Some More Cool Stuff from This Summer

Oh… you’re back! Um… nice. Very nice. 

Let’s take another look at what the world of 3D printing has been doing. I’ll skip the deep technical weeds and stick to what’s impressive, what changes for beginners, and what you might care about. And, of course, I’m not pretentious I don’t need to show you how smart I am by using big words, so I’ll be explaining everything in ye olde casual English. 

Big Moves in Late July 2025

1. Anker (EufyMake) Steps Back from Selling Printers

On July 25, it was reported that Anker / EufyMake has more or less paused sales of their 3D printers (like the M5, M5C), and even some replacement parts are becoming hard to find.  

What that means for you:

• If you own (or were thinking of buying) one of their models, now’s a good time to check support availability (spare parts, firmware updates).
• It’s a reminder: even well-known consumer electronics brands may not stick with 3D printing if margins or complexity bite.
• For new entrants: lean toward brands with stable support and large communities, so you’re not left stranded.

2. New ASTM Standard Proposal to Improve Print Quality

Around July 23, news came up about a proposed ASTM International standard aimed at improving consistency in 3D printing.  

Why that’s a win:

• Right now, two printers of the “same model” can sometimes give slightly different results. Standards aim to reduce that unpredictability.
• For users: better consistency, fewer surprises, fewer failed prints because of “unexpected variation.”

3. CRG Defense Orders a Roboze ARGO 1000 HyperMelt

Also reported July 23: CRG Defense became one of the early customers for Roboze’s ARGO 1000 HyperMelt system.  

What this implies (in simple terms):

• Roboze is stepping up in the high-heat, high-performance materials domain (things like PEEK, PEKK, other engineering plastics).
• For serious users or small industrial / prototyping shops: this direction means that materials that were once exotic or difficult may become more available / cost-efficient over time.

4. Colibrium Additive Expands Manufacturing Capacity

On July 24, Colibrium Additive (a GE Aerospace company) announced expansion of its advanced manufacturing operations in Ohio, U.S.  

Why that’s interesting to you:

• It shows that big aerospace / defense players still believe in metal additive manufacturing as part of serious product chains.

• More capacity = more demand for high-quality metal printing, supporting growth in metal powders, post-processing services, and related support tools.

5. Printing with Lunar Dirt? (Well, Simulated Dirt)

A research paper published July 27 described an experiment: mixing lunar regolith simulant (moon soil mimic) with PEEK (a strong polymer) to 3D print composite parts.  

Why that’s wild and cool (as if it isn’t obvious already):

• For space missions, transporting materials from Earth is very expensive. If you can “print on the moon” using local material + polymer, that’s a dramatic efficiency win.

• For us earthbound folks: these experiments often lead to better materials, new mixing techniques, improved printer hardware to handle weird composites.

What This Means for Beginners / New Users

• Brand & support matter. The Anker/EufyMake news is a cautionary tale: always check how easy it is to get parts and updates before committing.
• Standards help you. As standards (like ASTM proposals) make their way into the industry, the “randomness” in your prints should decrease.
• Materials are expanding. HyperMelt systems, composite printing with lunar dust, etc., are pushing the envelope. You might soon see more exotic filament or resin options aimed toward power users. 
• Industrial confidence = better gear trickling down. The big factories expanding mean more investment in tooling, powder production, finishing tech, supply chains. Over time, that should drive down costs and increase options. 

Summer’s been going well for us makers, and there’s only more exciting stuff to come. So go, get creative and print yourself some summer fun! 

… I don’t mean that theoretically. Why are you still here? I said GO!