Max Lobovsky
Co-founder of Formlabs
Discussion
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
Hey, I’m Max Lobovsky, co-founder of Formlabs. We design and manufacture powerful and accessible 3D printing systems for engineers, designers, and artists. Earlier this week, we launched Form 2, our second-generation high-resolution, desktop stereolithography 3D printer. Founded in 2012, Formlabs had launched our very first printer back then via a record-breaking $2.8 million Kickstarter campaign (it was the highest backed tech campaign at the time). Today, Formlabs has grown into an industry leader in desktop 3D printing with international operations.
I’m a graduate of the Center for Bits and Atoms at the MIT Media Lab where I graduated with a Master of Science. I hold a Bachelor of Science in applied engineering and physics from Cornell, where I led Fab@Home, one of the earliest open-source 3D printing projects.
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Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
What are your thoughts on Kanye's recent objections to 3D printing in fashion? Do you think it has a place in the garment/fashion world?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@andrewmettinger That's dope, I like robots too. http://www.3ders.org/articles/20...
Shaun Modi
@shaunmodi · Designing for Product Hunt and TM
What’s the most far-reaching idea that’s come through the offices at Formlabs for something to print?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@shaunmodi This guy printed an entire stop motion animation out of 2500 separate parts! http://www.chasemefilm.com/
Erik Torenberg
@eriktorenberg · Former Product Hunt
Furthermore, what is the biggest misconception people have about 3d printing?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@eriktorenberg That 3D printing is a way to make anything. 3D printing is one (or actually a group) out of many dozens of different ways to make things. 3D printing isn't always (or even usually) the right choice. It's the right choice when you want to make many lots of different models, not many of one.
Alastair Goldfisher
@agoldfisher · polygold13
Do you see the price of 3D technology ever coming down or will printers remain in the few-thousand dollar range?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@agoldfisher The price will definitely come down, but there is usually a sweet spot for a given product. There are smartphones that only cost $100, but most people find it doesn't make sense and prefer phones in the $500 range. I think that a few thousand dollars will continue to be the sweet spot for desktop printers. At least until they stop improving by leaps and bounds, but I can promise that won't change any time soon :)
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
@maxlobovsky Hi! Thanks for joining us today. What do you see as the future of 3D printing? What have we not seen yet, and what other industries will this technology be the most useful for in the future?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@ems_hodge Hi Emily! I think 3D printing is in the middle of an amazing renaissance. We will see great progress in materials (especially metals), multi material printing, faster, bigger, higher resolution etc. But, I think the bigger change will come from making 3D printing more accessible. If you look at the number of things that can benefit from 3D printing vs the number of things that actually use it, there is huge potential if you can work on cost, ease of use, etc
Andrew Ettinger
@andrewett · Product Marketing, Twitter (ex-PH)
@maxlobovsky What is the most popular item you print at Formlabs?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@andrewmettinger Well we print thousands of our free sample part (a chess rook). But everyone is printing different things for themselves. Jewelry, figurines, parts for DIY/electronics products
Erik Torenberg
@eriktorenberg · Former Product Hunt
What advice do you have to yourself 5 yrs ago ?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@eriktorenberg Take extra time before shipping to get it right (even if you are already late). Build a dedicated manufacturing team earlier.
Kate
@katesegrin · Community @ Product Hunt
What are some of your personal goals for this coming year, @maxlobovsky?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@katesegrin First, get some rest :) I just moved into a new house, got married, and launched the Form 2 in 60 days. But after that, it will be great to get back to exploring new product ideas. We've built up a long backlog of things to look at
Kate
@katesegrin · Community @ Product Hunt
@maxlobovsky congrats! Do you and your team put a high value on work / life balance?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@katesegrin Few of us are working a 9-5 job here, but I don't think you can be leading in your industry without people working really hard. We've got a very tight-knit group that spends a lot of time together outside of work as well. I don't think we'd be as good at what we do if we didn't have that.
Jacqueline von Tesmar
@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻
Do you imagine parents will ever have a digital printer in their homes to print toys, rather than go out and buy them? How far off is something like that?
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@jacqvon Jacq, I think it's definitely possible, but a thing that prints toys is just a toy and I don't think that will be the most exciting part of 3D printing's future.
Jacqueline von Tesmar
@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻
@maxlobovsky @jacqvon Oooo! What do you think will be? The jewelry is definitely amazing.
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
I'm more interested in the idea that 3D printing could be printing functional things at home (replacing some of what Amazon, etc can deliver).
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Maxim Lobovsky
@maxlobovsky
@jacqvon Jewelry is a pretty awesome use case for 3D printing. I've bought my wife several pieces from Nervous System @nervous_system. They have some pretty awesome online customization tools.