Your 3D printing news for Monday 13 April 2026. Today is a landmark day for the industry — North America’s largest additive manufacturing event, RAPID + TCT 2026, opens in Boston, and Bambu Lab is just 24 hours from a major product launch that every European 3D printing enthusiast should know about. Here is everything happening today — and what it means for you as a buyer or maker in the UK, EU, or Switzerland.
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- 🖨️ Bambu Lab X2D launches tomorrow — expected successor to the X1 Carbon
- 🏭 RAPID + TCT 2026 opens in Boston with 450+ exhibitors
- 🛰️ L3Harris cuts satellite thruster build time from 18 months to 6 with AM
- 🔬 Tungsten carbide 3D printed for first time using hot-wire laser technique
- 🚁 Artec 3D launches autonomous drone-mounted LiDAR scanner
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Bambu Lab Set to Unveil the X2D Tomorrow — What European Buyers Need to Know
If you follow 3D printing at all, tomorrow — Tuesday 14 April 2026 at 4 PM CEST — is a date to mark in your calendar. Bambu Lab has officially announced a major new product launch with the teaser tagline “Ready. Set. neXt.” posted across all their social channels.
Community analysis points strongly to the Bambu Lab X2D — widely expected to be the direct successor to the X1 Carbon. Teaser imagery has revealed two hot ends (as seen on the H2D flagship) alongside what appears to be the X1’s LiDAR unit. If the X2D delivers on rumours, it would combine the H2D’s advanced toolhead technology with the compact footprint of the X1 series — making it one of the most powerful desktop printers ever offered at a consumer price point.
For European buyers: the X1 Carbon currently retails around €1,099 in the EU and £949 in the UK. If the X2D lands at a similar or slightly higher price point, it will be a direct rival to Prusa’s upcoming models and may well become the go-to recommendation for serious makers across Europe. We will have full coverage as soon as the launch drops.
RAPID + TCT 2026 Opens in Boston — Key Highlights for the 3D Printing World
North America’s largest additive manufacturing show, RAPID + TCT 2026, has officially kicked off in Boston this week (13–16 April, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center). With over 450 exhibitors on the show floor, it is one of the most important events on the global 3D printing calendar.
Stratasys is launching significant updates to its polymer materials portfolio at the show, including ULTEM 1010 for the F3300 FDM printer and new PolyJet materials. They are also debuting automatic warping correction in GrabCAD Print Pro — a welcome development for engineers printing large structural parts.
ELEGOO is exhibiting at Booth 1215, showcasing the highly anticipated Elegoo Jupiter 2 large-format resin printer. The Jupiter 2 features a 14-inch 16K LCD panel, 302 x 162 x 300 mm build volume, automatic resin feeding and recycling, and innovative side-opening doors — a first for the desktop resin segment. Available on Amazon — a strong option for EU resin users needing a large build volume at a competitive price.
L3Harris Cuts Satellite Thruster Production Time by 12 Months Using 3D Printing
L3Harris Technologies has announced it is using additive manufacturing to slash satellite thruster production timelines by up to 12 months — reducing what was an 18-month process to just six. As demand grows for faster satellite deployment in increasingly contested space environments, the company is shifting key propulsion components from conventional machining to 3D printing, eliminating multiple steps and enabling far more complex geometries.
Also in defence: Velo3D has secured a $9.8 million contract with the Defense Logistics Agency to accelerate production of parts affected by long lead times using large-format metal 3D printing.
Scientists 3D Print Tungsten Carbide — One of the Hardest Metals on Earth
Researchers at Hiroshima University have found a reliable way to 3D print tungsten carbide-cobalt — one of the hardest and most wear-resistant materials in existence. The new technique uses hot-wire laser irradiation, which softens rather than melts the metals, allowing precise deposition with minimal waste. The findings are published in the April 2026 issue of the International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials and represent a major step for tooling, aerospace, and mining applications.
Artec 3D Launches Artec Jet: Autonomous LiDAR Scanner for Drones
3D scanning specialist Artec 3D has unveiled the Artec Jet at Manufacturing World Nagoya — a survey-grade SLAM-based LiDAR scanner designed for large-scale autonomous data capture. Weighing just 1.57 kg, it can scan fully autonomously onboard a drone, mapping its own flight paths, maintaining stable positioning, and avoiding obstacles. It offers IP65 protection and indoor accuracy of ±10 mm even in GPS-denied environments. If you are interested in 3D scanning more broadly, see our beginner’s guide to choosing your first 3D scanner.
Also in the News This Week
Nike Sportswear has confirmed additive manufacturing is playing a growing role in Air Max component production. Raise3D and AMT have announced a partnership bringing PostPro vapour smoothing technology to Raise3D customers, making high-quality surface finishing far more accessible for desktop FDM users.
On the food front, Cocoa Press — maker of the world’s only chocolate 3D printer — shared business updates pointing to growing consumer interest in edible printing. And on an industrial scale, submarine component manufacturing using AM is attracting attention as navies explore additive solutions for long supply chain challenges.
What Should European Buyers Be Watching?
With RAPID + TCT in full swing and the Bambu Lab X2D launch tomorrow, this is genuinely one of the most exciting weeks in 3D printing in years. Here is what we recommend watching if you are based in the UK, EU, or Switzerland:
- Tomorrow’s Bambu Lab launch — if the X2D launches at a competitive EU price, it may be the best desktop printer of 2026. See our Bambu Lab X2D review for full analysis.
- The Elegoo Jupiter 2 — a large-format resin printer worth watching for EU makers needing volume. Check availability on Amazon.
- Not sure where to start? Our guide to the top beginner-friendly 3D printers covers the best entry-level options available in Europe right now.
Check back tomorrow for full coverage of the Bambu Lab launch and further updates from Boston. Have a story tip or news we should cover? Drop it in the comments below.