3D Printing for the Algaeverse

Algaeo runs on 3D printing!

For any hardware focused startup, manufacturing is the key and bane of the overall business process. It’s easy to design a product on paper (or CAD), but when it comes to building it and building it in quantities capable of serving one’s market a whole new realm of logistical issues arise. For one, manufacturers tend to build in bulk. Hardware developers who aim to print a one off can expect astronomical prices when approaching a designer, welder, or even a production plant capable of producing plastic, wood, or rubber/latex products. The very first design I ever tested out was a housing for a wind turbine that could operate near the surface — by harnessing turbulent winds. It cost me $86 for a 4x6 inch cylindrical housing and $65 for a spherical housing with a 5 inch diameter. To make matters worse, the spherical housing had small passageways which would utilize the venturi effect to increase the flow of air, but the manufacturing process of the company could not handle those variations in print size and the entire print arrived ruined. This slowed down development, wasted money, and ultimately led to a halt in the project as a new manufacturer was required. Enter 3D printing! 3D printing allows product designers, engineers, and architects to quickly produce their own prototypes and products! Drastically reducing all of the above ailments.