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In this episode of AMinsider, hosts Justin Hopkins and Dustin Kloempken sit down with industry veteran Jason Lopes to explore his 20+ years of experience in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. From pioneering practical special effects at Stan Winston Studio to navigating modern manufacturing workflows, Jason shares his perspective on the evolution of 3D printing technology and where the industry is headed next.

This episode provides a deep dive into the following key themes:

• Hollywood’s Additive Revolution: Take an inside look at how 3D printing transformed special effects fabrication on iconic projects like the Halo 3 commercial campaign, Iron Man, and The Giant Creature for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Bridging Digital Design and Traditional Craftsmanship: Learn how merging 3D scanning, CAD workflows, and digital modeling with traditional model-making techniques revolutionized prop making and design engineering.
• Overcoming Full-Color 3D Printing Barriers: Understand the challenges of full-color additive manufacturing, including material costs, software bottlenecks, and post-processing complexities in production.
• Flexible Toolsets and Workflow Innovation: Explore the shift toward upside-down resin/DLP printing, the importance of versatile equipment, and how utilitarian AI tools can streamline data management.
• Industry Insights and Career Guidance: Discover advice for newcomers entering the additive space, the value of "co-opetition," and how OEMs can better serve real-world end-user software needs.

Whether you are an industry veteran or looking to start a career in additive manufacturing, this episode offers essential insights into how innovation is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Stay curious and join us as we get inside the future of AM.

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In this special announcement episode of AMinsider, hosts Justin Hopkins and Dustin Kloempken share major developments for the future of the podcast. Reflecting on 12 months of experimentation to discover what listeners want most, the team unveils exciting changes designed to expand their reach, deepen audience engagement, and broaden the scope of their additive manufacturing discussions.

This episode provides a deep dive into the following key themes:

• A Strategic Partnership with 3Dnatives: Discover the details behind AMinsider's new 12-month pilot program with 3Dnatives, the world's largest platform for 3D printing and additive manufacturing news. Managing Director Filippos Voulpiotis joins the hosts to discuss hosting the podcast under the 3Dnatives umbrella and amplifying technical, non-commercial industry conversations.
• Welcoming a New Co-Host: Meet Ryan Hayford, owner of Hayford Consulting, who joins the podcast team bringing over 15 years of North American additive manufacturing experience in sales, marketing, and business strategy.
• Expanding Technical & Commercial Scope: Learn how the team plans to combine deep technical expertise with macro-level market perspectives, tackling emerging global trends in drone manufacturing, suppressor production, and biomedical 3D printing.
• Listener-Driven Content & Truth-First Messaging: Explore why the show is doubling down on audience feedback, honest discussions about industry pitfalls ("the good and the bad"), and deep-dive technical conversations that cut through marketing hype.

Whether you are an industry veteran or looking to start a career in additive manufacturing, this episode offers essential insights into how innovation is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Stay curious and join us as we get inside the future of AM.

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In this special episode of AM Insider, hosts Justin Hopkins and Dustin Kloempken take a retrospective look at the transformative year of 2025. Using artificial intelligence to analyze their recordings from throughout the year, the hosts bridge the gap between early-year trends and the industry's current reality.

This episode provides a deep dive into the following key themes:

• The AI Revolution in Additive Manufacturing: Explore how AI is lowering the barrier to entry for CAD and design, making it easier to manifest ideas and shifting the role of the Application Engineer toward higher-value data analysis and responsive workflows.
• Industry Maturity vs. "The Hype": Justin and Dustin tackle the question of whether the industry is "dead" or simply maturing. They discuss the consolidation and bankruptcies of 2025—including names like Desktop Metal and BCM3D—while positioning the industry within the Gartner Hype Curve's trough of disillusionment.
• The Rise of Production and Prosumer Tech: Learn why 2025 became the "year of the Bambu printer" and how AM is proving its worth in high-stakes production environments like the medical and drone markets.
• Building a Resilient Career: Drawing on insights from guests like Amos and Brent Ewald, the hosts discuss non-linear career paths, the importance of soft skills like negotiation, and why a curious, problem-solving mindset is more valuable than any specific degree.

Whether you are an industry veteran or looking to start a career in additive manufacturing, this episode offers essential insights into how innovation is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Stay curious and join us as we get inside the future of AM.