Inkbit is redefining 3D printing with its cutting-edge, scalable technology, using inkjet-based printing and UV-cured resins to create precise, multi-material parts like overmolds and integrated seals. In this episode, Jon Hirschtick chats with Andre Comella, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Inkbit, about how their innovative process for printing elastomers and lattices is transforming prototyping and production. Andre dives into the challenges of designing for additive manufacturing, the...

Did you know there are robots that make growing food as easy as playing Farmville? FarmBot is an open-source, automated system that operates like a 3D printer for gardens, capable of planting seeds, watering, and monitoring plants autonomously. In this episode, Jon Hirschtick sits down with Rory Aronson, the CEO and founder of Farmbot, to learn of the company’s origins, the challenges of developing such a complex product, the advantages of open-source design, and the impactful app...

Ever see a 3D-printed part that’s so tiny that it’s practically invisible? NanoVoxel, a Vienna-based company specializing in two-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D-printing technology, is pushing the boundaries for how small micro-components for products can be. The company's 2PP technology is so precise, they can create parts as small as a few microns, opening new possibilities for industries ranging from consumer electronics to biomedical devices. In this episode, NanoVoxel founder and C...

Catalyzing change within a company is no easy task, but Mark Lugowski has successfully implemented new systems and processes in several organizations. He improves efficiency and drives innovation in engineering projects by examining how other industries adopt new technologies. As a project manager at HMFT, a provider of industrial-grade pumps, valves, filters, and equipment, Mark leads the value-add engineering department, creating custom fluid handling solutions for different industries incl...

As the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, a leader in manufacturing science and technology research, and a co-founder of multiple successful businesses, Prof. John Hart’s career is an “engineering hat-trick.” His contributions to the trifecta of education, research, and entrepreneurship have earned him numerous industry awards and accolades. Beyond academia, John is the co-founder VulcanForms and Desktop Metal, two disruptive companies shaking up the world of additive ma...

Serial inventor Leigh Christie is well known for his famous side projects such as the MondoSpider, a 1,600-pound steel mechanical spider that’s been featured at Burning Man. His day job is far less menacing, but very impactful in the worlds of engineering, art and design. As the co-founder of MistyWest, a Vancouver-based product development firm, Leigh specializes in turnkey hardware engineering for IoT, ML on the edge, and computer vision. He enjoys bringing people together, whether it's thr...

Not many successful entrepreneurs call their startup “a total accident,” but Christina Perla, Co-Founder and CEO of Makelab, says her on-demand 3D printing company was all serendipity and happenstance, stemming from the start of a design firm. From being the customer herself to starting Makelab, Christina found an opportunity to provide top-tier service paired with on-demand 3D printing. Makelab provides end-to-end, custom 3D printing solutions to consumer and hardware brands, such as Peloton...

Founded in 1902, Massachusetts-based DW Clark has been a leader in casting manufacturing for well over a century. Working with customers from the prototype stage to production runs to meeting emergency shortages, the company continues to evolve with the exploration of new technologies, advanced materials and new processes. DW Clark plays a critical role in the defense, aerospace, turbine engine, energy, processing equipment and shipbuilding industries. In this episode, Jon chats with Jeff Bur...

The fast-food and restaurant industries have worker turnover rates as high as 150%. Daniel Fukuba, co-founder & CTO of California-based Hyphen, is reimagining food service automation – allowing skilled employees to spend less time doing the grunt work. Hyphen is now making automation accessible and cost-effective for restaurants of all sizes. In this episode, Jon chats with Daniel about his vision for the future of kitchen technology, Hyphen's partnership with Chipotle, and how this techn...

In the world of hardware startups, building cutting-edge products comes with a unique set of challenges. Founders sometimes lose sight of their goals by falling in love with their first solution, and not fully focusing on the problem itself. Enter Sera Evcimen, mechanical engineer and founder of Pratik https://www.pratikdev.com, a product development consulting firm devoted to keeping startups away from the “Valley of Death.” In this episode, Jon chats with Sera about her approach to e...

After years of launching products for behemoth brands like Amazon, Caterpillar, Tesla, Carbon and Rivian, Braden Ball discovered that design and manufacturing teams experienced similar bottlenecks for collaboration. He’s now the founder of Threaded, a stealth software startup devoted to making version control and communication easier between multiple product development teams. In this episode, Jon explores Braden's fascinating career journey – from spending nights sleeping in the factory duri...

Forever Oceans is a sustainable fish farming company using innovative technology to generate less waste and impact on the environment while producing tasty and healthier fish in a shorter amount of time. Their approach to restorative aquaculture is revolutionizing the industry, and includes habitats that plunge deeper into the ocean to protect fish during hurricanes. In this episode, Jon chats with Tony White, Director of Innovation at Forever Oceans, who shares how machine learn...

In the DeafBlind community (people who cannot hear or see), only 10 percent are able to communicate through traditional braille, which first requires knowledge of a primary spoken language like English. Most DeafBlind people depend on tactile sign language – holding onto the hand of their communication partner – to talk with others, leaving them totally isolated when interpreters are unavailable. Boston startup Tatum Robotics is developing a humanoid robotic hand (the “Tatum T1”) that i...

Rwanda’s mountainous dirt roads are notoriously dangerous terrain for the country’s farmers, who struggle to get their crops to market before it spoils. UK-based OX Delivers has introduced a fleet of pay-as-you-go rugged trucks that is helping farmers transport their goods quickly, safely and affordably – making local communities more economically sustainable. In this episode, Jon chats to automotive engineers Natalie Dowsett and Kristiana Hamilton about their company’s new electric OX delive...

Does using product development software give you an adrenaline rush? If so, you may want to start competing in Too Tall Toby’s monthly speedmodeling challenges on YouTube. Welcoming users of any CAD system, Toby Schnaars challenges competitors to create the same 3D models as fast as they can without sacrificing accuracy – as he comments on their techniques for a live audience. The winners face off at his annual “World Championship of 3D CAD.” In this episode, Jon explores how the skill...

Seaweed is not only a trendy health food for humans and abundant nourishment for marine life, it’s also a potential tool for reversing climate change. Backed by an XPRIZE Carbon Removal grant, Pull to Refresh is a startup aiming to balance global atmospheric CO2 levels by sinking carbon-rich invasive seaweed to the floor of the deep Atlantic Ocean. In this episode, Jon interviews company co-founders Laurel Tincher and Arin Crumley about their ambitious plans and the science behind usin...

Conventional home construction is typically slow, unpredictable, and expensive. But what if the best practices from auto manufacturing were applied to house building to make the process more efficient? Craig Derian, VP of Engineering at Cover, joins the podcast to explain his company’s mission to radically change the way prefabricated custom homes are built – making them more affordable, while significantly eliminating traditional construction waste. In this episode, Jon explores Craig...

Folding bikes have been around since at least World War I, but Mark Sanders always found modern versions too heavy or clunky for urban commutes. So during his student days at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, he created his own. His eclectic triangular design looked like an art sculpture – and his school project later went into commercial production as the STRiDA (https://www.strida.com/) bike. In this episode, Mark tells Jon how the STRiDA first got manufactured – despit...

Auto safety design expert Byron Bloch has dedicated his 50+ year career to preventing needless injuries and deaths on the roads. He has testified in numerous landmark auto defect cases, specializing in fuel tank fires, truck underride hazards, rollovers and roof crushes, seat backrest collapse, airbags that kill or injure, and school bus hazards. In this episode, Byron shares the most significant auto design defects in history, and tells Jon what manufacturers need to do moving forward...

Behind the scenes, at least seven Major League Baseball teams are training their hitters with intelligent pitching robots. The teams will not go public yet for competitive reasons, but these robots can potentially change the way every professional ballplayer gets ready before a game. Guest Joshua Pope is the co-founder and CEO of Trajekt Sports, creator of the first pitching machine that uses advanced robotics and AI to recreate any pitch imaginable in the exact style and delivery matching in...