Additive Snack

EOS

Join host Fabian Alefeld and a range of guests as they discuss all things additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing news, with interviews and real-world stories to educate and entertain. Each episode, Fabian talks to AM experts, professionals in specialist fields, and 3D printing users from all walks of life to deliver a well-rounded view on the state of AM. Cut through the confusion surrounding polymer and metal additive manufacturing solutions with our digestible, down-to-earth discussions that deliver insights into common mistakes and best practice tips so you can get a clear understanding of AM — layer for layer. Whether you’re curious about 3D printing technology for the aerospace industry, a deep dive into post processing, or applications of injection molding — we leave no spare parts behind. We want to provide you with the additive insight needed to stay laser focused and leverage every opportunity 3D printing materials have to offer. Join us for an Additive Snack and we’ll help you and your business achieve growth and success through the latest developments in AM. No marketing B.S. and no product pitches. Just the education, inspiration and information you and your organization need to drive business growth, brought to you by global AM leader EOS. Get ready to feed your AM knowledge and find your path to success!

  1. From Fashion to Metal AM: Scaling Additive Manufacturing into Production

    2D AGO

    From Fashion to Metal AM: Scaling Additive Manufacturing into Production

    Host Fabian Alefeld interviews Erin Mastroni, President and founder of I3D Manufacturing (founded 2013), about building one of the largest additive-focused contract manufacturers and the industry’s shift from prototyping to production. Mastroni describes moving from fashion retail and trend forecasting to an MBA in sustainable business, spotting production AM as a key trend, and launching a metal powder bed fusion business in Oregon with limited traditional manufacturing experience. She recounts early funding challenges, using SBA/New Market Tax Credits, and landing Blue Origin as an early customer, which helped establish I3D as a fast-moving development partner known for tackling difficult materials like titanium and new nickel alloys with EOS. I3D grew from 5 people and two machines to two campuses, ~30 machines, and 54 employees, is launching an internal “I3D Academy,” navigated a severe COVID revenue drop without layoffs, and was acquired in 2023 by BTX Precision (L Squared Partners), expanding into turnkey CNC and broader capabilities while discussing PE’s role, production scalability, and emerging AI opportunities. 00:00 Podcast welcome 01:47 Fashion to additive 04:27 Funding and mission 06:52 Blue Origin breakthrough 08:27 Becoming a dev partner 12:19 I3D today scale 15:29 Growing talent academy 17:05 Growth phases and pandemic 20:22 Acquisition and turnkey expansion 22:06 Private equity tipping point 27:43 Private Equity Momentum 28:41 Flow Driven Applications 32:54 Supply Chain Use Cases 35:12 Scaling Production Know How 40:21 One Stop Shop Strategy 43:14 Customers Get Smarter 47:31 Next Wave Breakthroughs 53:03 AI In Additive Manufacturing 57:25 Closing Thanks

    59 min
  2. AI Update in Additive Manufacturing: Design, Process, Workforce and Industry impact

    MAR 4

    AI Update in Additive Manufacturing: Design, Process, Workforce and Industry impact

    Fabian Alefeld hosts Duann Scott on the Editor Snack podcast to discuss how AI is evolving in additive manufacturing, moving from “AI-washing” and impractical text-to-mesh hype toward more capable tools using language models, visual language models, surrogate models, and emerging foundational models. Scott describes testing tools by trying to make them fail and highlights a recent success with the Raven plugin for Rhino/Grasshopper, which generated a parametric VESA mount and tripod adapter from minimal prompts, then iteratively added fillets and an isogrid structure and produced a printable part within hours. They discuss constraints like missing engineering training data and design intent, the promise of AI for toolpath and process optimization (including transfer of parameter knowledge across materials), and the role of the 3MF format in capturing toolpath and metadata to enable richer, searchable datasets. Scott previews CDFAM events in Barcelona, DC, and Tokyo and emphasizes that progress requires significant data work and investment.     00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro   02:18 AI Hype to Real Progress   04:13 Testing AI Design Tools   04:46 Data Gaps and Design Intent   07:15 Two Paths for AI Design   10:15 Raven Grasshopper Breakthrough   13:17 Pushing Parametric Complexity   20:28 Limits of Black Box Optimization   22:40 Toolpath and Material Transfer   26:18 Alloy Discovery and Qualification   28:05 3MF Role Teaser   28:18 3MF Format Overview   29:17 Smarter Toolpath Extensions   32:31 Metadata for AI Training   35:43 Data Ownership and Synthetic Data   39:59 AI Impact on Additive   44:10 Workforce and Reshoring   47:22 What Is CDFAM   49:49 CDFAM Audience and Format   51:43 DC Event and Government   54:05 Wrap Up and Thanks

    57 min
  3. Beyond the Printer: Automation’s Role in the Next Generation of AM

    JAN 27

    Beyond the Printer: Automation’s Role in the Next Generation of AM

    In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld is joined by Oliver Elbert, Head of Additive Manufacturing at Grenzebach, to discuss the pivotal role of automation in scaling additive manufacturing. They delve into Grenzebach’s extensive expertise in industrial automation and its recent ventures into additive manufacturing. The conversation covers the challenges and benefits of automating post-processing tasks, increasing equipment efficiency, and optimizing labor dynamics. They also explore notable projects like the Next Gen AM and the Polyline project, highlighting how automation can significantly enhance production availability and reduce manual intervention. Oliver provides insights into the integration of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robots, and job exchangers in additive manufacturing, and discusses the future potential of fully automated production environments.   00:00 Introduction to Additive Snack Podcast   00:18 The Challenge of Automating Additive Manufacturing   01:07 Introducing Grenzebach and Oliver Elbert   02:22 History and Evolution of Grenzebach   06:33 Grenzebach’s Entry into Additive Manufacturing   08:31 The Slow Adoption of Automation in Additive Manufacturing   14:34 The Dual Setup Station and Its Impact   19:25 Automation Solutions for Various Industries   23:52 The Future of Automation in Additive Manufacturing   24:48 Challenges and Opportunities in Automation   34:13 The Role of Humanoids in Industrial AM   36:20 Conclusion and Future Outlook

    38 min
  4. How AM is Supporting the Grid

    JAN 22

    How AM is Supporting the Grid

    In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld welcomes Kristin Mulherin, the Director of Additive Manufacturing Technology at Hubbell Inc., to discuss the creation and development of an additive manufacturing center of excellence within a 150-year-old corporation. Kristin shares her extensive journey through various roles in the additive industry, from Northrop Grumman to HP, and her significant input in initiatives like Women in 3D Printing. She discusses Hubbell's historical background and the strategic decisions behind establishing the AM center, including technology choices, cost management, and internal education to drive innovation.     The episode covers specific applications, the challenges of shifting from prototyping to production, and the importance of cross-departmental education within the company to leverage the full potential of additive manufacturing.    00:00 Introduction to the Additive Snack Podcast    01:40 Meet Kristen Mulherin: A Journey in Additive Manufacturing    05:07 Kristen's Role at Hubbell Inc. and Industry Insights    06:11 Women in 3D Printing and Leadership    07:46 Building Hubbell Inc.’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence    15:25 Technology Stack and Future Plans at Hubbell    19:30 Exploring New Opportunities in Additive Manufacturing    21:38 Balancing Cost and Lead Time in Additive Manufacturing    22:08 Value Drivers in Additive Manufacturing

    38 min
  5. Policy, Innovation & Defense Additive Manufacturing: A Deep Dive with America Makes - Part 1

    12/16/2025

    Policy, Innovation & Defense Additive Manufacturing: A Deep Dive with America Makes - Part 1

    In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld is joined by Kimberly Gibson from America Makes for the first part of a two-part series focusing on the advancements and policy drivers in additive manufacturing in the U.S. Kimberly dives into the history and mission of America Makes, provides insights on policy innovation, industrial resilience, and how these factors are converging to reshape U.S. and global manufacturing landscapes.  Highlighting the critical roles of workforce development, digital manufacturing, and ecosystem integration, Kimberly also discusses the importance of diversifying the industrial base's focus beyond defense and shares updates on current legislative initiatives like the National Defense Authorization Act. Don't miss this in-depth discussion on the transformative potential of additive manufacturing. 00:30 Meet Kimberly Gibson and Ed Herrick from America Makes 01:26 Kimberly's Journey and the Evolution of America Makes 03:35 The Role of America Makes in US Manufacturing 06:28 Challenges and Opportunities in Additive Manufacturing 11:49 The Importance of Digital Manufacturing and Cybersecurity 19:22 Government's Role in Accelerating Additive Manufacturing 25:07 Diversifying Beyond Defense Contracts 28:54 Congress Signals Support for Advanced Manufacturing 29:33 Senate Bill 2214 and the Additive Industry 31:44 Challenges in the Additive Manufacturing Sector 33:41 Right to Repair and Sustainment Issues 35:53 Unprecedented Demand for Additive Manufacturing 37:54 Additive Manufacturing in Various Sectors 43:39 Energy Sector and Additive Manufacturing 46:32 Additive Construction and Future Prospects 49:14 Teaming and Collaboration Opportunities 50:23 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

    55 min
  6. AM in Turbomachinery: Deep dive in Applications, Materials, Production & Qualification

    12/09/2025

    AM in Turbomachinery: Deep dive in Applications, Materials, Production & Qualification

    In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld delves into the technically demanding world of gas turbines with Dr. Ilya Fedorov, an R&D project manager at Siemens Energy. The discussion covers the transformative impact of additive manufacturing on turbo machinery, touching on innovations in combustion systems, turbine blades, and repair processes.  Dr. Fedorov explains how Siemens Energy harnesses additive manufacturing to improve performance, strengthen supply chains, and embrace green fuels like hydrogen. The episode also explores the rigorous qualification processes for additive components, the development of new materials, and the potential future advancements in the sector. Long-Term Lifetime Validation of Hot Turbine Guide Vanes Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion | J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power | ASME Digital Collection 00:00 Introduction to Additive Manufacturing in Gas Turbines 01:47 Ilya Fedorov's Journey into Additive Manufacturing 05:00 The Light Bulb Moment: Realizing Additive's Potential 09:49 Siemens Energy's Additive Manufacturing Strategy 15:03 Challenges and Innovations in Gas Turbine Environments 19:25 Additive Manufacturing Applications in Gas Turbines 25:11 Repair and Longevity of Gas Turbine Components 36:52 Qualification and Testing of Additive Components 44:57 Materials and Process Development in Additive Manufacturing 49:39 Future Directions and Challenges in Additive Manufacturing 59:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    1h 1m

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Join host Fabian Alefeld and a range of guests as they discuss all things additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing news, with interviews and real-world stories to educate and entertain. Each episode, Fabian talks to AM experts, professionals in specialist fields, and 3D printing users from all walks of life to deliver a well-rounded view on the state of AM. Cut through the confusion surrounding polymer and metal additive manufacturing solutions with our digestible, down-to-earth discussions that deliver insights into common mistakes and best practice tips so you can get a clear understanding of AM — layer for layer. Whether you’re curious about 3D printing technology for the aerospace industry, a deep dive into post processing, or applications of injection molding — we leave no spare parts behind. We want to provide you with the additive insight needed to stay laser focused and leverage every opportunity 3D printing materials have to offer. Join us for an Additive Snack and we’ll help you and your business achieve growth and success through the latest developments in AM. No marketing B.S. and no product pitches. Just the education, inspiration and information you and your organization need to drive business growth, brought to you by global AM leader EOS. Get ready to feed your AM knowledge and find your path to success!

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