# Riley Knox: Smart Factories, 3D Printing, Adv. Manufacturing, and Elon Musk | Hard Tech Podcast #10

- Show: [Hard Tech Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast)
- Published: 2023-08-13
- Length: 1h 15m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech
- Listen: https://rss.com/podcasts/hardtechpodcast/1073885

## Summary

Riley Knox, co-founder and CEO of Accelerate 3D, discusses his background in mechanical engineering and the development of smart factories that integrate 3D printing with automation. He contrasts the unproven economics of concrete 3D printing with the efficiency of robotic brick-laying systems like FBR, while arguing that additive manufacturing offers a viable path for small-to-medium batch production by eliminating mold costs. The conversation also covers the strategic importance of reshoring advanced manufacturing to the US, the limitations of hardware accelerators, and the polarizing influence of Elon Musk on public perception of hard tech.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=3) Introduction: Riley Knox and Accelerate 3D
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=168) Riley Knox's Engineering Background and First Company
- [5:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=345) 3D Printed Food and Lab-Grown Meat
- [12:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=772) 3D Printed Houses: Concrete vs. Robotic Bricklaying
- [22:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=1342) 3D Printing for Medium-Batch Production and Supply Chain
- [36:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=2198) Reshoring Advanced Manufacturing to the US
- [46:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=2778) Hardware Accelerators: Techstars and HAX
- [58:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=3480) Elon Musk's Influence on Hard Tech Perception
- [1:06:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-13-riley-knox-smart-factories-3d-printing-adv-manufacturing-and-elon-musk-hard-tech#t=3977) Austin Hardware Happy Hour and Community Building

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Accelerate 3D (company)
- FBR (company)
- Icon (company)
- Techstars (company)
- HAX (company)
- Tesla (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Vada Industries (company)
- Underwriters Laboratory (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Hard Truths About Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Eddy Azad](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-04-21-the-hard-truths-about-reshoring-american-manufacturing-w-eddy-azad) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Additive Economics: Reshoring, Risk & Revenue in Additive Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2025-04-29-additive-economics-reshoring-risk-revenue-in-additive-manufacturing) (Additive Snack)
- [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)
- [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)
- [Ep038: Cyberdecks, Resin 3D-Printing vs FDM, Silicone Injection Molding, the Pickle Fork Fiasco](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-10-04-ep038-cyberdecks-resin-3d-printing-vs-fdm-silicone-injection-molding-the-pickle) (Hackaday Podcast)

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