ASME TechCast Podcast: Commercial Results with Consumer 3D Printers
Aug 7, 2025
Mike Zimmerman, CEO of Z-Polymers and a professor at Tufts University, discusses his groundbreaking polymer, Ptolemer. This material matches the strength of metals yet is designed for consumer-level 3D printing. He delves into the essential traits of innovation, emphasizing risk-taking and mentorship in scientific startups. Zimmerman also navigates the challenges of commercializing 3D printing materials while envisioning future sustainable applications. Personal stories highlight the importance of family support in his entrepreneurial journey.
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Career Shift to Startups
- Mike Zimmerman shared experience working at Bell Labs and Saint-Gobain shaping his pragmatic industrial approach.
- He left large companies to pursue startups for more impact and risky, innovative product development.
Traits of Innovators
- Innovators must have a spark to push boundaries and a willingness to take risks.
- Startups need vision and acceptance of possible failure, qualities not everyone possesses.
High-Performance Affordable Polymer
- Z Polymers developed Ptolemer, a polymer printable on low-cost desktop 3D printers with strength rivaling aluminum and steel.
- The material is highly sustainable, chemically resistant, non-flammable, and can be implantable due to cytotoxicology testing.