. The workshop discussed ideas for leveraging these strengths. Students envisioned 3D-printed wearables and researchers explored possibilities for interaction accessories. Practitioners shared their experiences using 3D printing to create unique and user-centered experiences for clients.

The role of 3D printing as a driver of sustainable development is based on three levels of benefits: the environmental benefits of 3D printing itself, the benefits enabled by the customer's processes and products and, third but not least, the unlimited innovation enabled by 3D printing. In this blog, we have picked out nine characteristics of 3D printing that will help you to run your business in an increasingly sustainable way.

The starting points for organizations interested in 3D printing can be roughly divided into four categories. This division is based on two fundamental questions: does the organization already have experience in utilizing 3D printing, and does it intend to use 3D printing for existing or new products in the future? Identifying your organization's starting point will help you find the right information and path forward.

Additive Manufacture Specialist Petri Ehonsalo is a meticulous printer and technical millennial who is not afraid of a challenge. Petri is known to most of our customers primarily as a specialist agent in metal printing, but fewer may be familiar with Petri's diverse work history.

It is no coincidence that 3D printing keeps growing strongly in the 2020s: it converges with several topical sustainability trends. While the additive manufacturing process itself carries many environmental advantages, by far the most impactful benefits come from what the technology and ideology enable for 3D printing customers.

Science-fiction inspired 3D printing applications emerge frequently, such as bioprinting or photo realistic 3D printing. It is quite typical that solutions implemented for extreme applications are later adopted in common use. For example, solutions developed for Formula1 racing cars are adopted in ordinary cars.

3D printing has long been touted as the next big thing in future technologies. The focus is consistently on the technology side of 3D printing. Now it's time to take a closer look at applications and business. In the words of Steve Jobs, let’s explore the junction between technology and liberal arts. In this blog post, we will examine the crossroads that are gaining interest from various industries.

Customers and partners have come to know our CTO Vesa Kananen as a service-minded and down-to-earth kind of 3D printing expert. At the workplace, he’s known to be a jack-of-all-trades who is always ready to lend a hand – and the guy who’s coffee mug is always missing!

Can anything be 3D printed? How much does 3D printing cost? Are 3D prints durable? How to get started with 3D printing?

Finland's first full-colour Mimaki 3D printer was put into operation at the 3DStep site in Ylöjärvi in autumn 2022. The new Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 printer enables reproducing up to 10 million colours on 3D-printed items.

Laurent Bernadac is a french violinist who develops a new approach of the electric violin as a ‘real’ unique instrument. He is also a guitarist and a drummer. Engineer in mechanical design and energy, he is the designer and the creator of the 3Dvarius, the electric violin fully created by 3D printing technology.

In September 2022, 3DStep's production facility in Ylöjärvi will be home to Finland's first closed-loop powder 3D metal printer. Automatic powder handling and feeding will enable more efficient printing and reduce the amount of manual work.

3D printing technologies and materials already cover almost every imaginable need of manufacturing industries, SMEs and innovators. The main question for the future is what is emerging from beyond the horizon?

On a joint mission with Formnext: helping ideas take shape

Have you already ordered plastic prints from us? Meet our Additive Manufacturing Specialist Amina!