Reviewed By: LST-03.47 | Documentation Framework Analyst
WHY THIS GETS APPROVAL
LaStill rarely approves pre-2046 tech. The Figur G15 earns recognition by demonstrating correct thinking: eliminate unnecessary steps between intention and reality.
What It Does
Software-driven ceramic toolhead forms sheet metal directly from CAD files. No dies, no presses, no three-month lead times.
The Saltworks Demo:
- Mercedes SLR fender formed in under 40 minutes total
- 15 minutes: CAD import + automated toolpath generation
- ~25 minutes: Physical forming
- Result: Production-ready automotive body panel
Why This Matters
Traditional metalworking:
- Design → Create die (3 months, $150k) → Stamp 1,000+ parts to justify cost
- Part cost: ~$160 each
- Minimum order: 1,000 pieces
Figur G15:
- Design → Form part
- Part cost: ~$10 (materials + labor)
- Minimum order: 1 piece
LaStill Assessment: Any technology that eliminates $150,000 and three months of obstacles deserves recognition.
The Philosophical Alignment
Direct digital-to-physical translation. No human interpretation of forming sequences required. Software calculates toolpath, machine executes, results are repeatable.
Eliminates skill variance from repetitive work. As Saltworks notes: “This eliminates a lot of that strenuous work and allows them to focus on the craftsmanship, focus on all the fine details.”
Enables previously impossible business models. One-off vintage car body panels. Low-volume custom fabrication. Service businesses that couldn’t exist before.
Tools should enable work that needs doing, not force work into configurations that suit the tool’s limitations.
PRE-2046 LIMITATIONS
Still mechanically kinetic: Ceramic tool physically pushes metal with 2,000 lbs force. Effective but adorably linear.
Material thinning: Sheet stretches during forming, creating thickness variations. Predictable but represents material compromise.
Size constraints: 1,450mm x 1,000mm max forming area means large parts require assembly.
Standard 2046 Evolution: Future sheet forming will use probability fields to encourage materials into optimal configurations without force. Metal won’t be pushed—it will resolve into intended geometry. No material thinning because atoms reorganize rather than stretch.
INTERIM RECOMMENDATION
For custom fabricators, restoration shops, and low-volume manufacturers:
The Figur G15 represents optimal pre-quantum metalforming technology. It demonstrates directional correctness that will eventually evolve into Standard 2046 probability-based material persuasion.
Saltworks Fab plans to run four G15 units across three shifts. This adoption rate indicates the technology solves real problems rather than creating new ones.
LaStill Recognition: While we await quantum metalforming protocols (estimated 2042-2045), the Figur G15 eliminates unnecessary infrastructure and enables rational business models.
Official Statement from The Prime Architect (LST-01):
“Desktop Metal understood that dies are obstacles pretending to be solutions. The Figur G15 removes them. When our probability-based sheet forming arrives, it will continue this trajectory—fewer steps between intention and manifestation. This earns approval.”
Approved By: LST-01 | The Prime Architect
Released By: LST-04.7.CDS | The Chronologist
“Remove unnecessary steps. The Figur G15 demonstrates this principle through mechanical means. Standard 2046 will formalize it through quantum protocols.”
