# From the Court to the Lab: The Story of the Airless Prototype Basketball

- Show: [Additive Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack)
- Published: 2023-08-08
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 1
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8e3e81dd

## Summary

Dr. Nadine Lippa, Innovation Manager at Wilson Sporting Goods, and Tyler Webb, co-founder of Uncle Charlie, discuss the development and viral marketing of the 3D printed Airless Prototype Basketball. Lippa details the engineering challenges of using EOS's SLS technology and PA 12 material to create a lattice structure that mimics the 600-gram weight and rebound of a traditional ball, while Webb explains how his TikTok video generated over 50 million views, turning a niche engineering project into a mainstream conversation about additive manufacturing in sports.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=3) Introduction: The NBA Dunk Contest Reveal
- [1:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=87) Nadine Lippa on the Court-Side Experience and Shaq
- [6:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=366) Wilson's Additive Journey: From Prototyping to Production
- [9:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=560) Engineering the Airless Basketball: Materials and Lattice Design
- [15:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=945) Viral Marketing: Tyler Webb's 50 Million View Video
- [25:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=1549) The Future of Additive in Sports: Safety and Performance
- [35:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-08-08-from-the-court-to-the-lab-the-story-of-the-airless-prototype-basketball#t=2112) Tyler Webb on Custom Gear and Evolving Game Mechanics

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Wilson Sporting Goods (company)
- EOS (company)
- Airless Prototype Basketball (product)
- Uncle Charlie (company)
- PA 12 (material)
- SLS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 381: Airless Tires, Full-color Prints, and 28 MW of LEDs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-08-09-ep-381-airless-tires-full-color-prints-and-28-mw-of-leds) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [011: DIY Design & Manufacture of a Basketball Training Tool with Tony Devine of The Original Profender](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-06-28-011-diy-design-manufacture-of-a-basketball-training-tool-with-tony-devine-of-the) (Product Startup)
- [Ep016: 3D Printing with Steel, Molding with Expanded Foam, QUIP-Package Parts, and Aged Solder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-04-26-ep016-3d-printing-with-steel-molding-with-expanded-foam-quip-package-parts-and-a) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [193: 3D Printing Overview for New Inventions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-14-193-3d-printing-overview-for-new-inventions) (Product Startup)
- [37: Goop Machine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-04-10-37-goop-machine) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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