Explore, Learn, and Discover
with the Dragonfly Blog

After an exciting week at M&M 2026 in Milwaukee, we’re returning home with new ideas and plenty to look forward to in the year ahead. 

CT provides detailed 3D data of internal battery structures, but extracting meaningful insights requires the right image processing tools. See how Dragonfly 3D World can support battery analysis with AI-assisted segmentation, precise measurements, and automated workflows for investigating electrode geometry, defects, and production variability.

Dragonfly 3D World 2027 is now here. This release introduces new features to help researchers and industry professionals get more out of their data. From new AI-powered segmentation capabilities to advanced mesh analysis, integrated reporting, and workflow enhancements, the update builds on Dragonfly's powerful image processing capabilities with new tools designed to make analysis faster, more precise, and easier to manage.

Whether you’re inspecting additively manufactured parts, analyzing porous materials, segmenting complex datasets, or building repeatable research workflows, there’s plenty to look forward to in the next generation of 3D World.

Here’s a closer look at 10 new features in Dragonfly 3D World 2027.

Additive manufacturing continues to push the limits of part complexity, but inspecting and validating those parts presents its own challenges. As CT datasets become larger and more complex, engineers need tools that keep pace with modern manufacturing workflows.

Dragonfly 3D World 2027 is now here, bringing new AI-powered analysis, advanced measurement capabilities, integrated reporting, and workflow improvements designed to help additive manufacturing engineers gain more from their CT data.

Whether you're developing new materials, validating printed parts, or supporting production quality, the latest release is designed to streamline CT inspection across the additive manufacturing workflow.

Here's a closer look at what's available in this next generation of 3D World.

The automotive industry is quickly evolving. From lightweight materials and complex castings to battery systems, today's vehicles demand more advanced inspection methods. As components become more complex, identifying internal defects and validating part quality become increasingly challenging.

Dragonfly 3D World 2027 is now here, introducing new tools to help automotive engineers gain deeper insight from CT data. With AI-powered segmentation and advanced measurement capabilities, and integrated reporting, the latest release helsp streamline inspection workflows and improve confidence in the results.

Whether you're developing EVs, supporting quality assurance, or investigating component failures, the next generation of software is designed to make automotive CT inspection more efficient and repeatable.

Here's a closer look at what's available in this next generation of 3D World.

Image segmentation is a crucial step in many scientific and industrial workflows, and a core capability of Dragonfly 3D World. Whether you’re analyzing biological samples or identifying defects in a manufactured component, accurate segmentation lays the foundation for meaningful analysis and measurement at a later stage.

The Dragonfly team recently sat down with Dr. Emeline Raguin, Group Leader of the Biomaterials department at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. We discussed her journey with Dragonfly 3D World so far, the impact the software has had on her scientific outcomes and the features she uses almost daily. Watch the full interview below.

Large computed tomography (CT) datasets can make essential processing steps such as filtering, denoising, and skeletonization slow and disruptive when executed on CPU alone. GPU acceleration enables these operations to run in parallel across volumetric data, reducing processing time and supporting more interactive CT analysis workflows. This article explains why GPU acceleration is increasingly important for modern CT software, which CT processing steps benefit most, and how quantified performance improvements can help CT and NDT users work more efficiently with high-resolution datasets.

Segmentation is one of the most critical and technically challenging steps in computed tomography (CT) analysis. Whether the goal is to quantify porosity, separate material phases, or isolate internal features, the accuracy of segmentation directly determines the reliability of all downstream measurements. This article explains why segmentation accuracy is essential for CT and non-destructive testing (NDT) workflows, outlines the challenges posed by complex materials and imaging conditions, and discusses how modern CT software supports consistent, repeatable segmentation using a combination of classical methods and AI-assisted tools.

Casting quality depends heavily on understanding the internal porosity of metal parts. Hidden voids and shrinkage pores can compromise integrity, lead to early failures, and increase costs - especially in safety-critical applications. While traditional thresholding methods like Otsu segmentation have proven effective for fast evaluations, they sometimes miss fine or low-contrast defects. To overcome these challenges, Dragonfly 3D World introduces AI-driven segmentation tools that take porosity analysis to the next level.

Computed tomography (CT) has evolved into a critical tool for non-destructive testing, yet its true value depends on the software used to visualize, segment, and analyze the data. This article breaks down the core technical requirements of modern CT software and explains how Dragonfly 3D World addresses each one with precision, speed, and real-world usability. From high-resolution CT visualization and AI-powered segmentation to sub-voxel surface extraction, GPU-accelerated processing, and automated inspection workflows, the article shows why 3D World has become a trusted platform across manufacturing, materials science, electronics, research imaging, and more.

Understanding the internal skeletal anatomy of fossilized organisms has long been a challenge in paleontology. The braincase, often concealed beneath layers of dermal bone, is rarely visible without damaging the specimen. Traditional mechanical preparation cannot expose delicate internal structures without loss of information.

Researchers have now overcome this challenge by using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) and advanced visualization tools in Dragonfly 3D World to study the braincase of Lepidotes, a bony fish that lived approximately 180 million years ago in ancient European seas.

Ancient pottery is like a time machine to the past – pottery relics give us insights into the cultures of the past. Most often, shards or fragments are found, rather than complete objects. Sometimes, nearly complete objects are found but are fragile and contain many cracks. But what exactly can X-ray CT reveal about an ancient vase? Let’s take a look.

The Megalodon is an extinct species of giant shark that lived millions of years ago, roaming the oceans in search of its next meal. It is said to be one of the most fearsome predators in earth’s history. Its huge jaws contained 276 large and sharp teeth growing up to 7 inches long, arranged in multiple rows. Today, many fossilized Megalodon teeth are still found and are often sold as collector’s items. But what can X-ray tomography tell us about an ancient Megalodon tooth? Let’s take a look.