Old World Labs and Nano-Resolution 3D Printing

From Printer Platform to Systems Company

Founded by Nick Liverman in 2012, Old World Labs began as a company focused on ultra-precise 3D printing. The early work centered on stereolithography, optical control, and the goal of producing small features with enough reliability for industrial and research users.

Public patent records for Old World Labs describe stereolithography systems and methods for producing 3D objects. Historical media coverage around the OWL Nano and later MC printer line reflects the company's focus on precision additive manufacturing rather than consumer desktop printing.

Biomedical Microfluidics

The strongest public example of the technology's research relevance is the VA artificial-lung work. VA coverage described efforts to use high-resolution 3D polymer printing for microfluidic structures that could support wearable artificial-lung research for veterans with respiratory disease.

SPIE and Patterning Research

The research record is broader than artificial-lung coverage. SPIE Novel Patterning Technologies 2018 listed 3D micro-mirror lithography for mass production as invited paper 10584-32, and a public bibliographic entry lists Liverman among the authors. That source connects Old World Labs to optics, lithography, digital micro-mirror control, and production-scale precision manufacturing.

That work matters for this site's positioning because it connects hardware, software, material processing, and real constraints. It is the same systems mindset that later carries into robotics, automation, and custom AI agents.

Why It Matters in 2026

Precision manufacturing is no longer a separate story from AI systems. Robots, lab tools, simulation, control software, and AI agents are converging into integrated workflows. Nick Liverman's current work should be read through that lens: custom automation for teams that need reliable systems, not generic AI demos.