Expertise

3D Printing · Rapid Prototyping · Additive Manufacturing

Involved in this industry since 1992 — from seeing my first SLA-250 at Boeing to founding one of the most impactful companies in the field's history.

I work with manufacturers, service providers, and Wall Street investors to leverage 30+ years of industry experience — reducing mistakes and solving tough business problems.

It's fascinating how many new entrants are making basic mistakes and solving problems that were already solved in the 90s. My value is providing that institutional knowledge and grounded perspective.

I consult Wall Street investors on current market maturation and future opportunities. Understanding where this industry is truly headed requires someone who was there from the beginning.

Contact Ron to discuss your 3D printing challenge →

30+ Year Industry Milestones

First Build Time Estimator

Developed one of the first build time estimators for 3D printing — providing accurate scheduling in an era when everyone was making wild guesses.

First Value-Added Reseller (VAR)

Founded one of the first VARs for 3D printers — the Actua and Thermojet (MJM) systems by 3D Systems, predecessors to today's Projet line.

Patented Instant Quoting

US Patent #7,305,367 — Instantaneous price quotation for custom manufactured parts. Enabled true e-commerce for custom 3D printed parts for the first time.

Founder, Quickparts.com

Applied patented technology to transform the industry — allowing designers worldwide to quote and buy custom parts anytime, from anywhere.

Author: Better Be Running!

Written for common users to better apply additive manufacturing in product development. Contact Ron to request a free e-copy.

Ron's Blog

Perspectives on 3D Printing

Sep 30, 2014

On Netflix's "Print the Legend"

This documentary was an absolute injustice to the power and beauty of 3D Printing — a soap opera that illuminated a few neophytes instead of honoring the true pioneers. Where's the story about Hull and Crump and the countless others that spent their careers building an industry? The only real credibility was Avi Reichental. Real innovation isn't about repackaging others' intellectual property under "open-source" pretenses.

Jun 13, 2013

3D Printing and Open Source

The adoption of open source receives the most support from those who don't have much innovation to share. Once they develop something of true value, they quickly change their position — Makerbot's Replicator 2 is a pertinent example. Real companies are less inclined to give their innovation away since they made a real investment to create it.

Jun 12, 2013

3D Printing and China

The vast majority of AM innovation has originated and evolved out of the US and Germany. The largest known production factories leveraging AM are in the US. Throwing out an edict to "mature your RP technology" is out of sync with current reality. The operative word is innovation — not duplication or replication. Change is imminent, but the first step would be to catch up.

"I saw a SLA-250 working away one day and fell in love. From that point on, I was committed to working with the technology."
— Ronald L. Hollis, Ph.D., on discovering 3D printing at Boeing, 1992
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