S1E34 3D Printing: Plastic, Metal, and Composite | Tuan Tranpham

Being an Engineer · 4 Sept 2020 · 51m

What this episode covers

Tuan Tranpham, Chief Revenue Officer at AREVO, discusses his journey from a Vietnamese refugee to a 3D printing expert, focusing on composite manufacturing technologies. He contrasts AREVO's six-axis robotic continuous fiber placement with traditional FDM and metal binder jetting, highlighting the software-driven topology optimization that enables true 3D printing. Tranpham explains how this technology allows for the production of high-strength, lightweight components like bicycle frames and e-scooters, moving beyond prototyping into on-demand manufacturing services.

Mentioned

Companies
AREVO, Desktop Metal, MarkForged, Z Corp, 3D Systems, Intel, Formlabs, Envision Tech, Carbon, HP, Proto Labs, Stratasys, X One
Products
Emery, Supersonic

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Additive Snack · 35m

    Unlocking Higher Performance 3D Printing Applications with Brad Rothenberg

    Brad Rothenberg, founder and CEO of nTopology, discusses how advanced engineering software unlocks the full potential of additive manufacturing by shifting the engineer's role from manual 'grunt work' to creative problem-solving. He explains that traditional CAD tools are ill-suited for 3D printing's complexity and advocates for 'unlearning' conventional manufacturing constraints to leverage design freedom. Rothenberg highlights a specific Air Force satellite structure made from Inconel that is 50% lighter than its aluminum predecessor, demonstrating the power of topology optimization and thin-wall printing. He concludes by predicting a future where engineers use reusable, remixable workflows to accelerate innovation across industries.

  • Additive Snack · 27m

    Materials and Additive Manufacturing Beyond — Special IMTS Edition

    Mike Vasquez, founder of 3Degrees Consulting and the Advanced Manufacturing Experience (AMX), discusses the maturation of the additive manufacturing industry with host Fabian Alefeld of EOS. They explore how AM has moved beyond prototyping into specialized production for industries like aerospace, medical, and tooling, driven by advancements in metal and polymer composites. Vasquez highlights the importance of education through his AMX program and his '3 Degrees Discussions' podcast in bridging the gap for new talent entering the field.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 43m

    BONUS: Exploring Manufacturing Partnerships Part 2, Live from IMTS 2022 (brought to you by KUKA)

    Chris Luecke interviews Scott McIsaac of KUKA, Jean Sebastian Nouveau of Waybo, and Cole Nielsen of Orbital Composites about manufacturing partnerships and additive manufacturing at IMTS 2022. Cole Nielsen details Orbital Composites' journey from a failed Kickstarter drone prototype to developing 12-degree-of-freedom robotic 3D printers for drones and satellite antennas. The episode highlights how KUKA collaborates with small companies like Waybo to automate machine shops and with startups to push the boundaries of industrial robotics.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 33m

    How Composites Manufacturing Impacts Marathon Running with ARRIS' Riley Reese

    Riley Reese, CEO and Co-Founder of Berkeley-based Arris Composites, explains how his company uses 'additive molding' to produce high-performance composite parts at scale, moving beyond the limitations of traditional 3D printing. He details the technology's application in running shoe carbon plates, which improve energy return and reduce foot fatigue by aligning fibers along specific stress lines. Reese also reflects on his previous startup, Arrivo, and the critical lesson that manufacturing is 'messy,' advocating for leveraging proven technologies rather than reinventing the wheel.

  • 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.

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