Industry Experts – Tom Yang of Febtop

Tom Yang

Tom Yang is the founder and CEO of Febtop. Febtop has created an industrial machine called The Optimus. The Optimus is a single machine that can be a 3D printer, laser cutter or CNC. Their idea is to have one machine that could make finished products. They want to build the tool that would take a person from an idea to a prototype to a final product.

Tell me about your educational background and how it has gotten you to this point?

Tom: I did my PhD in Bath University, UK from 2006 to 2011. In our lab (Biomimetics), is where the REPRAP project born, so I was able to learn there about 3D printers in-depth

Why did you first start making things?

I first seriously made things for my research project, when I did my master’s degree. Once I knew of 3D printers, I started making more things because it was easier.

Your product seems like a revolution to maker problems. Explain why you decided to create it?

The answer is simple: I am thinking as a maker, so what kind of dream machine do I need? 3D printers, CNC, and a laser are the top 3 digital manufacturing tools for a maker. Instead of buying three machines why not put them into one? Saving money and saving a learning curve is our goal.

What separates the Optimus from the highest quality 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC machine?

The key difference is that OPTIMUS is one machine that can do all those things. But we try to make OPTIMUS for each function, work as well as a single function machine.

Optimus

In terms of globalization, what are your thoughts on the maker movement?

More and more people, including kids to adults, will join this movement. People will make things not only from interests, but will also create products that sell to the world. People will change their garage to a micro factory.

Sharing is huge. People share experiences, ideas and knowledge through the internet. I think this is key point of the maker movement. By sharing, we can connect people globally.

In years to come what are your hopes for building your product further?

Our key concept is “ Freedom of making things”. So all our products that we are developing fits to this concept. Currently, we are developing a massive working volume machine, which is designed for people to create things which are not limited by small sizes. Through the optimized design, we can offer customers huge printing volume and high quality machines with reasonable prices.

Lastly, what are the hopes you want to create within the maker world with your organization?

We to help the community adapt the digital manufacturing tools easily and create more innovative things.