Tethon 3D: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Resin Development

When you purchase resin for vat photopolymerization, do you ever think about where that resin came from? Even if there’s a brand name on the label that coincides with the printer you are using, there is a chance that the resin was actually developed by a different manufacturer—perhaps a company like Tethon 3D. Tethon 3D is a ceramic additive manufacturing company that develops composite resins and hardware, with a focus on material development. The Nebraska-based business is named Tethon for the Native American Omaha tribe word for white buffalo. In Omaha Native culture, the white buffalo symbolizes strength, rarity and earthly connection. Tethon 3D, with its recognizable white buffalo logo, seeks to produce ceramic 3D printing technology with the same qualities.

Stepping into the Tethon 3D offices, you see printers from several well-known brands like Stratasys, Formlabs and Nano Dimension, as well as Tethon 3D’s proprietary printer, the Bison 1000. Why all the printers? The lab at Tethon 3D makes custom resins to be resold by such brands like Stratasys and Fortify, as well as custom materials for research labs and government and military projects. While rooted in Omaha, the company has clients and partners across the US, Asia and Europe. Since its founding in 2014, it has provided over 1,700 customers in over 40 countries with solutions for ceramic additive manufacturing.

Tethon 3D’s office in Omaha, Nebraska (Photo Credits Julia Steiner)

Tethon 3D was founded by husband and wife Karen and Jim Linder, who both have medical backgrounds. One night, the two attended a lecture from a Bowling Green State University (BGSU) professor who was researching ceramic 3D printing. Their initial thought was that 3D printed ceramics could have useful medical applications. As it turned out, the professor had been looking for an avenue to commercialize his research while still being able to teach. Karen and Jim had previously founded other companies and had funded over thirty startup companies with their angel investment company Linseed Capital. So, they negotiated with BGSU to acquire the invention’s intellectual property and founded Tethon 3D as a materials company.