# S6E11 Jon Lowy | Sleeping 3 Hours Per Day & Additive Manufacturing X.0

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-03-14
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 11
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0

## Summary

Jon Lowy, a product engineer with 40 years of experience currently partnering with Jiga, discusses his journey from designing medical sample processing robotics to teaching and entrepreneurship. He details the failure of his first prototype due to bearing design flaws, his work in wildcat oil exploration, and his development of a volatile gas sensing system for fruit storage. Lowy argues that current additive manufacturing is limited for high-precision parts, citing a prosthetic hand project where machined parts succeeded where 3D-printed ones failed, and advocates for 'Additive Manufacturing X.0' as the future tool for engineers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=0) Introduction: Jon Lowy and the value of calipers and pencil
- [3:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=211) Early career: Medical robotics and the bearing failure
- [9:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=553) Wildcat oil exploration and building businesses
- [11:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=669) Teaching high school and learning communication
- [23:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=1386) Sleeping 3 hours a night and ADHD
- [33:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=2035) Current work with Jiga and Chinese retail
- [43:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=2632) Volatile gas sensing and fruit storage innovation
- [53:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-03-14-s6e11-jon-lowy-sleeping-3-hours-per-day-additive-manufacturing-x-0#t=3191) Critique of current additive manufacturing and prosthetic hands

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Jiga (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Thanos (product)
- Sopio Tech (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Building the Future: The Journey of The LEGO Group in AM](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-09-05-building-the-future-the-journey-of-the-lego-group-in-am) (Additive Snack)
- [453: Half Made Zippy-Something](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-09-06-453-half-made-zippy-something) (Making It)
- [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)
- [486: If I Had $300, I Could Do That Too](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-06-16-486-if-i-had-300-i-could-do-that-too) (Making It)
- [Following Your Passion in 3D Printing with Greg Paulsen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-01-26-following-your-passion-in-3d-printing-with-greg-paulsen) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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