# 150. Ed Mehr & Machina’s Robot Army Transform Manufacturing (Interview)

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-11-28
- Length: 1h 13m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview-lX3ieVLD

## Summary

Ed Mehr, CEO and founder of Machina Labs, explains how his background in software and hands-on sheet metal shaping led to the creation of a robotic system that forms metal with AI-driven precision. He details the limitations of traditional die-based manufacturing and additive manufacturing, positioning Machina’s technology as a flexible, agile alternative for low-to-medium volume production. The conversation covers the technical 'secret sauce' of using empirical data and neural networks to predict springback, enabling millimeter-accurate forming of difficult alloys like titanium without expensive tooling.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=0) Introduction: Ed Mehr and Machina Labs
- [1:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=84) Ed’s Nontraditional Education and Early Career
- [8:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=500) Manufacturing Constraints at SpaceX and Relativity
- [14:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=864) The Limits of Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace
- [20:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=1216) Founding Machina and the Agile Manufacturing Platform
- [23:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=1424) The Secret Sauce: AI and Empirical Modeling for Accuracy
- [34:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=2058) AI Robots Revolutionizing Sheet Metal Forming
- [44:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=2686) Impact on Defense, Automotive, and Future Manufacturing
- [50:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=3013) The Future of Machina and Ed’s Role as CEO
- [1:00:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview#t=3605) Advice for Aspiring Founders and Technologists

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Machina Labs (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Relativity Space (company)
- Google (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Ford (company)
- Boeing (company)
- NASA (company)
- Kuka (company)
- FANUC (company)
- Novellas (company)
- Falcon 9 (product)
- Starship (product)
- F-35 (product)
- Invisalign (product)
- Zometry (company)
- Rivian (company)
- F-150 (product)
- Honda Civic (product)
- Tesla Model S (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 160: Robotic blacksmiths - Edward Mehr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-12-episode-160-robotic-blacksmiths-edward-mehr) (Robot Talk)
- [Ed Mehr on Transforming Manufacturing at Machina Labs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-03-13-ed-mehr-on-transforming-manufacturing-at-machina-labs) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The inside scoop on food manufacturing with Chef Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-05-31-the-inside-scoop-on-food-manufacturing-with-chef-robotics) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Zane Hengsperger (Founder/CEO, Nox Metals)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-03-25-zane-hengsperger-founder-ceo-nox-metals) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [Electronica 24: The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics at Fideltronik and Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-09-electronica-24-the-rise-of-ai-powered-robotics-at-fideltronik-and-beyond) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-28-150-ed-mehr-machinas-robot-army-transform-manufacturing-interview. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Next Byte Podcast.