# Dylan Lundberg | Protolabs

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2022-08-05
- Length: 46m
- Episode: 29
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/dylan-lundberg-protolabs/

## Summary

Dylan Lundberg, Manufacturing and R&D Engineering Manager at Protolabs, explains how the company reinvents manufacturing through automation, software, and standardized processes to deliver prototypes and low-volume production parts via 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding. He details the company's evolution from a garage startup by Larry Lucas into a global enterprise with nearly 3,000 employees, highlighting the strategic acquisition of Hubs to expand their service offerings. Lundberg discusses the operational challenges of maintaining speed and quality at scale, including limitations in handling super-tight tolerances or highly unique geometries, and outlines Protolabs' future focus on expanding into high-volume production capabilities.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=0) Introduction: Dylan Lundberg and Protolabs Overview
- [1:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=84) Dylan's Career Path from Bosch to Protolabs
- [7:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=432) Protolabs History: Larry Lucas, ProtoMold, and First Cut
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=817) Protolabs vs. Xometry and the Hubs Acquisition
- [18:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=1091) Company Culture, Growth, and Workforce Composition
- [25:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=1501) The Digital, Paperless Workflow from Upload to Part
- [26:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=1614) Limitations: Cost, Tolerances, and Standardized Tooling
- [35:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=2129) Automation, Human Oversight, and DFM Feedback
- [41:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs#t=2510) Future Vision: Expanding into High-Volume Production

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Protolabs (company)
- Bosch (company)
- Larry Lucas (other)
- ProtoMold (company)
- First Cut (company)
- Xometry (company)
- Hubs (company)
- Elon Musk (other)
- Tesla (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#027 - Rapid prototyping - a platform and its essential tools, with Finbarr Watterson of Fictiv, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-24-027-rapid-prototyping-a-platform-and-its-essential-tools-with-finbarr-watterson) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [How Protolabs turns CAD files into parts in under 24 hours](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-14-how-protolabs-turns-cad-files-into-parts-in-under-24-hours) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [37: Goop Machine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-04-10-37-goop-machine) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Scaling Creativity with Additive Manufacturing with Shawn Zindroski of SNL Creative](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2024-11-05-scaling-creativity-with-additive-manufacturing-with-shawn-zindroski-of-snl-creat) (Additive Snack)
- [T-24-003 : Christina Perla - Industrial Designer to On Demand Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2024-10-09-t-24-003-christina-perla-industrial-designer-to-on-demand-manufacturing) (TRADEOFFS)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-08-05-dylan-lundberg-protolabs. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.