# 083: Benefits of Additive Manufacturing for New Inventions

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2021-07-07
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=0) Introduction: Steve Grundahl and Midwest Prototyping
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=221) Defining Additive Manufacturing vs. Prototyping
- [6:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=403) The Cost-Benefit Analysis: Tooling vs. Additive
- [11:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=687) Using Early Units for Feedback and Validation
- [17:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=1052) Case Study: GoPro Accessories and Pop-Up Manufacturing
- [20:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=1220) Designing for Additive: Geometry and Complexity
- [24:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-07-083-benefits-of-additive-manufacturing-for-new-inventions#t=1454) Strategic Integration: When to Use Additive vs. Injection Molding

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Midwest Prototyping (company)
- 3D Systems (company)
- GoPro (product)
- Shopify (other)
- Kickstarter (other)
- Indiegogo (other)
- Mako Design + Invent (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing with Steve Szymeczek of Penumbra Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-04-02-3d-printing-and-additive-manufacturing-with-steve-szymeczek-of-penumbra-engineer) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Additive Manufacturing (AM): Injecting Agility and Innovation into Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2022-01-25-additive-manufacturing-am-injecting-agility-and-innovation-into-product-developm) (Additive Snack)
- [Building the Future: The Journey of The LEGO Group in AM](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-09-05-building-the-future-the-journey-of-the-lego-group-in-am) (Additive Snack)
- [Implementing Additive Manufacturing and Traditional Manufacturing Processes — Special IMTS Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-01-03-implementing-additive-manufacturing-and-traditional-manufacturing-processes-spec) (Additive Snack)
- [The Pitfalls and Potential of Implementing AM with Joris Peels & Max Bogue of 3DPOD](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2024-11-19-the-pitfalls-and-potential-of-implementing-am-with-joris-peels-max-bogue-of-3dpo) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

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