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Start-Ups

Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

By Conner Forrest July 9, 2014, 6:00 AM PDT

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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

A 3D printed molecules

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

A 3D printed molecules

MadeSolid CEO Lance Pickens got his start in 3D printing by printing models of specific molecules for customers.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

The MadeSolid laboratory

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

The MadeSolid laboratory

The MadeSolid lab, located in Emeryville, isn’t a typical startup office.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Most of the MadeSolid team

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Most of the MadeSolid team

The MadeSolid team started out at a warehouse in Oakland.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Drum of chemicals waiting to be mixed

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Drum of chemicals waiting to be mixed

MadeSolid employees often have to wheel these huge drums of chemical in through the front lobby of their office building.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

A shelf holds some of MadeSolid's resin products

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

A shelf holds some of MadeSolid's resin products

MadeSolid offers two types of resin for SLA style printing in a variety of colors.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

MadeSolid co-founder Brian Martinez waits for a print to finsh

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

MadeSolid co-founder Brian Martinez waits for a print to finsh

MadeSolid spends hours testing their materials in different 3D printers.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

An employee uses a laser to create a 3D print with resin

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

An employee uses a laser to create a 3D print with resin

SLA-style 3D printing works when a laser converts resin from a liquid to a solid.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

A dish of resin (left) and some completed SLA prints

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

A dish of resin (left) and some completed SLA prints

The finished product of SLA and SLS printing often have to be cleaned off.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Another look at the resin and SLA prints

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Another look at the resin and SLA prints

MadeSolid focuses much of their time on developing their resin products.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

A funnel used to mix chemicals

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

A funnel used to mix chemicals

Funnels are often used to transfer chemical from big rums like this one into smaller vessels.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

MadeSolid chemist Sam Bozek mixes chemicals

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

MadeSolid chemist Sam Bozek mixes chemicals

The goal of MadeSolid  is to create materials that produce higher quality 3D printed products.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Bozek works on developing the product

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Bozek works on developing the product

MadeSolids prides itself on producing a better quality product than what is currently available.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Chemicals being weighed

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Chemicals being weighed

Part of the development process is weighing out chemicals to make sure there is the proper amount.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

More chemicals used to develop MadeSolid products

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

More chemicals used to develop MadeSolid products

Ingredients such as microcrystalline cellulose are used to create stable materials for 3D printing.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Bozek works on his computer

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Bozek works on his computer

After developing chemicals, a couple hours are spent testing materials and measuring the prints in the lab.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

An SLA print is UV cured

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

An SLA print is UV cured

UV light helps to harden the prints made with resin.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

Janina Motter (left) helps Bozek measure a mixture

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

Janina Motter (left) helps Bozek measure a mixture

MadeSolid chemists spend six to seven hours everyday working on chemical in the lab.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

One of the 3D printers at MadeSolid

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

One of the 3D printers at MadeSolid

MadeSolid began as a service bureau after Lance Pickens and David Rorex.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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Photos: Inside the MadeSolid laboratory

A machine helps automate the mixing process

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive

A machine helps automate the mixing process

Pickens said that he wants to see more automation in the MadeSolid lab in the future, to help with menial tasks in developing products.

Image: James Martin/CBS Interactive
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By Conner Forrest
Conner is a former Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is now a Senior Research Analyst at 451 Research.
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