Hardware Podcasts

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing with Steve Szymeczek of Penumbra Engineering

Predictable Designs Podcast · 2 Apr 2020 · 1h 05m · Episode 14

What this episode covers

Steve Szymeczek of Penumbra Engineering explains the practical applications of additive manufacturing for low-to-medium volume production, contrasting it with traditional injection molding. He details the cost-effectiveness of technologies like FDM and HP Multi-Jet Fusion for startups needing 100 to 10,000 units, emphasizing the importance of designing for injection molding even when using 3D printing for prototyping. Szymeczek also discusses the benefits of distributed manufacturing, material limitations, and the role of generative design in creating complex, value-added parts.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Penumbra Engineering, HP, Stratasys, 3D Systems, Formlabs, Autodesk, Perceptive Sensor Technologies, Carbon 3D
Products
Adidas Future Craft
Also
FDM, Multi-Jet Fusion, Stereolithography, Cast Polyurethane

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Product Startup · 30m

    083: Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for New Inventions

    Steve Grundahl, founder of Midwest Prototyping, explains how additive manufacturing enables 'pop-up manufacturing' for startups, allowing them to produce small batches without the high capital risk of injection molding tooling. He argues that early production runs should be viewed as a feedback mechanism rather than a profit center, using real user data to validate demand before committing to expensive tooling. Grundahl highlights that additive manufacturing allows for complex geometries and rapid design iteration, making it ideal for products with short life cycles or frequent updates, such as GoPro accessories.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIScaling production
    7 chapters

  • Product Startup · 18m

    193: 3D Printing Overview for New Inventions

    Andre Tiemann, Director of Production at Hot Pop Factory, explains how 3D printing serves as a critical tool for hardware startups across three stages: rough ideation, engineering prototyping, and short-run manufacturing. He details the evolution of materials from early ABS to modern engineering-grade plastics like Nylon and Rigid 10K, and contrasts processes like FDM, SLA, and SLS. Tiemann emphasizes that using additive manufacturing for low-volume production (50-500 units) de-risks product launches by allowing market validation and customer feedback before committing to expensive injection molding tooling.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    5 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 41m

    S1E53 Production Manufacturing with HP’s Multijet Fusion 3D Printer | Jacob Moss

    Jacob Moss, Director of Sales and Marketing at Athena 3D Manufacturing, explains how HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology enables low-volume production of complex parts without the tooling costs of injection molding. He details the powder-based process, which fuses material in all three axes to create isotropic parts, and highlights its suitability for producing hundreds to thousands of units. Moss contrasts MJF with FDM and SLS technologies, noting its speed, material options like nylon and TPU, and the importance of designing for density to manage thermal constraints. He also discusses the business case for using MJF as a bridge between prototyping and full-scale manufacturing, emphasizing cost savings on hidden supply chain expenses like mold storage and setup fees.

    Materials & manufacturing processesDesign for manufacturing & NPI
    8 chapters

  • The Builder Circle · 1h 06m

    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.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    8 chapters

  • Additive Snack · 18m

    Implementing Additive Manufacturing and Traditional Manufacturing Processes — Special IMTS Edition

    Rich Stump, co-founder and CCO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing, discusses the company's hybridized manufacturing approach, which integrates additive technologies with traditional processes like injection molding and CNC machining. He highlights a specific project where his team produced 20,000 parts in 27 days using 12 different manufacturing processes to meet a Fortune 10 company's tight timeline. Stump emphasizes that additive manufacturing serves as an enabling tool for rapid prototyping, validation builds, and digital warehousing rather than a direct competitor to conventional methods. He also outlines Fathom's strategy post-IPO, focusing on software integration, capacity expansion, and changing customer mindsets through education and tangible project results.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIManufacturing partners & offshoring
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Predictable Designs Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.