3D Printing Digest - February 15, 2026
Published
MyMiniFactory officially acquired Thingiverse from Ultimaker on February 12, bringing together nearly 8 million users under its 'SoulCrafted' initiative with a strict no-AI-generated content policy. Nikon recorded a ¥90.6 billion impairment against its digital manufacturing unit (SLM Solutions), reflecting a reset in metal 3D printing growth expectations. In academic research, UT Austin developed CRAFT — a method that 3D prints objects with varying hardness and flexibility from a single material, potentially transforming prosthetics manufacturing.
MyMiniFactory Acquires Thingiverse — Implements Strict No-AI Content Policy
MyMiniFactory has officially acquired Thingiverse from Ultimaker, unifying nearly 8 million users under the 'SoulCrafted' initiative. The acquisition, completed February 12, will see Thingiverse operate as a standalone platform with a strict no-AI-generated content policy. Incoming CEO Romain Kidd confirmed Thingiverse will remain free to use with no paywalls, and the team will actively remove existing AI-generated content from the library. The SoulCrafted umbrella also includes YouMagine and a new SoulCrafted Slicer.
This is the most significant shift in the 3D printing file-sharing ecosystem since Makerbot launched Thingiverse in 2008. Under Ultimaker's ownership, Thingiverse stagnated — broken search, slow uploads, and zero moderation. MyMiniFactory's 'SoulCrafted' branding is a direct counter to the flood of AI-generated STLs appearing on competing platforms. The no-AI policy is bold and differentiating: it positions Thingiverse as a curated, human-craft marketplace rather than a dump of generated models. For makers who upload original designs, this signals better discoverability and less competition from low-effort AI slop.
💡What this means for you
Acquisition: 100% of Thingiverse from Ultimaker. ~8M combined users. Standalone platform under SoulCrafted umbrella (alongside YouMagine, SoulCrafted Slicer). No paywall. Active AI content removal program. New leadership: Romain Kidd as Thingiverse CEO.
Market Position: Consolidates the two largest free 3D model repositories. The no-AI policy differentiates from Printables (Prusa), which allows AI-assisted designs. Creates the largest human-verified model library in 3D printing.
- How AI-generated content detection will work at scale
- Whether Thingiverse's technical debt (slow search, broken downloads) will be addressed
- Impact on Printables' market share as Prusa's alternative
⏸️ Wait if: You're not affected — Thingiverse remains free and your existing designs stay up
✅ Buy if: If you're a designer uploading original work, this is a better home than before
Nikon Records ¥90.6 Billion Impairment on SLM Solutions Metal 3D Printing Unit
Nikon has taken a ¥90.6 billion ($590M USD) impairment charge against its digital manufacturing business, primarily tied to its 2023 acquisition of SLM Solutions, a leading metal 3D printing company. The writedown reflects a reset in growth expectations for industrial metal additive manufacturing, citing an intensifying competitive environment and longer-than-expected customer qualification cycles.
This is a sobering reality check for the metal 3D printing industry. Nikon paid €600M for SLM Solutions in 2023, and this impairment effectively wipes out the entire acquisition value. The root cause isn't that metal 3D printing doesn't work — HII just ordered a second NXG 600E for Navy shipbuilding — it's that qualification cycles in aerospace and defense are 3-5 years, much longer than Nikon projected. For the desktop/prosumer market, this has little direct impact, but it signals that the 'metal 3D printing revolution' timeline needs to be measured in decades, not years.
💡What this means for you
Impairment: ¥90.6B (~$590M USD). SLM Solutions acquisition cost: ~€600M (2023). HII still ordering NXG 600E machines for Navy shipbuilding. Competitive environment intensifying: EOS, Trumpf, Velo3D, Desktop Metal all in market.
Market Position: Doesn't reflect technology failure — reflects market timing misjudgment. Industrial metal AM adoption is real but slower than projected. Desktop metal printing (Bambu Lab, Markforged) unaffected.
- Whether Nikon will divest or double down on SLM Solutions
- Impact on SLM Solutions customer support and R&D funding
- Whether this triggers consolidation in the industrial metal AM space
⏸️ Wait if: You're considering industrial metal 3D printing — the market is consolidating
✅ Buy if: You need desktop metal printing — Bambu Lab and Markforged remain strong options
UT Austin CRAFT Method 3D Prints Variable-Hardness Objects from Single Material
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed CRAFT, a novel 3D printing method that creates objects with varying hardness and flexibility from a single material. The technique controls material properties at the micro-level during printing, allowing a single object to have rigid sections and flexible sections without changing filament. Early applications target prosthetics, where a socket needs rigidity while contact points need cushioning.
This is one of those research breakthroughs that could fundamentally change what's possible with desktop 3D printing in 5-10 years. Current multi-hardness printing requires multiple materials (rigid PLA + flexible TPU), multiple extruders, and complex slicer settings. CRAFT does it with one material by controlling the curing/deposition process itself. For prosthetics, this means a single-print socket that's rigid where it needs to bear load and flexible where it contacts skin. If this technology reaches consumer printers, it would eliminate the need for multi-material setups for many applications.
💡What this means for you
CRAFT: Controls material properties at micro-level during deposition. Single material input. Variable hardness and flexibility in output. Developed at UT Austin. Current stage: research/proof-of-concept. Primary target: prosthetics and biomedical devices.
Market Position: Academic research — not commercially available. If commercialized, would compete with multi-material printers (Bambu AMS, Prusa MMU) for applications requiring different hardnesses. Potentially disruptive for prosthetics manufacturing.
- Timeline to commercial availability
- Compatible materials beyond the research prototype
- Whether desktop printer manufacturers are licensing the technology
⏸️ Wait if: This is research-stage technology — not available for purchase
✅ Buy if: You're in prosthetics R&D — contact UT Austin's technology transfer office
Frequently Asked Questions
Did MyMiniFactory buy Thingiverse?▼
Yes. MyMiniFactory officially acquired 100% of Thingiverse from Ultimaker on February 12, 2026. Thingiverse will remain free to use and operate as a standalone platform under the SoulCrafted initiative with a strict no-AI-generated content policy.
What happened with Nikon and SLM Solutions?▼
Nikon recorded a ¥90.6 billion ($590M) impairment on its SLM Solutions metal 3D printing unit, reflecting slower-than-expected adoption of industrial metal additive manufacturing and longer customer qualification cycles.
What is the CRAFT 3D printing method?▼
CRAFT is a research method from UT Austin that 3D prints objects with varying hardness and flexibility from a single material, controlling properties at the micro-level during deposition. It targets prosthetics applications.