Additive Snack

In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld interviews Alex Oster, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Autodesk. The conversation spans Alex's journey from his early career in 1998 in Bavaria to his current influential role at Autodesk. They delve into the evolution of the additive manufacturing industry, from its early days to the current market dynamics and innovations, including the impact of AI and simulation technologies.  

Alex shares stories from his time at FIT and Netfabb, including the challenges and innovations they faced. He explains Autodesk's strategy of integrating specialized tools into one cohesive platform, Fusion 360, which offers comprehensive solutions for both industrial and mass-market applications. They also discuss the crucial role of workforce development and the importance of making advanced manufacturing tools accessible to students and professionals. The episode concludes with thoughts on the future of additive manufacturing and the impact of AI on the industry. 

01:09 Alex's Journey into Additive Manufacturing 

02:32 Early Industry Challenges and Innovations 

07:29 Growth and Development of NetFabb 

12:16 Impact of FDM Revolution 

21:32 Autodesk Acquisition and Integration 

30:13 Fusion 360: A Comprehensive Tool 

37:31 Workforce Development and Industry Adoption 

47:15 The Rise of Low-Cost Machines 

48:29 The Evolution of Metal Additive Manufacturing 

49:43 Western Machine Vendors and Market Dynamics 

50:03 High-End Custom Machines and Industry Trends 

53:49 AI's Role in Additive Manufacturing 

54:44 Autodesk's Product Strategy and Market Position 

56:52 Simulation and Surrogate Modeling 

01:10:01 Challenges in Polymer Simulation 

01:11:30 AI and Computer Vision in Manufacturing 

01:14:30 The Future of Manufacturing Integration 

Creators and Guests

Host
Fabian Alefeld

What is Additive Snack?

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!