I have a deep passion for 3D printing, and my approach goes beyond simply downloading designs from Thingiverse – I take pride in creating my own. While most of what I make is still-to-be-posted, you can find my growing collection on my Thingiverse profile.
My workhorse, the all-but-reliable Anet A8, stands proudly as a drawer under my 1-meter-high bed in a custom-made enclosure, having already consumed around 3-4 kilograms of filament in custom parts and upgrades. While working with and debugging such a printer cost me a fuckton of nerves and a significant chunk of my lifetime, it was also really valuable, because I now know this shitty thing inside out. Through the initial hurdles and countless troubleshooting sessions, I now have an in-depth understanding of every component. The first months, every other print failed and there was something that required fixing, but in the end there’s only so many moving parts in a 3D-Printer, so the amount of stuff that can fail is finite - and I am pretty sure I’ve reached that limit. Over the years, I’ve transformed this seemingly troublesome machine into a reliable tool. The countless modifications and upgrades have led to a stable setup that by now just simply works and I am happy with it. Gradually, the mechanical system of the printer shifted from an object of care to simply a tool that I use. In the last years, hardware, but especially software has matured to a point where, at least to me, it tends to be a set-and-forget situation, allowing me to actually focus on making my parts and designs!
Whether using Sketchup (staying on my main Linux OS) or Fusion 360 on Windows, I like to create functional and practical items. Unlike the trend of printing aesthetically pleasing but functionally useless objects, for me that often feels like a waste of plastic. While I do like to make my own design objects and custom organizers, drawers or the like, I mostly combine 3D-printing with my enthusiasm for electronics, designing enclosures for my electronics projects.
From designing DMX controllers and event tech gadgets to essential components for physical objects such as the Leierkasten, my repertoire extends to unique projects such as the Buttonboard and mini-partylights-setup, which demonstrate the seamless integration of 3D-printed cases, custom electronics, and my own code. It’s a journey marked by tinkering, modifying, and an unyielding dedication to creating something truly original.
In essence, my journey in 3D printing and electronics is a testament to the evolution from frustration to mastery, turning a challenging machine into a reliable companion for crafting both functional and aesthetically pleasing creations.