S2 E5: Rapid Prototyping Deep Dive with Greg Paulsen
Greg Paulsen, Director of Applications, Engineering and Marketing at Xometry, discusses the complexities of rapid prototyping and the transition to mass production. He details the pros and cons of various 3D printing technologies, including filament-based FDM, powder bed fusion (SLS, MJF), and resin-based methods (SLA, DLS), explaining how each affects design constraints and scalability. Paulsen highlights common hardware horror stories, such as designing for 3D printing without considering injection molding requirements, leading to prohibitive costs and tooling issues. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication with manufacturers and using AI-driven tools to optimize designs for manufacturability early in the process.