# Why Ursa Major is Betting Big on Additive Manufacturing

- Show: [Additive Snack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack)
- Published: 2025-07-23
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 17
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/aa472996

## Summary

Thomas Pomorski, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Ursa Major, explains the company's strategic shift from outsourcing to insourcing 3D printing for the Hadley and Draper rocket engines. He details how Ursa Major uses Dendrite’s Python-based automation to standardize complex scan strategies across EOS machines, enabling a rapid 2-week iteration cycle from print to test fire. Pomorski highlights the challenges of scaling production for solid rocket motors and the importance of building a robust quality system and skilled team in Youngstown, Ohio, to support defense and space applications.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=6) Introduction: Thomas Pomorski and Ursa Major
- [2:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=123) Pomorski's Career: Bechtel, Penn United, and Joining Ursa
- [6:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=409) Ursa Major's History and the Shift to Insourcing Additive
- [10:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=647) Vertical Integration, Quality Systems, and 2-Week Iteration
- [19:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=1176) Scaling with Dendrite and EOS: Automated Scan Strategies
- [26:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=1616) Hiring Challenges and Building a Skilled Team
- [33:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=1989) Product Portfolio: Hadley, Draper, and Solid Rocket Motors
- [39:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-07-23-why-ursa-major-is-betting-big-on-additive-manufacturing#t=2358) Future Developments: Productivity, Materials, and Qualification

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ursa Major (company)
- Thomas Pomorski (other)
- Bechtel Plant Machinery (company)
- Penn United (company)
- EOS (company)
- USM290 (product)
- USM400 (product)
- USM401 (product)
- US7290 (product)
- N290 Flex (product)
- Hadley (product)
- Draper (product)
- Dendrite (company)
- America Makes (company)
- Youngstown Business Incubator (company)
- Ohio State (other)
- Youngstown State (other)
- Ohio University (other)
- Marquis (other)
- Hit (other)
- GR Suppliers (other)
- RTX (company)
- N-light (company)
- Meltpool (other)
- Inconel 718 (other)
- Hastelloy X282 (other)
- GRCop-84 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [HIBT Lab! Ursa Major: Joe Laurienti](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-04-20-hibt-lab-ursa-major-joe-laurienti) (How I Built This)
- [Post print: The dirty little secret of additive manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-11-29-post-print-the-dirty-little-secret-of-additive-manufacturing) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [BONUS: Exploring Manufacturing Partnerships Part 2, Live from IMTS 2022 (brought to you by KUKA)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-11-11-bonus-exploring-manufacturing-partnerships-part-2-live-from-imts-2022-brought-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Dylan Lundberg | Protolabs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs) (Being an Engineer)
- [Ep 217: The Unintentional Space and 3D Printing Episode](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-05-05-ep-217-the-unintentional-space-and-3d-printing-episode-eaccf4fe) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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