LEGO vs Injection Molding | 3D Systems CEO Steps Down | AI CAD Advances | Slant 3D Podcast 167
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There is so much about LEGO and 3D printing that we couldn't fit into our original video. In this episode of the Slant 3D Podcast, Gabe goes deeper into LEGO's manufacturing, injection molding, product design, tooling costs, tolerances, surface finish, and what happens when you redesign a LEGO brick specifically for 3D printing.
Could tens of thousands of 3D printers actually compete with LEGO's injection molding infrastructure? We break down the tooling economics, why simply printing an injection-molded design doesn't work, and how designing around additive manufacturing allowed us to create a LEGO-compatible brick with a compliant connection that could actually improve long-term fit.
We also dig into some of injection molding's less-visible limitations, from sprue marks and wear surfaces to why smooth plastic isn't automatically more premium.
Before the LEGO discussion, we cover Jeffrey Graves stepping down as CEO of 3D Systems, Backflip's new AI CAD model, the Smithsonian's downloadable Triceratops scan, OilStick production and Amazon updates, Portals advertising, and improvements to the Slant 3D API.
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00:00 Intro 00:43 Slant 3D API 02:36 3D Systems CEO Steps Down 04:47 Backflip's New AI CAD Model 06:29 Smithsonian Triceratops 3D Scan 07:00 OilStick, Portals & Slant Updates 11:00 API & Brick Maker Updates 13:22 LEGO, 3D Printing & Injection Molding 16:36 Can 3D Printing Compete With Molding? 19:21 Redesigning the LEGO Brick 22:28 Surface Finish & Injection Molding Myths 29:11 Did We Make a Better LEGO? 32:07 The Opportunity in 3D Printing
About Slant 3D
🏭 High-Volume 3D Printing: Scalability Meets Flexibility Slant 3D's Giant 3D Print Farms that utilize 1000's of FDM 3D printers working 24/7 to offer limitless scalability and unparalleled flexibility. Whether it's 100 or 100,000 parts, our system can handle it reliably, while still allowing for real-time design updates, ensuring products evolve with the times. This adaptability is key in today's fast-paced world. We are one of the largest and most reliable 3d print services on the planet.
🌿 Sustainable Manufacturing: Eco-Friendly Efficiency Embrace a system that drastically reduces carbon emissions by eliminating carbon-intensive steps in the supply chain, such as global shipping and warehousing. Our approach minimizes this footprint, offering a more sustainable manufacturing option.
⚙️ Digital Warehouses: Parts On-Demand Think of print farms as a "Digital Warehouse", meaning we can store your parts digitally on a server rather than physically on a shelf. parts are available on-demand, reducing the need for extensive physical inventory.
Produced by Geometry Media #3DPrinting #LEGO #AdditiveManufacturing #InjectionMolding #DesignFor3DPrinting