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3D Printing

Bringing ideas to life, one layer at a time

Making

3D Printing Adventures

I've wanted a 3D printer ever since I first heard they existed. Finally, in early 2024 I was able to get a Creality Ender 2 v3 off Takealot. It's far from the latest and greatest but it does the job just fine.

I realised pretty soon that I needed some help so I hit the forums and learned a lot very quickly. One of the biggest changes happened when I contacted Xtrude 3D and they installed a CR Touch and some Silica hotbed levelling columns for me. They need a shout-out. Tobie was so friendly and helpful and I will most certainly buy my next printer through them. I haven't had a levelling issue since, and my prints stick like glue. I have washed my print bed a couple of times but have not had to resort to using hair spray or any of the other hacks you read about (although I hear that hairspray on your bed is a good one). It's hard to avoid 3D printing jargon, I do apologise. You'll learn a lot from Googling terms that you don't know.

Current & Past Projects

  • Unicorn Nightlight: A smart LED nightlight that helps with toddler bedtime routines
  • Character Moulds: I haven't started this yet, but I want to print some moulds for plaster of paris figurines for the kids to paint
  • Pegboard Clips: I have a pegboard for tools and things, but the metal clips that came with it are not suitable for everything, and there weren't a lot of them, so I printed some.

Equipment & Materials

  • Printer: Creality Ender 2 v3
  • Materials: PLA (have't experimented with anything else yet)
  • Software: Tinkercad and UltiMaker Cura for design, Cura Slicer for printing
  • Post-processing: Sanding, painting, and assembly techniques

Design Philosophy

I don't believe in strictly functional design - every print should not have to solve a problem or improve something. If it does, it's a bonus, whether that's a simple cable organizer or a complex mechanical assembly, the goal is always to create and have fun.

Learning & Community

The 3D printing community is incredibly supportive and innovative. I love sharing designs, learning new techniques, and seeing how others solve similar challenges. It's a perfect blend of creativity, engineering, and practical problem-solving, and another example of how all you need is a good idea, and the rest will come (with a bit of Googling). It's a pretty user friendly process and by watching a few videos you will pick up everything you need to know, like how to level your bed...etc...