Hardware Podcasts

Are You Too Late to Adopt Additive Manufacturing?

Additive Snack · 11 Jan 2022 · 32m · Episode 1

What this episode covers

Matthew Parker, Director of Additive Manufacturing Engineering at Senior Aerospace SSP, explains how the company transitioned from conventional manufacturing to adopting industrial 3D printing for production. Parker details the strategic decision to invest in multi-laser systems five years ago, which achieved cost parity with machining for titanium components, and highlights the NASA X-59 aircraft program where AM enabled ducting designs impossible with traditional methods. He emphasizes the importance of building internal data and expertise to overcome customer skepticism and the necessity of educating engineers to identify viable AM applications rather than assuming all parts are suitable.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Senior Aerospace SSP, NASA, EOS, Fathom, SAE AMS
Products
X-59

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 48m

    Following Your Passion in 3D Printing with Greg Paulsen

    Greg Paulsen, Director of Application Engineering at Xometry, explains that 3D printing is an umbrella of technologies rather than a single miracle tool, debunking the myths that it can do everything and that it is a monolithic process. He describes prototyping as shifting from the high-cost, low-iteration constraints of analog film to the rapid, low-cost iteration of digital cameras, allowing for faster design validation. Paulsen highlights aerospace as a key industry for metal additive manufacturing due to the ROI from part consolidation and weight reduction, while noting that cosmetics and cost remain barriers for high-volume consumer goods. He concludes that CAD design is the true barrier to entry, as the software capabilities must evolve to fully leverage the freedom of additive manufacturing.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    9 chapters

  • Lights Out · 52m

    Additive Manufacturing on the Shop Floor: Hype, Reality, and Where It Actually Works, Ep #37

    Mark Barfoot, VP of Global Sales at Exact Metal, discusses the practical application of metal additive manufacturing in machine shops, moving beyond hype to real-world use cases like jigs, fixtures, and end-use parts. He explains that while the technology is maturing, success requires designing for additive (DfAM) rather than simply replacing CNC machining, and highlights the importance of facility safety, powder handling, and building internal expertise. Barfoot notes that laser powder bed fusion is becoming more accessible for job shops, with lower-cost machines enabling production runs of thousands of small parts, provided the geometry justifies the cost.

    Materials & manufacturing processesDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    9 chapters

  • Over the Air · 31m

    Star Trek Replicators? How Additive Manufacturing is Changing the Industry

    Blake Teipel, Cofounder and CEO of Essentium, explains how additive manufacturing has matured from hobbyist 3D printing to an industrial solution for agile, mid-range production, particularly in aerospace sustainment. He details Essentium's 'Flash Fuse' technology, which uses electromagnetic energy to create isotropic, strong parts from conductive plastics, solving a decades-old strength issue. Teipel discusses the company's pivot to government and aviation clients during the pandemic, the challenges of team composition and knowledge retention, and the critical need for better software tools to enable next-generation design.

    Materials & manufacturing processesScaling production
    6 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 43m

    182: Robotics and Automation in Additive Manufacturing with Liz Stortstrom, 3D Printing Product Manager at HP

    Liz Stortstrom, a 3D Printing Product Manager at HP, discusses the integration of robotics and automation into additive manufacturing, highlighting how automation across the end-to-end workflow—from digital design to post-processing—drives cost-effectiveness and adoption. She identifies key industry sweet spots, including robotics end-of-arm tooling and production line fixtures for companies like L'Oreal, where lightweighting and rapid changeovers provide clear value. Stortstrom also outlines strategies for organizational buy-in, emphasizing the need for both engineering champions and executive sponsorship to successfully implement additive technologies in large enterprises.

    Robotics & autonomyDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    6 chapters

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 23m

    139. 3D Printing Saves Optical Sensors

    Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss how Zeiss, a multinational optics and precision engineering company, uses Ultimaker 3D printers to solve alignment and customization challenges in its serial production. They explain how replacing manual calibration with dimensionally stable, 3D-printed adapter plates eliminates human error and reduces part costs by 94% while cutting lead times from months to days. The hosts analyze this as a key example of additive manufacturing moving from aerospace to high-precision industrial applications, highlighting the democratization of manufacturing technology.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Additive Snack. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.