# Ep. 4 - Launching the Longmill - ft. Chris from Sienci Labs

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2023-09-14
- Length: 1h 49m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs
- Listen: https://shows.acast.com/ohm-podcast/episodes/episode-4-scienci

## Summary

Chris Thurlgood, cofounder and CTO of Sienci Labs, explains how he and cofounder Andy built the open source LongMill CNC machine starting from their University of Waterloo student housing. He details the company's journey from two successful Kickstarter campaigns to scaling production, including the critical pivot to the LongMill after a near-bankruptcy caused by poor sales of the original Mill One. Chris also discusses the strategic decision to hire software developers to create G-Cender, an open source G-code sender, to improve the user experience and drive hardware sales.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=0) Introduction: Chris Thurlgood and Sienci Labs
- [2:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=153) Origin Story: University of Waterloo and the First Machine
- [8:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=485) First Kickstarter: Validation and Student Housing Operations
- [21:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=1309) Early Hiring: B.E.T.S. Program and First Full-Time Roles
- [31:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=1872) The Crisis: Sales Slump and Near-Bankruptcy
- [43:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=2581) The Pivot: LongMill Kickstarter and Fulfillment
- [56:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=3402) Scaling Production: Print Farms and Decentralized Packing
- [1:13:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=4429) Software Strategy: Hiring for G-Cender
- [1:25:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=5118) Product Philosophy: Filtering Feedback and Design Choices
- [1:34:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2023-09-14-ep-4-launching-the-longmill-ft-chris-from-sienci-labs#t=5654) Future Plans: New Facility and Custom Router Project

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Sienci Labs (company)
- LongMill (product)
- Mill One (product)
- G-Cender (product)
- Universal G-code Sender (product)
- Ender 3 (product)
- Prusa Mini (product)
- Shapeoko (product)
- Reprap (company)
- Thomas Laderer (other)
- Prentice Marks (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian Reed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-13-s3-e7-building-bootstrapped-hardware-that-sells-with-christian-reed) (The Builder Circle)
- [#032 - Why manufacturing in USA vs China is becoming interesting, with Scott N. Miller of Dragon Innovation, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-07-05-032-why-manufacturing-in-usa-vs-china-is-becoming-interesting-with-scott-n-mille) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Episode 2 - The Hardware Story of Ethereal Machines w/ Kaushik Mudda | Building a Deep tech Mfg company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2024-10-02-episode-2-the-hardware-story-of-ethereal-machines-w-kaushik-mudda-building-a-dee) (The Hardware Story)
- [88: Science Is a Lot Like Quilting](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-02-12-88-science-is-a-lot-like-quilting) (Embedded.fm)
- [62: Ten Years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-10-03-62-ten-years) (Thoroughly Considered)

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