3D Printing Daily — Saturday, March 7th

🔧 Firmware & Software

Sovol releases print speed optimization guide — A new comprehensive guide from Sovol walks users through slicer settings to significantly reduce print times without sacrificing quality. Key tips include optimizing layer height, adjusting print speed, and using appropriate acceleration settings.

Flashforge patents hidden filament cutter — A newly published patent describes a filament cutting mechanism that stays out of the build area until needed, potentially reclaiming valuable print space for multi-material printing.

🖨️ New Hardware

Anycubic Kobra X review series published — Fabbaloo has released a three-part hands-on review of the Anycubic Kobra X desktop 3D printer. The series covers initial impressions, setup and calibration, and final print results with software analysis.

Adidas CLIMACOOL LACED goes global — After a limited release two years ago, Adidas is now putting the CLIMACOOL LACED into wide circulation worldwide from March 3, 2026. The shoe features 3D printed lattice structures for post-game comfort and is 15% lighter than traditional designs.

🌟 Print of the Day

DIY Kayak Paddle Counter — In this week's Filament Friday, Chuck from CHEP created a custom kayak paddle counter to record stroke counts during his kayak runs. After finding that commercial options were either unavailable or expensive, he combined a step counter with a custom 3D printed mount to build his own solution.

🤖 AI & Generative Design

Bambu Lab sponsors MIT HARD MODE hackathon — Bambu Lab is sponsoring HARD MODE, a 48-hour hardware x AI hackathon at MIT challenging 200 students to build "thinking physical objects." The event runs March 6-8, 2026.

🔥 Community Buzz

Why trusses are wrong for 3D printing — Slant 3D released a video challenging the conventional wisdom that truss beams are the most material-efficient shape for 3D printing. The analysis shows that traditional truss designs are often poorly optimized for additive manufacturing's layer-by-layer approach.

Pop Mart sues Bambu Lab over Labubu designs — The toy company Pop Mart has filed a lawsuit in Chinese court against Bambu Lab over 3D-printed Labubu characters created by users on the MakerWorld design platform. The case highlights ongoing IP challenges in the 3D printing community.

📌 Quick Fixes

Why is my 3D printer not extruding? — Sovol's troubleshooting guide covers the most common causes of extrusion issues: clogged nozzles (most common), worn extruder gears, filament moisture, and incorrect temperature settings. Regular maintenance and proper filament storage can prevent most issues.

Improve 3D print quality — A new guide emphasizes starting with the basics: proper bed leveling, correct nozzle temperature, good filament storage, and regular printer maintenance. Most quality issues stem from small problems that compound over time.