From April 14–16, 2026, RAPID + TCT 2026 lands this year in Boston, reaffirming its status as North America’s flagship event for additive manufacturing (AM) and industrial 3D printing.

In a context marked by reindustrialization, supply chain reshoring, and accelerated adoption of production-grade AM, the 2026 edition is expected to play a strategic role for manufacturers seeking scalable, cost-efficient, and high-performance solutions.

Extrude Hone will be present at Booth#2914 to showcase its advanced surface finishing technologies for AM parts, supporting industrial players in reaching production-ready quality standards.

About Rapid + TCT: a benchmark event entering a new phase

RAPID + TCT has evolved beyond a traditional trade show. It is now a critical convergence point for industrial decision-makers, where innovation meets real-world deployment.

What’s new and notable in 2026 : 

  • Shift from prototyping to full-scale production
    The 2026 edition reflects a decisive industry transition: AM is no longer experimental—it is now embedded in serial production workflows across aerospace, medical, defense, and energy sectors.
  • Focus on end-to-end AM ecosystems
    Greater emphasis on post-processing, inspection, and finishing technologies—a key bottleneck in AM industrialization.
  • AI & digital manufacturing integration
    Increasing presence of AI-driven design optimization, simulation, and process control, accelerating performance and reducing time-to-market.
  • Sustainability & material efficiency
    Circular manufacturing, waste reduction, and energy-efficient processes are central themes in 2026.

A global reference for additive manufacturing

Over the years, RAPID + TCT has become a global reference platform for innovation in manufacturing and design.

The event gathers:

  • Leading OEMs and industrial groups
  • High-growth AM startups
  • Research institutions and engineering experts

Participants can explore:

  • Industrial-grade 3D printers
  • Advanced materials (metals, polymers, ceramics)
  • Software for design, simulation, and production
  • Critical post-processing solutions, increasingly recognized as essential to AM success

Knowledge sharing at the core of Rapid + TCT 2026

The 2026 conference program goes further than previous editions, with:

  • Executive-level keynotes on industrialization strategies
  • Deep dives into production scalability and qualification standards
  • Sessions on post-processing optimization and surface integrity
  • Case studies from early adopters of large-scale AM production

With 100+ hours of expert-led content, attendees gain actionable insights to accelerate their AM roadmap.

Extrude Hone at Rapid + TCT 2026: enabling production-ready AM parts

As additive manufacturing matures, post-processing is no longer optional—it is mission-critical.

Extrude Hone supports manufacturers in overcoming key AM challenges:

  • Surface roughness
  • Internal channel accessibility
  • Residual particle removal
  • Functional performance optimization

Advanced finishing solutions for AM

Extrude Hone’s technologies are designed to bridge the gap between printed parts and industrial requirements:

  • Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM)
    Still the most efficient and cost-effective solution for improving internal surfaces and complex geometries.
  • MICROFLOW technology
    Enables ultra-precision finishing of micro-channels down to 40 µm, exceeding typical AM constraints.

Key performance benefits

  • Surface roughness improved by up to 10x
  • New abrasive technology for targeting metal additive  surfaces
  • Surface finish down to under 10ra inch on small hole parts
  • Media is more effective at targeting downskin
  • Enhanced flow efficiency and functional performance
  • Reliable processing of hidden and complex internal geometries
  • Scalable and repeatable finishing for industrial production

To further enhance process efficiency, Extrude Hone has developed a dedicated range of abrasive media specifically engineered for additive manufacturing applications.

These advanced formulations are optimized to adapt to the unique geometries, surface conditions, and material properties of AM parts.

By ensuring consistent material removal, improved flow behavior, and precise control over surface finishing, our abrasive media significantly increase process reliability, repeatability, and overall performance—while reducing cycle times and cost per part.

Proven applications in additive manufacturing

Conformal cooling channels

AFM remains one of the few viable technologies capable of effectively finishing internal cooling channels, significantly improving thermal performance.

Vanes and impellers

Surface optimization leads to improved aerodynamic and fluid efficiency, directly impacting component performance.

Waveguides

AFM enhances internal surface quality, resulting in better electromagnetic performance for AM-produced waveguides.

Manifolds

High-purity, complex-channel manifolds benefit from precise and uniform internal finishing, critical for contamination-sensitive environments.

Meet Extrude Hone experts at Rapid + TCT, Booth #2914

Our experts look forward to welcoming you to the Extrude Hone booth to discuss your challenges in improving 3D printing and additive manufacturing surfaces.

Brian Wallace

Business Development

Contract Shop USA

Jamie Bithell

Application & Technology Engineer

Extrude Hone Irwin USA