John Kray

John Kray is the Founder and CEO of Hydra Research LLC, a 3D printing company based in Portland, Oregon.12 He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from Lewis & Clark College, which he completed between 2013 and 2017.1 After graduating, Kray founded Hydra Research in December 2016, driven by his passion for making and designing things.14

As an undergraduate, Kray became interested in 3D printing and saw opportunities to improve the technology.4 He started by building his own 3D printer for an advanced lab class, which eventually evolved into Hydra Research.2 The company's signature product was the Nautilus, a user-friendly desktop 3D printer.2

Hydra Research initially focused on developing and manufacturing 3D printers, including the Nautilus and Minnow models.5 However, in October 2022, Kray announced that the company would wind down its printer manufacturing business to focus solely on on-demand 3D printing services.5

Throughout his career, Kray has specialized in additive manufacturing, product design, and product engineering.1 He has also demonstrated a commitment to open-source collaboration and innovation in the 3D printing industry.3