# An interview with Ariel Briner of Cartesian Co

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2015-07-30
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 260
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/260-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co/

## Summary

Chris Briner, co-founder of Cartesian Co, explains how his company created the Argentum, a desktop circuit board printer that uses modified HP inkjet cartridges to print conductive silver traces via a two-part chemical reaction. He details the challenges of scaling production from a Kickstarter campaign, including managing the shelf life of corrosive silver nitrate and ascorbic acid inks, and the technical hurdles of achieving industry-standard resolution and multi-layer capabilities. Briner also discusses the company's move from Australia to Brooklyn to be near the 3D printing hub, their bootstrapping philosophy, and the regulatory landscape for startup fundraising.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=0) Introduction and Company Background
- [2:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=154) Moving to Brooklyn and the 3D Printing Ecosystem
- [6:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=364) The Argentum Printer and Kickstarter Success
- [7:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=475) Scaling Production and Ink Cartridge Challenges
- [9:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=574) Two-Part Silver Ink Chemistry vs. Nanoparticles
- [18:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=1084) Competitors: AGIC, Volterra, and Voxelate
- [21:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=1281) Substrate Compatibility and Solderability
- [30:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=1841) Bootstrapping and Startup Culture
- [45:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=2709) Future Tech: Multi-layering and Selective Insulation
- [55:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-30-an-interview-with-ariel-briner-of-cartesian-co#t=3330) Delaware Incorporation and SEC Regulations

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cartesian Co (company)
- Argentum (product)
- MakerBot (company)
- Formlabs (company)
- Sols (company)
- Shapeways (company)
- HP (company)
- Canon (company)
- DuPont (company)
- Mitsubishi (company)
- Method (company)
- AGIC (company)
- Volterra (company)
- Voxelate (company)
- Eagle (tool)
- Altium (tool)

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- [44: Light Up Strikes Back](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-03-26-44-light-up-strikes-back) (Embedded.fm)
- [512: What if I Didn't Stop?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-10-16-512-what-if-i-didnt-stop) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep008: The Art Episode: Joe Kim, Strings And CRTs, Hydrogen Done 2-Ways](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-01-ep008-the-art-episode-joe-kim-strings-and-crts-hydrogen-done-2-ways) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [389: Blobs Are Not Stressful](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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