The Promise of 3D Printing – Disruptive Technology that Re-imagines the Future

Almost overnight, garage tinkerers and back-room hobbyists are beginning to produce objects that makes Star Trek a reality show.

Over the past few years, a “perfect storm” of converging technologies has been brewing, rapidly opening up a lot of potential new applications. Manufacturers can provide you with a template where you can print a broken part of a machinery, let’s say, a screw, rather than order then wait for a replacement to come in. Imagine building a model replica of an expensive car, like a 1960 Aston Martin DB5 in a 1:3 scale then crash and burn it for entertainment, like how the makers of the James Bond flick, Skyfall did.

Build everything from sterling silver jewelry to the world's tiniest Rubik's cube. Some companies are connecting the latest neuro technological equipment- like brain-computer interfaces- with 3D printing technology, creating software that makes it possible for someone wearing an electroencephalography (EEG) headset to picture an object in his or her mind and have that object printed in 3D. Surgeons can also plan a surgery on a printed model before the real patient goes under the knife.

Operating systems like Windows have built-in support for 3D printing. Startups are going to enable wireless 3D printing from Android and iOS devices.

In San Francisco, we live in a technological Garden of Eden. We are assembling a cast of amazing speakers that will give you insight about the opportunities in this brave new world – a world where the reality of making something is just a mouse click away.

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Name

Ted Larson

Title

Founder, Entrepreneur

3D Printing – Robots That Can Make Robots.

3D Printing is quickly taking off as the preferred method for rapid prototyping of new products, and is turning DIY individuals into the next generation of product designers. This talk will give the audience an overview of the various printing technologies, all the way from the insanely expensive, down to the cheapest hobby printers on the market. There will be lots of 3D print samples to see, and I will even bring along a heavily modified hobby-grade 3D printer to make some plastic parts live!

Bio

Ted Larson is a computer software and electronics expert with 25+ years of experience designing and building commercial software applications. Ted is currently the CEO of OLogic, an embedded electronics research and design firm. Prior to OLogic, Ted founded an internet software company called the Urbanite Network, a web server content publishing platform for media customers, grew the company to over 70 employees, and raised over $10 million in private equity and venture capital. Prior to Urbanite, Ted held positions at Hewlett-Packard, Iomega, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Ted has both a BS and MS in computer science from Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo.

OLogic is an embedded systems R&D company with a focus on robotic applications, and bringing robotic technologies to life in toys, and consumer electronics. Through cutting edge OEM technologies, and service, OLogic brings client products to market quicker and at lower cost than in-house development. OLogic is currently working with clients across a wide-spectrum of application domains such as, consumer electronics, toys, medical products, defense, and education.

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Name

Jeff McAlvay

Title

Founder

Abstract

Desktop Electronics Manufacturing
Desktop manufacturing makes iteration fast and accessible for designers designers and engineers. The transition from punch-card driven mainframe to personal computers revolutionized software development. The transition we're beginning to see from machine shops to 3D printers is revolutionizing mechanical design. We are working on bringing this same capability to electronics. I will discuss how I went from being an observer to the 3D printing movement to an entrepreneur as well as discussing our vision for the future of electronics manufacturing.

Bio

Previously, Jeff worked in industrial supply company McMaster-Carr's leadership development program. There, his roles included warehouse operations design, sales, and product management. He currently runs the Bay Area Factory Tours Meetup group, and coordinates office hours that connect hardware startups with industry experts.

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Name

Espen Sivertsen

Title

CEO

Abstract

Desktop 3D printing: what's next?

This is a deep dive into the realm of possibility - from the perspective of someone leading the charge. By exploring the current bottle necks, limitations and challenges, as well as emerging technology and trends, it is possible to gain a rough understanding of the next 6-8 months in 3D printing. Looking further ahead, we can already now see complementary hardware and software technologies that are combining to create a future with deep-seated socio economic implications. What's next, and how will you be impacted? I'm willing to take a shot at answering this.

Bio

Espen Sivertsen is the CEO of Type A Machines, a San Francisco based desktop 3D printer manufacturer. Since their inception in January 2012, Type A has helped their community of Engineers, Designers, Architects, Educators, Students and Makers build great things. A recent addition to the bay area, Espen spent the last couple of years in Denmark as a Team Leader with the award winning international school of leadership and entrepreneurship known as the KaosPilots. Prior to this, he worked as Head of Demolab at Innovation Lab. iLab is an international knowledge center for new technologies and trends.

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Name

Danielle Applestone, PhD

Title

CEO & Co-founder, Other Machine Company

Abstract

Desktop CNC and Our Future: three questions

What happens when every child grows up using desktop CNC (computer numerically controlled) machines, and factories are filled with robots that equalize the cost of labor worldwide? Can we envision economies where it is more efficient and cost effective to walk down to your local circuit shop and pick up a custom board, rather than buying one from across the ocean? What are the barriers to local manufacturing of household goods and appliances? I don't know what the answers are, but I have some ideas, and I'm excited to start a conversation.

Bio

Danielle is a cofounder of Other Machine Company, a San Francisco-based manufacturer of desktop CNC machines. Armed with an advanced degree in chemical engineering and a software programming hobby, Danielle cofounded her first company in 2003. Following

her PhD in materials science on battery materials at the University of Texas at Austin, Danielle went on to run a DARPA-funded education project to develop digital design and CNC manufacturing tools for the classroom. Danielle is particularly passionate about education, fostering work-based apprenticeship programs, and encouraging the development of businesses that provide relevant and meaningful mentorship for the future workforce in both urban and rural areas.

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Name

Emmett Lalish

Title

Engineer / Artist

Abstract

Windows 3D Print Pipeline

3D printers are finally making their way out of engineering labs and into homes, and while the cost of the printers have come down dramatically, the software still lacks the simplicity and ease of use that consumers expect. Our team at Microsoft is starting to address this problem by supporting desktop 3D printers natively in Windows 8.1. We’ve created an SDK and an API and we’re working with hardware partners to help them create plug and play drivers. Software developers can now tap into a File -> Print experience for 3D printing. I’ll talk about the many challenges that still lie ahead in making a simple, robust printing experience for the masses.

Bio

Emmett is an aerospace engineer, whose hobby for the last few years has been 3D printing and design ( http://www.thingiverse.com/emmett ). A couple months ago his hobby became his career when he joined Microsoft’s 3D printing team in the Startup Business Group. Now he works to make 3D printing faster, easier and more accurate for the consumer market. His previous career stemmed from his doctorate in control theory and involved designing unmanned vehicles at a small company for DARPA.

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Questions/Comments

You can email the co-organizer, Bruno Terkaly, at [masked].

You can also call me at[masked]

We are looking for food sponsors!

I want to personally thank Andra Keay ( [masked] ) of Silicon Valley Robotics. She's been helping tremendously.