Anycubic has announced an exclusive partnership with Thingiverse, the world’s oldest and largest repository of free STL models for 3D printing. The move comes roughly eight months after Thingiverse was purchased from UltiMaker by MyMiniFactory. This is clearly a “collaboration,” not an acquisition, as Thingiverse remains part of the MyMiniFactory family and dedicated to the SoulCrafted, human-made art movement.

Instead, Anycubic will gain permission to share the files directly with its own users on the MakerOnline platform. Selected models will be adapted for multicolor printing and converted by Anycubic from STL to 3MF format for compatible printers (such as the Kobra X), helping reduce manual setup and making it easier for users to move from choosing a model to preparing it for printing.

As Thingiverse is an open platform, this partnership aims to make it easier for Creators to have their content enjoyed by Anycubic 3D printer owners around the world, said Romain Kidd, CEO of Thingiverse, in an email to Tom’s Hardware. Kidd said the collaboration will allow Anycubic users to have close to a “1-click” printing experience.

Kidd emphasized that Thingiverse designers would need to opt into the program. “We (of course) plan to respect Creators rights, licenses, and showcase them,” he said. When we spoke to Kidd earlier this year, he insisted that Thingiverse ultimately belongs to the creators and the people who use it, and they would always be involved in the development of the platform.

"As 3D printing reaches more mainstream users, people need more than hardware,” said James Ouyang, co-founder of Anycubic. “They also need quality content and simpler ways to turn their ideas into successful prints. Building a more integrated 3D printing experience is an important part of our long-term strategy, and working with Thingiverse helps us take another step toward that goal."

With creator trust a central concern across the open-source community, both companies have stressed that existing Creative Commons and Non-Commercial (NC) licensing terms will be strictly preserved across all converted 3MF files.

The partnership between Anycubic and Thingiverse highlights an industry-wide scramble to build custom ecosystems for consumers to keep them locked into brand loyalty. It would seem every manufacturer craves to provide the same friction-free experience as Bambu Lab has with MakerWorld and shops full of branded filament. Consumers new to 3D printing expect a “just push play” experience, with models flowing from app to printer without thinking. Leveraging Thingiverse’s model library will fast-forward over the long process of courting designers and hosting contests to build up a pool of ready files.

The program will launch on November 17, which is notably the opening day of Formnext, the world’s largest trade show for additive manufacturing. Tom’s Hardware will have a reporter at the show to see what else Anycubic and other 3D printer manufacturers will be announcing that day.

Bambu Lab has arrived early for the Black Friday sales extravaganza. The big sales event doesn't hit retailers until late next month during the Thanksgiving Holidays, but Bambu Lab is striking out in front of the chaos by starting its Black Friday sales right now. You can already grab big savings on 3D printers and filaments ahead of the main event.

Bambu Lab's sale is running from October 16 to December 1, 2026. So you don't have to wait to find out what kind of discounts are going to arrive during Black Friday, as they're already here.

● Check out Bambu Lab's Black Friday deals

Already, we can see savings of up to $300 on their flagship H2C 3D printer combo directly from Bambu Lab. With further discounts across the entire 3D printer lineup. There are also big Black Friday deals available on filament and accessories.

We've listed the best Bambu Lab deals currently available below. We've included links to Bambu Lab printers that we've previously reviewed, too, which you can check before you buy to see a full run-through of each printer's performance to help you make your decision.

Bambu Lab Deals on 3D Printers

Bambu Lab Filament Deals

You'll need plenty of colorful filament with your 3D printer too, and there are a few great filament deals in the Bambu Lab Black Friday sale. These discounts mean you can stock up on more spools of filament for all your 3D printing projects. All Bambu Lab filaments have been tested to perform well on Bambu Lab printers for more reliable printing results.

Bambu Lab Automatic Material Systems Attachment Deals

AMS addons (Automatic Material Systems) for Bambu Lab printers will allow you to print with multiple different colors at the same time, while also helping to keep your filament dry and secure. Depending on the 3D printer combination and compatibility, you can link multiple units together for up to 16 different color combinations in your prints.

This Halloween weekend is the perfect time to think about buying a new 3D printer at a brilliant discount. Spooky season is nearly over, but as we hurtle towards the holiday season, the big names in the 3D printer world have slashed prices, making it even more affordable to pick up a new printer before the year is out. There are options that'll suit any skill set and experience, from total beginner to complete pro. We've put together some of the best deals you'll find on 3D printers right now, and you'll see discounts on some of the best 3D printer models out there.

● Check out Creality's 3D printer deals

● Check out Elegoo's 3D printer deals

● Check out Bambu Lab's 3D printer deals

● Check out Prusa's 3D printer deals

You'll see the biggest and best models on sale right now. There are models from Elegoo, Creality, Anycubic, Bambu Lab, and Prusa on sale, with resin and filament discounts to match, along with accessories.

You'll see the Bambu Lab H2D dropping to just $1,399, for instance. At the other end of the market, there's the Bambu Lab A1 Mini, now just $199, or the Creality Ender 3 V3 for $239. Or, you could pick up the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, down to only $319.

These big names are running sales throughout the next few weeks as we head towards the Black Friday sales period, but just because the sales are live doesn't mean the stock will be there. If you want a bargain on a new 3D printer right now, here are the deals you'll want to look for.

Best 3D Printer Deals for Halloween

Best 3D Printer Filament and Resin Deals for Halloween

More Tech Deals

If you're looking for further savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, Gaming Chair, Best Wi-Fi Routers, or CPU Deals pages.

A study published on October 22 in the journal Forensic Science International reports that researchers from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, have developed a forensic method to analyze 3D-printed PLA parts and match them to their respective filament, correctly matching 26 out of 28 samples of PLA. This potentially provides a way to link seized 3D-printed “ghost-guns” with other seized filament, allowing police to form a clearer network for the manufacturing and distribution of the 3D-printed firearms.

3D-printed firearms have become a big problem worldwide, as they are untraceable and even compostable in the case of PLA, with tools like this AI 3D-printed gun generator making it scarily accessible. Serial numbers, registration, and a network of licensed distributors are usually the first line of investigation when it comes to crime involving firearms, but easily manufacturable, untraceable, disposable plastic firearms are a new threat with no clear way to crack down on them yet.

However, this research, by Dr. Georgina Sauzier et al. from Curtin University's School of Molecular and Life Sciences, along with forensics experts from ChemCentre, has devised a way to trace a printed object to a specific filament product, down to the brand and type.

The process of 3D printing changes the filament’s physical properties, and this change can be measured. In this research, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used, a thermoanalytical technique that lets the sample go through a range of temperatures, and the instrument measures how heat flows through the sample. It measures how much energy or power is used to keep the sample at a certain temperature or to change its temperature, giving us a graph of its thermal properties.

The sample’s thermal properties can then be cross-referenced with its unprinted filament, creating an association between them. As of now, the tested PLA products are the only successfully identified material, with PETG and ABS not providing enough information to link them to their filament product. Sauzier blames the amorphous nature of those filaments, giving very similar results with no clear identifiers linking them to their respective filament products. PLA has a semi-crystalline molecular structure, which provides clearer temperature transition points under the temperature tests as the crystalline structures break down and rearrange.

However, ABS and PETG did show some promise when tested using ATR-FTIR (Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared), which uses infrared to identify chemical bonds and material composition. The team did find differences in additives using this method, but still did not give enough information to link them back to their respective filament products.

The research is still very early, with more rigorous testing to be done, as the team printed using only one machine, printed small sample tiles cut with scissors, and left them for a year in monitored office conditions before testing. Properties could further change as cooling rates vary greatly depending on what the printer is printing: Faster cooling and slower print speeds on overhangs, or slower cooling and faster print speeds on infill sections. Different printers may also affect the physical properties, adding one more factor in the chain.

So far, correctly identifying 26 out of 28 samples is a great start to cracking down on dangerous, untraceable illegal firearms. When the research matures and can reliably identify a broad range of materials, it could potentially trace 3D-printed firearms to the printer and filament, potentially creating a list of where they were purchased and who purchased them.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency GUR released details of a new 3D-printed Russian cruise missile that was first deployed around September and October of this year. The missile is faster than traditional weapons, hitting speeds of 500mph, and has a range of over 700 miles. According to Business Insider, these cruise missiles, called “Filin,” are more affordable than the traditional Kh-101 cruise missile that costs more than $2,000,000 per launch. This is why some fear that these weapons would be used by the Russian military in “missile spam” tactics against Kyiv to overwhelm its air defenses.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was originally planned to last just a few weeks, has turned into a multi-year war of attrition. This has made the frontlines a costly effort for both man and machine, which is why both sides are looking for more cost-efficient ways to conduct warfare. While drones have seen widespread use in this conflict, they’re relatively slow and are easier to shoot down. The Geran-5, which has been known to disintegrate in flight, could only hit a maximum speed of 270 mph, while the Filin can reportedly hit speeds of 500 mph and has a range of 745 miles. While this still isn’t as fast as modern fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the increased top speed could make it that much harder for Ukrainian air defenses to deal with the threat.

The GUR said that the Filin has a carbon and fiberglass fuselage, while also featuring some 3D-printed parts. It also said that Moscow was able to keep costs on the cruise missile low by relying on commercially available parts from both domestic and foreign companies. It used Russian-made engines instead of the Chinese turbojets found in many Shahed drones, while many electronic components, such as the flight controller, inertial navigation systems, equipment controllers, and counter-jamming hardware, are said to come from Western nations and their allies. The Ukrainian intelligence agency listed the following sources: 35 components come from the U.S., 22 from China, and 13 from Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the Netherlands.

While 3D-printing isn’t necessarily cheaper than traditional manufacturing methods, it’s sometimes more cost-efficient for producing items that require unique geometries, such as solid rocket fuel or jet-engine turbine blades. It has even allowed a tech hobbyist to build a DIY MANPADS for under $100. While the Filin will likely cost way more than a home-made 3D-printed missile, the fact that it’s significantly more affordable than traditional cruise missiles could allow Russia to launch more of them, spelling trouble for the Ukrainian defenders.

Bambu Lab’s long-anticipated tool changer will launch on November 3rd. Dubbed the H3C, the 3D printer has 9 tools held by a Vortex-like rack mounted on the front of the chamber. Tool changers are the wave of the future, as they can switch colors faster and with less waste than Bambu Lab’s current AMS system.

Unfortunately, most of the information about the new 3D printer is shrouded in secrecy, but there are plenty of details that are already public knowledge. Bambu Lab is quite proud of this latest engineering feat, which you can see in the video below, and I’ll admit, I’m pretty impressed, too.

Here’s what we can confirm about the H3C: It is a member of the H-line of flagship printers, which includes the H2S, H2D, and H2C. As you can imagine, it is most similar to its namesake, the H2C, which is a 7-tool induction-heated “nozzle swapper” with a motorized Vortex rack to hold tools not in use. The H2C is one of the larger Bambu Lab machines, with a 330 x 320 x 325mm build volume.

The 11-second-long teaser video shows the tool rack dropping down, along with a satisfying metallic snick. As you might imagine, tool heads that are stored above the build plate are not going to get in your way when you’re watching that first layer go down. This is an annoying problem with the Bondtech INDX system, which we reviewed paired up with a Prusa CORE One, which forces you to peer through the tool rack to see what's going on inside the printer. Visibility on the Bambu H3C is probably better.

If you type “H3C leak” on YouTube, you can find several YouTubers who do not have machines under review dissecting the clues sprinkled around the internet. One “AI-enhanced” image showed 10 spools, which I can now finally confirm is completely wrong. Today’s video clearly shows only nine colorful Bowden tools arching over the top of the printer. We’re not at liberty to say what’s holding the spools, but I think it’s safe to acknowledge that it's a very Bambu sort of system.

The H2 line has been touted as a home manufacturing hub, so you might wonder if the H3C is the same? Perhaps it is. I had an opportunity to talk to Dr. Tao at Formnext last year when the H2C was fresh, and he was very interested in creating multitasking machines that could do more than just 3D print.

Sadly, not everyone was impressed with adding a laser to the H2D, but since the Bambu Lab A2L has an optional blade cutting and embossing tool, we can safely assume that the notion of multitasking is alive and well. I once programmed an Ender 3 to pick up Sharpie markers, so just think about the things a much more sophisticated machine with a team of sharp engineers could program.

I can’t wait to tell you more about the H3C. There are definitely a couple of surprising things about this printer that are going to come out of left field. We’ll let it all out on November 3rd.

A 3D scanner is an amazing tool to add to your 3D printing workflow, allowing you to scan real-life objects to import into sculpting or CAD software, then print out your own modified copies on a 3D printer. In the past, a good scanner cost thousands of dollars, but Creality has finally given us a device within reach of hobby-level consumers. The Creality Pika is easy to use, with the look, feel, and size of a point-and-shoot digital camera. It can wirelessly tether to a mobile phone running a Creality scanning app, which makes scanning on the go easier than ever before.

It can also be tethered to a laptop wirelessly or with a cable for more stable scanning, but marker-free laser scanning can only be performed while physically tethered to a computer. The scanner runs on AA-sized rechargeable batteries, which are provided.

It weighs just 260 grams (just slightly over a half-pound) with the batteries installed, reducing arm fatigue when operating without a tripod. A tabletop tripod and manual turntable are included for scanning small items. While not as precise as Creality’s Sermoon series, the Creality Pika, currently on pre-order for $699, is a fraction of the price. The best part is that both use the same software, Creality Scan, which is excellent.

The Creality Pika’s portability and price make this one of the best scanners we’ve reviewed in 2026.

Specifications: Creality Pika

Included in the Box: Creality Pika

The Creality Pika comes with a very nice tripod. Also included are the glass calibration board, a manual turntable, marking blocks, batteries (including a spare), a generous pack of marking dots, and a mostly useless quick start guide. The Quick Start guide is just a packing list in eleven different languages and QR codes to Creality’s website and Facebook community.

Design of the Creality Pika

The Creality Pika is a small handheld scanner that weighs only 260 g with its battery. It has a 3-inch touch screen on the back that shows the scan in progress while paired to a phone or PC on Wi-Fi, or allows exposure and zoom adjustments when scanning via cord. There are two buttons on the top of the scanner for power and start/stop, and a selector switch for USB or Wi-Fi.

The scanner has a play button to start and stop scans, as well as a button to adjust the lights and a toggle for zoom. The front of the scanner has an RGB camera, two 3D scanning cameras, a DOE projector, a parallel-line laser, four blue and white fill lights, and four infrared fill lights. There is an always-on cooling fan with grills on the top and bottom of the scanner. Two batteries are included, which can be charged in the camera or via a USB-C port located near the top of the battery.

The batteries, curiously, have both positive and negative terminals on top of the battery. Care should be taken when carrying these to avoid shorting them together with anything metal in a purse or pocket.

Getting Started and Calibrating the Creality Pika

The Creality Pika uses a glass calibration board to do an initial calibration of the scanner. The calibration process involves holding the scanner above the board at various heights and at various angles. The process takes about ten minutes.

Installing the Software for Creality Pika

Creality Scan app can be downloaded from Creality's website, with versions for PC, Mac, Android, and iPhone. A really good user guide with links to tutorials and troubleshooting help is located on the Creality Scan homepage. The discovery tab has links to items scanned by other Creality users.

The Pika must be tethered by cable or Wi-Fi. Though the Pika does have an onboard 8-core 2.0 GHz CPU, it passes along a big chunk of computer processing to whatever it’s connected to. My iPhone 15 has just enough oomph to power the scanner, so you may have an even better experience with a newer device. Either way, using a wireless connection is slower, and using it with hardware near the minimum requirements can be frustrating.

My old laptop, with only 8GB of RAM, did not work, despite being enough to run previous scanners. Thankfully, my admittedly low-end gaming laptop, with 16GB of RAM, was good enough to run the scanner quite well. The software installed on the computer is used for both scanning and processing.

Creality Scan can export scans as STL, PLY, OBJ, or ASC files. These files can be tidied up in other modeling software or uploaded directly to your 3D printer’s slicer.

Blue Laser Line 3D Scanning with the Creality Pika

The Creality Pika uses blue laser line scanning for detailed geometry capture, with seven parallel laser lines. The provided manual turntable works well when plastered with a bunch of the included marker dots. Unfortunately, it has a few millimeters of play in the center bearing, which can lead to a rough surface texture if not careful.

The photo above shows the raw scan of a copy of Michelangelo’s David. I did get much better scans later, but even this one is easily made usable in the software. The first step is fusing the model, which allows you to remove the marker dots and noise from the scan.

After fusing, the model is much smoother. There are still some unattached pieces and holes, and the bottom of the model is not flat. The lasso tool can select and remove the unattached pieces, and a clipping plane can be generated by choosing markers surrounding the scan. The plane can then be raised or lowered to give you the best base of the model.

The next step is mesh processing of the model. In this step, you can further smooth the model, simplify it, and fill small holes shown in yellow. Don’t select “make watertight” if you have a large hole (like the bottom of a model), as it will cover the holes by ballooning out a good bit. After running the mesh processing, you will have another opportunity to simplify, smooth, and fill holes.

Use Plane type hole filling for large flat surfaces.

The final model: filled, smoothed, simplified, and ready to export for printing.

This bust of David came with an early Creality scanner, so I’ve been using it as a test model for some time now. This may be the best scan I’ve gotten of it. The main reason is that the Creality Pika is small and lightweight, and tracks well enough to scan the underside of David’s hair and chin for the most part. The software’s hole filling and smoothing did the rest, with phenomenal results.

The above image on the right was printed on the Prusa Core One L with Inland Bone White PLA. The model looks nearly perfect.

Since the Pika did so well with David, I decided to try a smaller model. This little guy (below) came with my kid’s Fisher-Price castle. He’s only 62 mm tall and was just too small to paint for 3D printing. He was also printed in Inland bone white on the Prusa Core One L.

Both the print and scan are nicely detailed.

I swiped my husband’s vintage Saint Louis University Billiken bobblehead for more tests. I had to put some sticky tack on his head to keep it steady on the turntable. Creality Scan did a terrific job smoothing out the wrinkles, and the model is perfect. I used the clipping plane to remove the logo of an old wireless company that provided the game day freebie. I gave it a quick coloring job in PrusaSlicer, but skipped doing the face.

The model was printed on the Prusa XL using Anycubic turquoise and orange PLA, with Creality white and black PLA.

NIR 3D Scanning with the Creality Pika

I spent a ton of time putting random dots on the included turntable, which made Blue light scanning a breeze. NIR 3D scanning doesn’t use them. Scanning a person seems to work well until you get hair involved. Then it gets dodgy.

I ran two good scans using NIR. This time I borrowed my husband to operate the scanner, since scanning yourself is a bit more difficult than taking a selfie. I stitched together two scans of my foot, which I’ll use later to size some TPU shoes. I was able to further clean up the scan in Nomad Sculpt, since the scan wasn’t very flattering. It works quite well for sizing, however. The shoes will turn up in a future printer review.

After the less-than-stellar scan he took of my head for the Creality Sermoon S1, my husband graciously volunteered to have me scan his head for this review. Using any of the modes available, hair just seems to flummox the scanner. Fortunately, my husband has less hair than I do, so the scan did complete, and no, I’m not going to 3D print it. 3D scans are quite brutal, but if he ever wants a custom driver for his Death Racer, we’re covered.

Bottom Line

The Creality Pika is a small and light, yet totally capable scanner. It needs a good mobile phone or fairly decent laptop to drive it. The software backing up the hardware is easy to use and really does an excellent job cleaning up the rough areas of your scans. Currently, it is available at a comparatively bargain-basement pre-order price of $699.

If you want a scanner with a little more horsepower, check out the Creality Sermoon S1, which retails for $2,069. Creality also makes the Sermoon P1, which can run completely untethered and retails for $3,299.

Anycubic's Kobra X Multicolor 3D Printer is at the lowest price it's ever been since reaching retail availability. Prime members who head over to the Anycubic store on Amazon can now snag this well-reviewed device for just $299.99 for a limited time. The 17% or $60 off its MSRP makes the Kobra X a bargain, as it was highly praised as a contender in the entry-level four-color printer category by our reviewer earlier this year. It even won a coveted Tom's Hardware Editor's Choice award.

• Check out this Anycubic Kobra X 3D printer deal on Amazon

Though it may appear to be a Bambu Lab A1 clone at first glance, we praised the Kobra X for its multimaterial system, the ACE Gen 2, which is built directly into the toolhead. This is a great timesaver for prints with lots of color changes, and we calculated that on a four-color print with 776 color swaps, the Kobra X was a shocking 10 hours faster than the rival A1, despite similar printing speeds.

The Anycubic Kobra X Multicolor 3D printer was launched earlier this year, with consumer shipments starting in late March / early April. We reviewed it in February and gave it a great score for its innovative ACE Gen 2 system, fast filament swaps, and reliable 49-point full-auto leveling and vibration compensation. It also "worked flawlessly" throughout the testing period. The only stain on its glowing report card was due to the spool holder guide making loading awkward.

This 600mm/s 3D printer expands up to 19 colors if combined with four ACE 2 Pro units. It also packs a 720P camera with real-time monitoring and instant error alerts, plus AI-driven anti-foreign object and spaghetti detection, and reasonably quiet operation at ≤48 dB.

Now at its lowest price to the public since launch, at just $299.99, this Bambu Lab A1 rival is a compelling choice for 260 x 260 x 260mm (10.23 x 10.23 x 10.23-inch) build volume projects in PLA/PETG/TPU/PVA/PLA-CF/PETG-CF/ASA materials.

X-Bow Systems, a solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturer specializing in additive manufacturing (AM), has secured a deal with Leidos to develop and build rocket boosters for the U.S. Army’s Low-Cost Containerized Munition (LCCM) project. According to 3D Printing Industry, the LCCM is one of the Department of War’s programs under the “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative, which aims to rebuild the United States’ defense industrial base.

“Modern conflict is decided by how many rounds you can put downrange, not how exquisite each one is,” X-Bow founder and CEO Jason Hundley said. He also added that collaborating with Leidos would allow it to “turn out combat-ready rocket motors at production scale, fast.” Even though X-Bow Systems is a relatively new company, having been founded in 2016, it has already successfully produced over 2,100 combat-ready rocket motors. This means that it has the experience and expertise to produce the rocket engines in the numbers that the U.S. Army requires.

While conventional manufacturing methods still offer several advantages over 3D printing, the latter is still more effective when dealing with the complex geometries that some SRMs require. It’s also a faster solution when you need to iterate designs multiple times, which is why X-Bow can create and build new designs in a matter of days, instead of the months or years that it takes traditional defense contractors to prototype and test rocket motors.

Other companies have been experimenting and working with 3D-printed SRMs — Chromatic 3D Materials has completed a successful static-fire test of its 3D-printed rocket propellant earlier this year, while Indian startup Othisis successfully demonstrated its cryogenic rocket engine in August. One 3D-printing enthusiast was even able to create a DIY MANPADS for under $100.

3D-printing technology isn’t limited to rocket motors, either. Another startup secured a $30 million contract to prototype 3D-printed jet engines for the USAF for drones and other long-range weapons, while the U.S. Navy has started 3D-printing drones and parts aboard aircraft carriers. Some U.S. Army troops have also started 3D-printing ‘Dragoon Bombs’ and paired them with in-house assembled drones for anti-personnel and anti-light-armor missions at distances of up to 12 miles.

Drones and 3D printing have been around for decades, but the war in Ukraine is the first time that we see these technologies deployed at such a scale on the battlefield. It also demonstrated that their innovative use could help a smaller force to withstand the brunt of a larger military. This is probably why larger militaries like the U.S. and Japan are looking at these technologies for more cost-effective weapons.

Gun rights activist Cody Wilson, known for creating the world's first 3D-printed firearm over a decade ago, has unveiled a new creation he claims is "the first AI-made gun." Dubbed the WASP, the weapon is 3D-printed and was designed by an artificial intelligence model he has creatively named 'GatGPT,' The Verge reports.

The report describes the WASP as "little more than a pistol barrel attached to a spring-loaded plastic box" that closely resembles another 3D-printed, single-shot weapon made by Wilson known as Liberator. As you can see from the image below, the weapon faintly resembles a regular firearm, but boasts a very strange grip and somewhat unconventional design.

Wilson claims not to have simply made an AI-generated gun, but rather "an AI that can generate guns." Not simply one 3D printed creation, Wilson claims to have created a custom AI gunsmith model he calls GatGPT. According to the report, the model has been trained on DEFCAD's (the world's biggest online repo of digital guns) gun file library and can even help creators pick out parts for their builds.

The story is a seemingly significant development in the proliferation of "ghost guns," homemade firearms that don't have serial numbers, making them much more difficult to track and regulate. Wilson claims firearm access is "a fundamental human right." Interestingly, the report reveals that the WASP was designed simply by way of a conversation with the AI model, a polite way of saying that the gun was vibe-coded. According to the report, it fires real bullets and doesn't have a serial number.

3D-printed guns, while less regulated than the standard firearms market, have previously required manufacturers to have some level of technical knowledge in order to make weapons. However, the existence of a custom AI model that could bridge that knowledge gap would drastically decrease how difficult it is to 3D-print a working firearm. This leap requires exactly the type of unrestricted, custom AI model Wilson claims to have made, as using a mainstream AI service like Google Gemini, for example, isn't viable — the AI simply states "I cannot provide explanations or details regarding the creation, operation, or design of ghost guns or 3D-printed firearms."

Lawmakers are trying to come to grips with this rapidly evolving problem, with ongoing court battles and legislation in numerous states trying to address the problem. California recently sued a 3D printer filament company for promoting ghost guns by marketing to a 3D-printed gun community. In August, a Federal judge struck down an ATF ruling requiring regulation of part kits that can be converted into functional weapons, frames, or receivers to the same degree as complete guns.

The 3D-printed firearm market has advanced in recent years. In March, two brothers were convicted of running an entire ghost gun factory, while last year it emerged that 3D-printed full-auto bullpup ghost guns could be made for just a couple of hundred dollars. Where this latest development could cause some concern is in the aforementioned democratization of the 3D-printed firearm-making process, with AI assistance effectively opening up the practice to anyone with a 3D printer.

The report cites experts who criticized the WASP's strange design and seemingly hallucinated details, like the unfinished trigger guard, but Wilson told the report that he expects the AI's design to improve, much like any AI model.

Formlabs Form Studio 1 is the company’s first consumer-level resin printer, and it’s aimed at those looking to hit print, walk away, and come back to a finished print. The print simplicity and reliability come from years of company testing, understanding users and their needs, and Formlabs specialized resins. Sure, you can use third-party resins, but you ultimately risk that print reliability.

Formlabs has really hit a lot of good points with this printer. It looks amazing with its see-through side panels giving old-school iMac vibes. The resin cartridge easily slides in and out, and the printer and its screen basically tell you what you need to do before and after every print to make sure your experience is the best it can be.

At launch, Formlabs is offering multiple packages for the Form Studio 1:

• Form Studio 1 Basic Package – Printer just by itself - $699, includes shipping
• Form Studio 1 Flex Package (what we tested) – $749, includes shipping

From Studio 1 Flex Package “Founders Edition” – $749 includes shipping (different color case options include Graphite, Aqua, Violet, or Teal). This will also include a Founders Edition easter egg on the Printer UI, A limited Form Studio 1 Plushie, Alpha Resin starting at $29, and 25% off up to $100 at Form Now (US Only).

Specifications: Formlabs Form Studio 1

Included in the Box: Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Formlabs Form Studio 1 ships with the usual printer accessories. This includes a sanding block, flush cutters, nitrile gloves, a leveling disc, a USB-A to USB-C data cable, a quick-start guide, a cleaning sheet removal tool, and a resin tray.

On the back of the Form Studio 1 is a small turn knob for access to the vent system. Formlabs has an add-on VOC extractor ($179) to help with the resin fumes it does output.

Printing Safety with the Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Formlabs Studio 1 requires the same safety precautions as most resin printers. Uncured resin is dangerous, and the solvents used to clean your prints can be irritating to skin or cause sensitivity issues over time. Use gloves and safety glasses when pouring resin and handling uncured prints.

Make sure the room you use your resin printer in is well-ventilated to avoid inhaling fumes. Spilled resin should be immediately cleaned up with 99% isopropyl alcohol. After printing, make sure to wipe down your printer and bottles to remove smudges of uncured resin. Always keep your resin tightly sealed and safely stored out of reach of pets and children. Formlabs states that a respirator is not required, but it’s always good to have one to be extra safe.

Assembling the Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Formlabs Form Studio 1 comes almost fully assembled out of the box. You'll need to remove packing material from the inside of the hood and remove the plastic covering the vat. You'll then need to unbox the build plate and insert it onto the printer's mast.

Calibrating the Build Plate on the Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Form Studio 1 came pre-leveled and ready to go out of the box. But if needed, you can adjust the plate by using the included alignment shims and a 4mm hex key that is neatly tucked away on the left front side of the printer.

Design of the Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Formlabs Form Studio 1 shares similar styling features to its larger, much-pricier professional-grade resin printers, with its distinct Orange and Grey coloring. But the company has slimmed down the design and given it more of a modern, skeleton-style panel. The build plate has a nice tab-locking system to help users lock and remove the build plate with ease. The same can be said for the vat system, with two clamp locks on the side to help keep the vat in place, while making it easy to quickly change vats if needed.

The seven-inch display on the Form Studio 1 is large and responsive. It’s the largest screen I have seen on a printer of this size, and a great addition to the setup so you can see what is happening without having to walk right up to the printer. The printer also makes useful sounds to let you know when something is removed, put back into place, or even when there is an issue with a check while printing.

The hood does feel a little flimsy, particularly where it mounts to the arms for the hood, but it’s not terrible. This is about the only thing I found on the printer that seemed like the company cut some hardware corners. But again, it works, and the arms are solid. Formlabs did state that they are working on the design of this to make it a little better.

There is also a camera on the bottom left for live access to your current print job, or to show off an awesome time-lapse of the previous prints you did. One feature I was not expecting was the little pocket on the front left of the printer, shown in an image above, holds hex keys and leveling items. Most printers just have the tools there in a box and expect you to either print a case or toss them in a drawer and forget about them. This little case is 3D printed (files are available to download and make your own too), which is a nice touch showcasing what 3D printers are for.

Setup

When you set up the Formlabs Form Studio 1, it walks you through a series of setup screens, like most resin printers now, but I did not expect the printer to ask me to level the physical printer. This is something normally overlooked by many when resin printing. Leveling the entire printer makes sure that the Automatic resin feed system is properly balanced, keeping the system from making a big mess when the auto refill is triggered, and not overfilling the vat. This step can be skipped, but it is a good idea to make sure the printer is level.

Let's talk about resins, and specifically Formlabs resins. When it comes to resin printers, most users will end up using their prefered resin, or whatever is cheapest. This can still be done with the Form Studio 1 with its Open Material Mode. But you will still need to calibrate your resins through the slicer as normal, to get successful prints.

Formlabs Alpha Resins are the first and 3D printing resins that are UL GREENGUARD Gold certified when using Form Studio 1 and Formlabs’ VOC Extractor. This means they pass an independent test for chemical emissions during printing that are low enough to be considered healthy for sensitive groups. The company’s resins are low odor, and parts printed with Alpha Resins have passed tests for long-term skin safety.

Formlabs achieved this by changing up the ingredients in its resin. There are no known chemicals with acute toxicity or known long-term effects on organ and reproductive health. This is good news for those who are scared of the chemical side of resin printing. Now, this doesn't mean that you can just carelessly toss out your PPE, but it does mean that resins are getting better and safer for users. Maybe one day we’ll get to a point where we don’t need PPE.

Slicer compatibility with the Formlabs Form Studio 1

The Formlabs Form Studio 1 comes with the PreForm Form Studio 1 slicer. This is Formlabs’ slicer for all its printers. It takes a little bit to get used to if you're coming from Lychee or Chitubox, like most resin printers, but after your third print, you should be getting the hang of it. If you're a new user, it’ll be a little troublesome understanding how to properly angle the print and size it, but that's about it.

Sample Prints on the Formlabs Form Studio 1

Using Formlabs Alpha V1 Resin in Grey, I printed a model of Johanna from Diablo 3. I found this model while searching on Makerworld. I used Formlabs’ auto orientation tool for this print. I used stock settings for the Alpha Grey V1 in the slicer and added the stock supports. The file was sliced and sent via Wi-Fi to the printer. I printed this as a solid piece using 264ml of resin, which printed in 10 hours and 56 minutes, at 0.05 mm layer height.

The next print I wanted to tackle was a Halloween-themed print, since it is Spooky season after all.

This print was scaled up to fit the build plate area, and printed with Formlabs Alpha V1 Resin in Grey. I added some supports and sent it to the printer. This print used 224ml of resin and printed in 7 hours and 58 minutes at 0.05 mm layer height.

Lastly, I decided I wanted to try a different resin, one that most people either don’t know about or haven't really used before: flexible resin.

Since Formlabs sent us various resins to test out, I didn't want to just stick with one basic resin type. So I swapped vats and loaded up a bottle of Formlabs’ Flexible 80A V2 Black Resin. I figured the best use case for this was to print something that would be squeezable, so I ran over to Thingiverse to search for stress balls, and a soccer ball-style caught my eye. But also, I wanted to reprint a file I had printed about two years ago to showcase resin, so I went over to Makerworld to grab the tennis ball. Both printed without issue.

I did have to tweak the supports and go the manual support route. Because of the way the slicer sees all the holes, it wanted to add tons of supports that aren't really needed. Once that was completed, I sent it to the printer. These models printed together in 7 hours and 53 minutes, and only took 153 ml of resin at a 0.050mm layer height.

Washing and Curing Your Prints PSA

Before you can admire your prints, you’ll need to wash them with isopropyl alcohol and cure them with a UV light. I like to give prints a 30-second hand rinse in a container of 95% Isopropyl alcohol, then a 5-minute rinse in the Form Studio 1 Wash + Cure Station which is sold separately and retails for $199.

Completely dry the print with a hair dryer on cool – IPA left on the print can make it tacky. You can also let the print air dry in a place away from sunlight. Supports are easier to remove before curing because they are softer. Clip the supports off with side cutters and use tweezers to remove stubborn supports. Remember to always wear gloves while handling uncured prints. Then place the print in a UV curing station for its recommended curing time.

Your IPA should never be flushed down the drain, especially after being contaminated with uncured resin. Instead, keep using the resin until it’s too dirty, then leave the container open to evaporate. The remaining sludge can be cured with UV light or the sun before being thrown away. Supports should also be cured before being thrown away.

Bottom Line

Starting at $699, the Formlabs Form Studio 1 may seem a bit pricey for those looking at comparable resin printers on the market, like the HeyGears Reflex RS ($499) and Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra for $426.99. And while our testing showed slow printing times, you can get Formlabs Fast Resin to print quicker. The build quality of the printer and the Formlabs name instantly appeal to those looking for a premium package. Overall, the price feels right for what you're getting.

Using Formlabs resin pretty much guarantees a completed print over other resin printers I’ve tested. For me, the selling point beyond the name and price is the fact that it just prints. I didn’t have a single issue on that front while testing the Studio 1. That right there will sell me over any new tech or faster print times. Plus, with all the added helpful features in the slicer and the printer, the Form Studio 1 welcomes new users with open arms.

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Bambu Lab has officially teased its S1 3D scanner, ahead of its planned release in November 2026. No details of the product have been released yet, but FCC filings and Bambu Lab’s partnership with SCANOLOGY may hint at the scanner’s capabilities and shared technology.

3D scanners are a niche within a niche, and not necessarily within the 3D printing niche either. 3D scanning is used in many fields, like game asset creation, texture assets, archaeology, prosthetics, and museum archiving; and the rise of 3D printing has created a small but growing demand in the form of reverse engineering automotive and various niche parts. However, because of PC requirements, the intensive and technical scan cleanup, and resurfacing in CAD programs, it remains a small niche; a niche currently being served by brands such as Creality with their CR-Scan line of 3D scanners, Revopoint’s Pop series, mini, and all-in-one MIRACO scanner, and SHINING3D’s Einstar prosumer-level 3D scanner.

Speculations in Bambu Lab’s own forums found FCC filings for a label and drawing of the scanner. The label shows a 60W-rated input, leading some to speculate a shared platform with SCANOLOGY’s 3DeVOK MT Gen2, a wired composite 3D scanner released in 2026, using both blue and IR lasers, and also has a rated input of 60W. The input rating doesn’t necessarily confirm that they share technology, but it does give a small hint of its potential capabilities, with the number of lasers and potentially a screen dictating the power requirements.

Considering the flat spot and the top of the handle on the FCC drawings, it looks like there may be a screen, possibly like the 3DeVOK MT Gen2. More importantly, the 60W rating with no hints of a battery on the label may mean this scanner will require a PC to operate. This is often a pain point, as you would either need a powerful laptop to bring while scanning, or use a really long USB cable to your PC. As for the price, the 3DeVOK MT Gen2 is officially priced at $8,299, which is a very high price point, further making it unlikely that they may share a platform if Bambu Lab wants to keep consumer-friendly pricing.

California is taking another swing at banning 3D-printed “ghost guns,” and this time the target is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of 3D printing filament. Polymaker LLC, headquartered in Shanghai with U.S. operations based in Houston, was named in a civil lawsuit filed October 5, 2026, by San Diego County Counsel on behalf of the People of the State of California. The complaint alleges that Polymaker marketed its filament in such a way as to appeal to gun enthusiasts and thus transform harmless PLA into a regulated “firearm precursor part.”

Under California law, a firearm precursor part is “defined to include any article marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled or converted,” according to the civil complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court. The County seeks disgorgement of profits, civil penalties and injunctive relief.

The complaint acknowledges that 3D printing filament itself is not illegal. But prosecutors argue that Polymaker actively cultivated and monetized the “ghost gun” community by supporting and then hiring Sean Aranda, who goes by The 3D Print General on social media. Aranda, a 3D printing expert, book author, and gun enthusiast, was banned from YouTube in 2023 over firearm policy violations. His YouTube channel at the time had 123K subs. Polymaker, which had been sponsoring his channel with a special edition creator spool of khaki colored PLA Pro, came to his rescue with a job offer. He became the Head of Customer Experience, which entailed fostering Polymaker’s online community and attending community festivals with the company. He is now a Senior Technical Account Manager for Polymaker.

Aranda is mentioned 65 times in the 39-page People v. Polymaker complaint. The prosecution implies that Aranda was specifically hired for his connection to the 3D printing gun community and not that he was simply a qualified individual searching for a job away from content creation.

The prosecution attempts to link a common marketing tactic used within the online creator community to the illegal proliferation of ghost guns: affiliate links. Affiliate links are used by content creators to promote the products they use, be it spools of PLA, energy drinks, or dog food. When an audience member clicks a link and makes a purchase, the content creator is awarded a small percentage of the sale.

Polymaker supports all manner of 3D printing content creators, and the application for affiliate links is publicly posted on its website. The application asks for your name, location, and number of followers on assorted platforms. It does not ask what type of content you create or how big your audience might be. “Whether you run a YouTube channel, a TikTok account, or a niche 3D printing blog, you're welcome here. If you love Polymaker, you qualify.”

The lawsuit is presented by San Diego County’s new Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Division. If it prevails, the ramifications will extend far beyond 3D-printed firearms. If a manufacturer in Texas can be held civilly liable in California because a YouTuber used that product to do something that is not against the law in their home state, every raw material supplier, software developer, and desktop hardware manufacturer operating in the digital age could find itself in the crosshairs.

The Kingchaser, a 3D-printed jet-powered remote-controlled aircraft made out of PETG, PPS-CF, carbon-fiber rods, and aluminum, aims to take the world speed record after its maiden flight, with a target of Mach 0.8. The Mach Initiative aims to break the current Guinness World Record held for 9 years by German pilot Neils Herbrich. The team of graduates from the University of Bath has posted their maiden flight of the Kingfisher to YouTube.

The team started out with their first miniature prototype, the Kinglet, made out of PETG, PET-CF, and some PLA. It didn’t use a jet turbine yet, opting instead for an EDF (Electric Ducted Fan) as a safe and low-cost way to iterate. The Kinglet used a modular design to rapidly prototype the aircraft in sections and replace any broken parts without needing a whole new body.

Once the Kinglet had reached a level of performance the team was happy with, they moved on to the Kingfisher, measuring just under a meter, propelled by the Jetcat P60, a miniature jet turbine engine capable of 63 N · m of thrust, reaching a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h). The Mach Initiative stated that this engine is not powerful enough, nor is it intended to break the record, aiming solely to achieve flight with a jet engine. The team had to make some major design changes from the Kinglet due to the larger size and much higher forces the aircraft would have to endure. The Kingfisher is still also made mainly out of PETG, with the housing of the engine out of annealed PET-CF. The engine is held in place by aluminum hardware, with the rest of the aircraft being reinforced by an aluminum skeleton.

The engineers initially intended the Kingfisher MK2 to be the aircraft that would house a 150Nm jet engine to break the record, attempting to hit 614 mph (988 km/h), leaving the world's fastest electric drone (434 mph) in the dust. However, they decided to make a new aircraft that was 20% larger than the Kingfisher and called it the Kingchaser, with significant changes to the design.

The 20 lb (9 kg) Kingchaser still uses mostly PETG for its external construction, but instead of annealed PET-CF for the engine housing, they switched to PPS-CF, as annealing the larger housing caused warping, possibly due to uneven heating. The PPS-CF is also skinned with a few layers of carbon fiber, further reinforced with aluminum and steel to mount the engine. They also put titanium exhaust sheets and aluminum tape to shield the print from the engine’s heat. The aluminum skeleton running through the PETG body has also been replaced with carbon fiber rods instead to save more weight and use fewer custom-CNC machined parts.

For the electronics, they have a dedicated flight control and avionics member who works on the electronics. The Kingchaser has a fully instrumented avionics system to collect as much telemetry from the aircraft as possible; it is also equipped with an FPV system for better piloting at speed. To control the aircraft, 70 kg-cm (5.06 ft-lbs) high-torque servos were used on the elevons, as it would take a considerable amount of force to move those flaps at speed.

There is currently no announcement of when the record attempt will be made, but you can keep up with The Mach Initiative’s entertaining build logs on their YouTube channel.

Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology, Bambu Lab’s parent company, has filed a patent application in the U.S. for a new heatbed design, which was published on September 10, 2026. This design aims to heat a printbed more evenly, reducing issues with prints as commonly reported by many users of various 3D printer brands. The patent describes the construction, heating method, and its claim of better adhesion to improve print quality.

The abstract of patent US20260264331A1 states: “The heated bed comprises a heated bed body, a heating unit, and a bottom case, wherein one end of the heating unit is configured to be electrically connected to one end of a power supply, and the other end of the heating unit is configured to be electrically connected to the other end of the power supply; the heating unit is disposed between the heated bed body and the bottom case. The heating unit is attached to a surface, proximal to the bottom case, of the heated bed body, and the heating unit is configured to heat the heated bed body. By implementing the present application, the adhesion capability of the print panel can be improved and the print quality can be improved.”

It’s hard to imagine from the abstract alone, but the patent’s sheets visually show us what Bambu Lab is trying to achieve, and the claims tell us more details. The current heatbeds use a laminated heating sheet, adhered to a sheet of aluminum with magnets to hold a build plate. Bambu Lab’s new design wants to replace the laminated heating sandwich with a “heated bed body.” Looking at FIG. 3 of the patent, you can see what looks to be a monolithic heatbed with a machined channel where the heating element will run through; claim 5 describes the recess’ shape resembling the Chinese character “凹,” which also happens to mean sunken or depressed.

As previously described, the heating element loops around inside a recess in the heatbed, but it is one long unit that is connected to a single power supply at each end. The loops reach the corners, potentially reducing peeling for large prints that use most of the bed’s surface; this configuration may also improve the time to reach target temperatures. It does not describe being able to heat zones independently, however.

Machining a recess in a large piece of aluminum is quite costly, in both materials and machining costs, though it is possible for Bambu Lab to create this heated bed body from multiple pieces, possibly from multiple layers of aluminum sheets to avoid using large and expensive billets.

Besides the new heatbed, included are claims describing a 3D printer. It describes a fairly generic CoreXY 3D printer, but don’t panic; this doesn’t mean every brand is suddenly going to infringe on this patent. The claims describing a 3D printer are tied to the heatbed design, so it would take a printer that has Bambu Lab’s patented heatbed design to potentially fall within the patent’s scope — the PCT application is still pending, however, so the patent cannot be enforced yet.

If the patent does get granted and the performance is superior to the current heatbed design, this could potentially mean Bambu Lab would be tempted to charge more for their replacement heatbeds and possibly the printer as a whole. In the meantime, there is no information on the performance of this design, so we will have to wait and use a bit more glue on our buildplates.

Amazon's Big Deal Days 2026 event is here, and so are the savings on our favorite 3D printers. We've sifted through Amazon to find the best bargains you can get on brands like Bambu Lab, Prusa Research, Snapmaker, Anycubic, and Elegoo. These prices won’t last long, so you'll need to act quickly.

There are plenty of great deals on FDM and resin 3D printers, including machines you’ll find on our list of best 3D printers. We're also rounding up deals on filament and resin, so you can stock up now.

Bambu Lab A1 Mini

Bambu Lab A1 Mini: $249 at Amazon

The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is our favorite beginner printer for kids and teens because it is easy to use, super affordable, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Right now, you can get the A1 Mini Combo for $315.50, or get a single-color A1 Mini for $249. The single-color machine comes with a bonus LED lamp kit, so you can make cool projects right away with the help of free files from MakerWorld, Bambu’s file-sharing site.

Original Prusa MK4S

Original Prusa MK4S: $1,299 at Amazon

The Prusa Research MK4S, the old-school workhorse of the Prusa lineup, is $1,299. This machine comes fully assembled and ships from Prusa’s US Amazon warehouse in Delaware for free with your Prime Membership.

Original Prusa Core One

Original Prusa Core One: $1,499 at Amazon

The Prusa Research Core One is our favorite premium 3D printer and comes fully assembled and pre-tested for the best out-of-the-box experience. Prusa 3D printers are built to last a lifetime, with updates for years to come, and can be easily repaired or modded with the help of open-source parts. This machine ships for free from Prusa’s US Amazon warehouse in Delaware.

Original Prusa CORE One L

Original Prusa Core One L: $2,399 at Amazon

The Prusa Research Core One L is a beast of a machine, with a 300 x 300 mm build plate and high marks for secure, cloud-free printing. Prusa’s US Amazon warehouse is located in Delaware, so these Prime Big Deal machines are in stock and ready to ship for free with your Prime Membership.

Snapmaker U1

Snapmaker U1: $849 at Amazon

Ranked the best multicolor 3D printer, the Snapmaker U1 is our favorite four-color tool changer. Snapmaker is leading the way on Full Spectrum printing, a way to squeeze a whole rainbow of color from only four spools. An optional lid makes this an all-temperature powerhouse.

Anycubic Kobra X

Anycubic Kobra X: was $359.99, now $299.99 at Amazon

The Kobra X is a terrific four-color 3D printer, and our pick for the best budget machine. This machine is a real steal with a price tag under $300 and would make a great gift to stash away for the holidays.

Creality SPARKX i7 Combo

Creality SPARKX i7 Combo: was $429, now $359 at Amazon

Ranked the best 3D printer for beginners, the SparkX i7 is a four-color bed slinger with an automatic material handler that can load any spool, from tiny coils up to 3kg spools.

Elegoo Centauri 2

Elegoo Centauri 2: $279 at Amazon

The bare-bones Centauri 2 does an excellent job of printing in four colors of PLA, PETG, or TPU. Coming in well under $300, this is a great machine for testing the waters of 3D printing with a full-sized 256 x 256 mm build plate.

FlashForge Creator 5

FlashForge Creator 5: was $839, now $699 at Amazon

The FlashForge Creator 5 is a no-nonsense four-color tool changer with great quality. It can handle PLA, PETG, and TPU, but can’t be upgraded to an enclosed machine for high-temperature filaments.

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Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

3D printing is a fun and rewarding hobby, but with it also comes the frustrations of trying to maintain the quality output of your printer and also tidying up the finished look of your prints. You need a host of tools to keep the process running smoothly.

Some manufacturers throw a few cheap tools in the box with a new 3D printer, but if they don't, then investing in a dedicated 3D printer toolkit will make a huge difference in caring for not only your 3D printer, but also your creations.

We've trawled through the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales event and used our expert knowledge to source the tools you absolutely need for your 3D printing toolkit.

Quick links

• Creality 3D printer tool wrap. (Save 32%)
• Flush Cutters. (Save 21%)
• 49-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Set. (Now just $5.69)
• HOTO 24-in-1 Mini Screwdriver. (Save 30%)
• HOTO Precision Electric Screwdriver Set. (Save 25%)
• Wuben E7 Mini Flashlight (Save 24%)

A large 3D printer tool wrap set

This 74-piece 3D printer tool kit from Creality is packed with everything that you need to keep your printer going. This toolkit has everything from a 34-piece screwdriver set to a magnetic project mat. Perfect for a budding 3D printer enthusiast, this is a "one and done" purchase.

Essential cutting tools

Whether you are cutting your filament, cleaning out supports, or removing cable ties, wire/flush/side cutters are an essential part of the 3D printer toolkit. Sometimes you get a pair with your printer, but if you don't, or you need a spare set, then this pair of snips is a good alternative for you.

These cheap cutters are superb for 3D printing, electronics, and some general home maintenance tasks. Model makers and electronics hobbyists can also use these cutters to trim parts of dried knots and dribbles.

Hex Keys

Hex keys are essential 3D printer tools. The majority of 3D printers are held together by machine screws that sport an Allen / hex head. If you don't get a set with your printer, it's not too much money to buy a spare set off Amazon.

When the prints don't pop off the plate

A 3D printer's print beds are designed to be super grippy, so the side effect is that sometimes you may need to use a tool to persuade the print to release from the print sheet. Scrapers are superb tools for the job, with the thin metal blades perfect for breaking the seal between the print and the build plate!

Screwdrivers

A good general-purpose precision screwdriver set is a necessity. This 49-in-1 set isn't on sale, but it has all the bits and is super cheap. For higher quality, you can step up to the HOTO driver, albeit with fewer bits, or go all in on an electric screwdriver.

Unclog or change your 3D printer nozzle

3D printers will get clogged at some point; that's a 100% guarantee. Hot plastic or the wrong type of filament being used at the wrong temps will mess up the most expensive printers. Luckily, the solution to this common problem is a very low-cost one.

Swapping out the nozzle on your 3D printer is also a fairly simple task, but that task is made far easier with the right tools.

Clean up your prints

Take your prints to the next level by giving them a professional finish. Clean up the edges of your projects and remove leftover bits of print support with this handy deburring tool.

Shine a light on it

Perfect for performing repairs in the tight spaces of an enclosed 3D printer, or for attaching to a cap to light up the project you're working on and highlight any print deformities that may need addressing. With 1800 Lumens of light, USB Type-C charging, an IP68 rating, a baseball cap clip, and a magnetic base, this is a great flashlight for working on 3D printing projects.

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Join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

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The Prime Day sales season is in full swing, and there are plenty of deals on offer for anyone wanting to take up the hobby of 3D printing or for veteran creators to upgrade their existing equipment. One of our favorite 3D printer manufacturers, Anycubic, has a host of Prime Day deals available right now, where you can save big on the latest 3D printing tech.

There are numerous great deals on mainstream FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers that utilize common filaments such as PLA and PETG. In addition to resin, SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) 3D printers utilize layers of cured resin to produce highly detailed prints.

So whether you want to create spare parts to repair that old broken piece of tech, knock up a customizable gadget from a print schematic that you found online, or even create your own 3D miniature to paint, there's a 3D printer model that will suit your needs. From beginner to expert users, check out the excellent deals below.

Anycubic Deals

Bambu Lab's brilliant 3D printers are on sale right now for Halloween. If you're in the mood for something spooky and you're looking to print some awesomely scary models, then a new 3D printer from Bambu Lab is the answer.

Bambu Lab's Halloween sale coincides with Amazon's Big Deal Days sales event between October 6 and October 7. Bambu Lab's sale is running even longer, with deals on sale until October 16. That means you'll see some discounts on Amazon, along with Bambu Lab's own website, for both printers and filament.

● Check out Bambu Lab deals at Amazon

● See all Bambu Lab Halloween sale deals

It also means you can pick up savings of up to 30% directly from Bambu Lab. One of the biggest printers on sale is this $250 discount on the Bambu Lab H2D with AMS combo, down to $1,749. You can also pick up some of the other favorites, like the Bambu Lab P1S for $399, as well as the A1 for $299. These represent big price drops compared to their original pricing earlier in the year, with the P1S originally priced at $699, and the A1 $399.

However, it's the consumables that are seeing the biggest discounts right now. Bambu Lab is running a 30% discount on filament when you buy it in bulk. If you pick up two items, you'll get 5% off, with the full 30% off given for 10 items or more.

You can find the best Bambu Lab deals that are currently running listed below. We've included links to Bambu Lab printers that we've previously reviewed, too, which you can check before you buy to see a full run-through of each printer's performance to help you make your decision.

Bambu Lab Deals on 3D Printers

Bambu Lab Filament Deals

You'll need filament with your 3D printer, unless it's a resin printer, as it's the material you'll need to start printing with. You can pick these up from third-party manufacturers, but right now, Bambu Lab is running a 30% off discount when you buy them in bulk.

These discounts mean you can score between 5% with two items, up to the full 30% off with 10. Check out the deals you can find below, with more colors available at Bambu Lab's website. There are also some awesome Halloween-themed bundles that you can pick up on sale, too.

Bambu Lab Automatic Material Systems Attachment Deals

AMS addons (Automatic Material Systems) for Bambu Lab printers will allow you to print with multiple different colors at the same time, while also helping to keep your filament dry and secure. Depending on the 3D printer combination and compatibility, you can link multiple units together, too.

These don't appear to be on sale at the moment, but if you're upgrading your existing kit, you might want to pick one up anyway.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that requires 3D printer manufacturers to include firearm-blocking technology in their products once an industry standard is published by ASTM International. This makes California the second state to enact firearm restrictions on 3D printers following New York. Two other states, Colorado and Washington state, also have similar bills that would require “blocking features” moving through state legislatures.

Since the law only affects 3D printers that have yet to be sold, existing 3D printers do not need to be retrofitted with firearm-blocking technology, addressing one of the major concerns of the 3D printing community. It’s also not a straightforward ban on non-compliant printers and only regulates the sale and transfer of 3D printers, not their ownership or use.

The application of firearm-blocking technology on 3D printers will only be required for manufacturers once ASTM International, a non-profit organization that sets voluntary standards across different industries, publishes or adopts a standard for firearm-blocking technology for 3D printers. The law mandates the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to check for a standard quarterly, starting no later than July 1, 2027, until July 1, 2029. If the organization hasn’t published a standard by that date, then the DOJ is no longer required to check for it, meaning the process to write the guidelines or regulations that manufacturers need to follow to sell 3D printers in California might not even begin.

There are currently two primary ways to detect if a print file is intended for a 3D-printed firearm — it could either be matched against a known database of gun files or analyzed by a trained model to determine if the design could potentially be used for a firearm. However, both techniques suffer from shortcomings. The former could easily be defeated by just modifying the file, like changing its size or splitting it into multiple pieces for later assembly, while the latter is prone to false positives and could prevent the printing of barrels, brackets, levers, tubes, and other parts that may look similar but have a totally different, legitimate use. This is one of the reasons why the Electronic Frontier Foundation said in June 2026 that “there is no world where the mandated technology actually works as intended.”

The California law attempts to address these concerns raised by 3D printing enthusiasts by mandating the DOJ to base its implementation on standards set by ASTM International instead of defining it itself. So, until the standards group publishes or adopts one within the set timeframe, the requirements for manufacturers to build the technology into their 3D printer models would not come into play.