HardwareBoulder, Colorado, USAFounded 2024· One of 1734 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse
Develops and sells the Scrap 1, a compact laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) metal 3D printer priced at $9,600, designed for workshops, labs, and small-scale manufacturers.
CEO / Founder
Matt Woods
Team Size
1-10
Stage
Early Stage
Technology & Products
Key Products
Scrap 1 Metal LPBF 3D Printer
Technological Advantage
Proprietary compact LPBF system with a 100x100x100 mm build volume and 200W 915 nm laser, achieving industrial-grade metal printing at a fraction of the cost. The advantage is based on first-principles engineering to minimize system complexity and cost while maintaining safety and performance. The defensibility likely hinges on design IP and process optimization, but core LPBF technology is widely known.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces the capital barrier to metal LPBF printing from over $150,000 to under $10,000, enabling on-demand prototyping and low-volume production of functional metal parts in a desktop footprint.
How They Differentiate
Offers true laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) at $9,600, versus bound metal extrusion systems from Desktop Metal/Markforged (~$100k+) and industrial LPBF systems from EOS/SLM/Trumpf (>$150k). Targets accessibility over production throughput.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Workshops, research labs, small-scale manufacturers, makers, and educational institutions seeking affordable metal AM capabilities.
58 Priority & Founder Depositors (as per live reservation count on website).
Major Milestones
Unveiled Scrap 1 LPBF metal 3D printer at Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival (RMRRF) 2026; Opened pre-orders with estimated shipment beginning in early 2027
Scrap Labs addresses a clear gap in metal additive manufacturing: the absence of a true laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) system at a price point accessible to workshops, labs, and small-scale manufacturers. While bound metal extrusion systems from Desktop Metal and Markforged start around $100,000 and industrial LPBF machines from EOS, SLM Solutions, and Trumpf exceed $150,000, the Scrap 1 is priced at $9,600. This radical cost reduction is achieved through first-principles engineering that minimizes system complexity and leverages localized supply chains, rather than through compromises in core LPBF technology.
The Scrap 1 is a desktop-sized LPBF printer with a 100x100x100 mm build volume and a 200W 915 nm laser. It uses standard metal powders and produces functional, fully dense parts without the need for debinding or sintering steps required by bound metal processes. The company claims industrial-grade print quality in a footprint suited for benchtop use, with safety and performance maintained through simplified design.
Target customers include research labs, educational institutions, makers, and small manufacturers that need on-demand prototyping or low-volume production of metal parts. The printer is positioned as a tool for iterative design and functional testing rather than high-throughput manufacturing. As of early 2026, Scrap Labs had secured 58 priority and founder depositors for the Scrap 1, with pre-orders open and estimated shipments beginning in early 2027.
The company's defensibility rests on design IP and process optimization rather than fundamental LPBF patents, which are widely held by established players. The open question is whether a small team of 1-10 engineers can deliver reliable, safe hardware at this price point and scale customer support. If successful, Scrap Labs could force incumbents to address a long-ignored segment of the metal AM market.