# S6 E43 Greg Mark | Founding Markforged & Backflip.ai

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-10-24
- Length: 56m
- Episode: 43
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai

## Summary

Greg Mark, founder of Markforged and Backflip.ai, discusses the mechanical robustness of Markforged 3D printers, including kinematic couplings and rail alignment, and their adoption by the US Marines and NASA. He details the origin of Backflip, an AI tool that converts 3D scans and STL files into parametric CAD models for SolidWorks and other platforms, aiming to democratize design for technicians. Mark also shares entrepreneurial lessons on product focus, citing the development of Onyx material and the importance of reliability over speed in early Markforged iterations.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=0) Introduction and Markforged Reliability
- [2:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=154) Mechanical Design of Markforged Machines
- [5:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=354) Origin Story of Markforged and Military Applications
- [14:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=868) Backflip.ai: Scan-to-CAD Technology
- [42:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=2558) Entrepreneurship and Product Focus
- [50:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-24-s6-e43-greg-mark-founding-markforged-backflip-ai#t=3012) Persistence and the Bike Mechanic Story

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Markforged (company)
- Backflip.ai (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Onyx (material)
- Mark Two (product)
- Genasun (company)
- USS New Hampshire (other)
- NASA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg Paulsen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2024-01-23-s2-e5-rapid-prototyping-deep-dive-with-greg-paulsen) (The Builder Circle)
- [Hatch Duo: Industrial Design, Navigating AI, Branding, Hardware Innovation | Hard Tech Podcast #16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-03-20-hatch-duo-industrial-design-navigating-ai-branding-hardware-innovation-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Ep. 33 - Guest: Bar Smith of Maslow CNC](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-11-21-ep-33-guest-bar-smith-of-maslow-cnc) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [Ep. 8 - Ryan from V1 Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-11-09-ep-8-ryan-from-v1-engineering) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [STL273: Shaper Origin—Then and Now](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-08-26-stl273-shaper-origin-then-and-now) (Shop Talk Live)

## Citing this page

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