This week: PrusaSlicer 3.0 finally says it's weeks away from release (7 years after 2.0). Flashforge patents a brilliant resin idea, HeyGears launches the first clear resin with an integrated workflow, Elegoo rakes in funding, and the industry warns of potential stock issues. Let's go. 🔥
🔥 Featured
🎯 PrusaSlicer 3.0 "weeks away" from release: 7 years after 2.0
Confirmed in the 2.9.5 beta release notes: PrusaSlicer 3.0 is weeks away from launch (though they themselves admit "maybe more than 4…"). This is the biggest slicer update in 7 years, since 2.0 dropped.
Here's what we know: a complete UI overhaul, support for tabbed projects (multiple projects open at once), a rewritten engine, and strong rumors of CMYK Color Blending — exactly what Bambu Lab added to Bambu Studio 2.5.3 two weeks ago. If you're interested in that topic, we also have a complete guide on how Color Mixing works and why it's a significant change.
Prusa describes it primarily as "technical housekeeping to allow faster iteration down the road." In other words: most of the visual and workflow improvements are coming later. But the new foundation is what opens the door. Read the full coverage on All3DP →
🔧 Hardware
⚖️ Flashforge patents a brilliant idea: a force sensor that knows when each layer is actually ready
One of resin printing's biggest frustrations: printers rely on fixed wait times between layers (reflow settling, curing, FEP release…) with no way of knowing whether the part is actually ready. Wait too long and you waste time. Cut it short and the print fails.
Flashforge has patented a system using a force sensor that measures in real time when reflow has stabilized, when the layer has fully cured, and when it has released from the FEP. No more fixed timers — the machine decides on its own. The result: faster prints with fewer failures. While that technology makes its way to market, keeping your FEP in good shape remains essential — our FEP, nFEP, and ACF collection has replacement films for all popular printers.
For now it's just a patent, but the concept points exactly in the direction desktop resin printing needs to go over the next few years. If your next printer ships with this, the printing experience changes completely. Read more on Fabbaloo →
🧪 Materials
🔮 HeyGears PAF10 Clear: the first transparent resin with an integrated workflow
Anyone who has tried printing clear resin knows the results rarely look good on the first try. Parts come out cloudy, frosted, with visible layer lines — and yellow over time.
HeyGears just launched PAF10 Clear with a fully integrated workflow. This resin delivers 82% light transmittance, 0.08 mm detail resolution, and strong yellowing resistance. But the real headline is the step-by-step documented process included for achieving three distinct finish types: glass-clear, matte, and tinted transparent.
The critical detail: it requires a printer with a 385 nm LED (not the 405 nm found on most machines), because the shorter wavelength prevents unwanted internal curing. Obvious use cases: crystal-clear miniatures, jewelry, lenses, and small optical components. If you want to explore this space, we also carry clear resins compatible with 405 nm printers so you can get started without changing your hardware. Read more at Manufactur3D →
💵 Industry
💰 Elegoo Raises New Funding: Expansion Shifts Into High Gear
Elegoo has closed a new funding round after wrapping up 2025 with over $300 million in sales. The company is raising capital to accelerate product launches, including the Jupiter 2 and the CANVAS multicolor system (covered in Weekly #006).
For us, this is a positive signal: it means the Elegoo ecosystem will keep growing — more consumables, accessories, and parts. Our Elegoo container shipment is arriving very soon, and you'll be able to get everything you need for your Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter from Spain — no long waits, no customs hassle. In the meantime, Elegoo resins are already in stock. Read more at Fabbaloo →
⚠️ Market
🚀 The 3D Printing Industry Warns: Material Shortages May Be on the Horizon
Fabbaloo published a concerning analysis: the 3D printing industry could face material supply issues in the coming months. Several factors are converging: geopolitical tensions, bottlenecks in Asian supply chains, and rising demand.
This isn't fearmongering. It's the same signal we saw with semiconductors in 2021: when the supply chain breaks down, prices spike and stock vanishes for months. If your printer goes through a lot of resin or filament, now isn't a bad time to keep a couple of extra bottles or spools on hand. To figure out how much resin or filament you actually use each month, we offer a free resin cost calculator and a free filament cost calculator.
On our end, the incoming container shipment is strengthening our local stock. But it's a good reminder for all makers: global politics also affect your hobby. Read more at Fabbaloo →
💬 Our Take This Week
Three trends are converging this week: smarter software (PrusaSlicer 3.0, AI-powered slicers), hardware that makes its own decisions (Flashforge's patent points in this direction), and specialized materials with integrated workflows (HeyGears PAF10).
The message is clear: resin printing is no longer just "pour resin and hit print". The entire ecosystem is maturing. And with potential supply shortages on the horizon, it's better to be prepared. On our end, we've got a container on the way and a full resin catalog ready so you can keep printing without any nasty surprises. 💪