By Paul Gregory, Principal of Esports Supply
Can you still make computer parts in America? It’s a question worth asking as companies like Anduril and Qualcomm explore ways to bring more computer manufacturing back to the United States. Their recently announced BlueChip project caught my attention because the challenges they’re addressing are similar to some we’ve encountered at a much smaller scale, even though the manufacturing involved is quite different.
I run Esports Supply, where we design and build esports facilities for schools and universities. We also build gaming computers under our Zodiac Labs brand. While we rely on global suppliers for processors and other components, we assemble and test our computers in Kansas and have recently begun developing our own 3D printed cases. Working through that process has given me a better appreciation for where smaller American companies can realistically participate in manufacturing, even when much of the computer supply chain remains overseas.
Where American Computer Manufacturing Stands Today
Anduril and Qualcomm’s BlueChip project involves a rugged laptop intended for government, defense, and public safety applications. The companies report that suppliers in the United States and allied countries account for more than 90% of the prototype’s component procurement cost, with plans to begin taking orders in 2027. Qualcomm also plans to manufacture the laptop’s processor at TSMC’s Arizona facility.
It’s an ambitious undertaking, particularly given how much of the computer industry depends on overseas manufacturing. Semiconductors, memory, displays, and circuit boards require specialized facilities, substantial investment, and supply networks developed over decades. Smaller companies aren’t realistically going to recreate those capabilities, but there are individual components that may make sense to manufacture domestically.
Why We Started Designing Our Own Computer Cases
Like most computer builders, Zodiac Labs purchases processors, graphics cards, memory, and motherboards through established suppliers. Our Kansas team assembles, configures, and tests the finished systems. We started exploring 3D printed computer cases because we saw an opportunity to manufacture a component ourselves while solving problems we regularly encounter when designing esports facilities.
One challenge is form factor. Every facility has different dimensions and space constraints, and the size of a computer case can influence workstation layouts, available desk space, and equipment accessibility. Traditional retail cases come in standardized configurations that don’t always fit what we’re trying to accomplish. Designing our own gives us the flexibility to develop an enclosure around the space rather than adjusting the space around an existing product.
Customization was equally important. Schools have different preferences for colors, hardware configurations, and cooling requirements. If a particular system needs additional fans or a case designed around a specific parts list, we want the flexibility to accommodate that. With conventional manufacturing, even relatively small changes can become expensive when you’re not ordering thousands of identical units.
3D printing allows us to explore those possibilities, evaluate designs, and make adjustments without committing to expensive tooling. For a company building specialized computers, that flexibility is valuable independently of where the manufacturing takes place.
Getting the Design Right Before Production
Our 3D printed cases are still in the later stages of research and development. We’re currently refining the design and working toward our first complete case prototype. Once that prototype is finished, we’ll be able to evaluate its performance, make any necessary adjustments, and determine what additional development is needed before production.
As we continue developing the cases, we’re evaluating the practical requirements that will determine whether they’re suitable for everyday use, including structural strength, airflow, maintenance access, and operating temperatures. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasizes the importance of materials, measurement, and process control in additive manufacturing. Those considerations are relevant to our development process because the finished cases will need to perform reliably in the environments where our computers are used.
Why Making Components in Kansas Matters to Me
Although our work began with esports facilities, I see opportunities for similar approaches in other specialized environments. Companies designing computers for classrooms, industrial applications, or particular workplace requirements may benefit from manufacturing components around their needs rather than relying exclusively on standardized products. Of course, manufacturing domestically still has to make financial and operational sense, particularly when production costs, material performance, and available capacity vary considerably from one component to another.
Personally, there’s a real sense of pride in bringing even a small part of the manufacturing process back to the United States. We’ve spent years relying on components produced around the world, and I don’t expect those relationships to disappear. But as we refine our case designs, we’re also interested in exploring other components that could eventually be manufactured or sourced domestically, provided the economics and performance requirements support that decision.
Projects like BlueChip demonstrate what major companies can pursue with substantial resources. I think the future of American computer manufacturing will also depend on smaller companies finding practical opportunities to invest in domestic production, particularly when those investments help them build better products for their customers.
