The Shape of Metal: How Desktop Metal Took 3D Printing from Sci-Fi to Reality

TL;DR

Desktop Metal's team of world-class metallurgists from MIT and their accessible metal 3D printing technology have propelled them to become a leader in the industry, with the vision to revolutionize manufacturing with Additive Manufacturing 2.0.

Transcript

rick it's really great to have you here today uh you and i have known each other back since i was an entrepreneur pitching you for an investing round uh and four years ago gv led your series c financing it's one of the things that really caught my eye when we first started chatting about desktop metal uh was the team you assembled you have world-cl... Read More

Key Insights

• 😤 Desktop Metal's success can be attributed to the expertise and collaboration of their team, which includes MIT professors and individuals who have previously worked together.
• 🤘 The Studio System made metal 3D printing accessible and affordable, revolutionizing the industry and enabling global adoption.
• 🧑‍🏫 Entrepreneurial lessons taught Desktop Metal that patience is required, as things often take longer and cost more, but the exponential growth potential is well worth it.
• 😘 Additive Manufacturing 2.0 represents the shift towards using additive manufacturing for mass production at a lower cost than conventional methods, leading to broader market penetration.
• 🌐 The additive manufacturing industry has experienced significant growth and is projected to continue expanding rapidly, although it still represents a small fraction of global manufacturing.
• 😘 Additive manufacturing offers numerous benefits, including reduced inventory, freedom of design, improved product performance, and a lower carbon footprint.
• 💆 Desktop Metal's product platforms, such as the Shop System, have the potential for mass-market adoption due to their cost-effectiveness and wide applicability.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Desktop Metal convince early customers that their Studio System was the future of metal 3D printing?

Desktop Metal made metal 3D printing accessible by reducing the cost and complexity associated with traditional methods, allowing customers to print metal parts anywhere. Their system simplified the process by taking care of all the necessary considerations for successful metal printing.

Q: What are some of the key lessons learned by Desktop Metal in their entrepreneurial journey?

One major lesson is that everything takes longer and costs more than anticipated. However, with experience comes better judgment. They also discovered that while progress may seem slow at first, there is an exponential element that can lead to rapid growth, as seen in their expanding product platforms.

Q: What is Additive Manufacturing 2.0, and how does it differ from Additive Manufacturing 1.0?

Additive Manufacturing 2.0 refers to the shift from primarily using additive manufacturing for tooling, jigs, fixtures, and prototyping (Additive Manufacturing 1.0) to now being able to mass produce parts at a lower cost structure than conventional manufacturing. It allows for major capital spend in a program and drives the industry towards broader adoption.

Q: How has the additive manufacturing industry evolved over the years?

The additive manufacturing industry has experienced significant growth, compounding at a rate of 20% in the last decade. It is projected to continue growing at a similar rate, reaching a market size of $146 billion by the end of this decade. Despite this growth, additive manufacturing still represents a fraction of the $12 trillion global manufacturing market.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Desktop Metal assembled a team of MIT professors and talented individuals who had worked together before, resulting in a group of people with diverse skill sets.

• They introduced the Studio System, making metal 3D printing accessible and affordable, unlike the expensive and complex traditional methods.

• Over the past five years, Desktop Metal has learned valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, realizing that things take longer and cost more, but the exponential growth potential is worth it.