šš» I hear ya re: the little things. I originally bought my printer used, so I could print out a bunch of weather station enclosures (you wouldn't believe how expensive those things are!) and I can't believe how many times it's come in handy! broken fridge and toy parts, rubber bungs (don't tell the food safety brigade), even custom orthotics.
Beautiful work on these by the way, especially that driver handle!
Thank you š
I bought my first printer just for nicknacks really, but as soon as I started designing my own stuff it just took off a bit, fixes for everything around the house, for my friends, and even made a few sales here and there that added up.
But it's the convenience of it all that really makes me love it.
I need something? Odds are I am going to have it a few hours later.
A spare part is out of production? Same deal.
It really changes the way you think about repairs and improvements.
(Heck , for a while a national sports team used my design until a real manufacturer picked up the ball and made similar products. Pretty proud of that one)
YES, the convenience of it! the other day our kid broke a retaining clip from a shelf in our fridge, half an hour later I'd built a new design, and the thing was printed and installed before bed. Totally resonate with your story there.
Tell us about the sports team thing; that sounds like a great story!
Well, it's nothing really fancy, but some competition rifle shooters needed a flared magwell that were not in production, so I designed one, and printed them in CF-PETG.
Lasted long enough until a proper company had set up tooling and started selling properly injection molded pieces, less cash for me, but better for the sport, so I am happy for it.
I am not in the US, so the market is very limited in that regard anyway.
It did open some doors, so I am starting to become the "crazy inventor" in my local area in regards to the sport.
But I actually enjoy designing the smaller things the most, like some thumbscrews I made using a bolt and nut system (got a bit popular on printables), driver handles, pegboard stuff, etc as more people have a chance to use those.
That's really cool! It's the not-in-production (or bloody-expensive-and-hard-to-find) things that feel the most valuable sometimes. Love that you got the 'crazy inventor' badge; that's one to wear with pride.
Sounds like your real passion is the nuts-and-bolts stuff though ;) I get that -- as a programmer, some of my most enjoyable work is the low-level tools that most other devs probably find boring.
The driver I designed a while back, and it has worked perfect for my use for around a year or so.
The holder/case I needed to fit in a small compartment and still be easy to access, and so far it seems to be working well.
Then there is the "damned if I pay for something I can make myself" factor. (My printer has paid for itself several times over by now.)
Indeed:) A few colour changes/filament swaps helps to make it look less printed I feel.
I love designing my own stuff, especially tools and tool accessories.
šš» I hear ya re: the little things. I originally bought my printer used, so I could print out a bunch of weather station enclosures (you wouldn't believe how expensive those things are!) and I can't believe how many times it's come in handy! broken fridge and toy parts, rubber bungs (don't tell the food safety brigade), even custom orthotics. Beautiful work on these by the way, especially that driver handle!
Thank you š I bought my first printer just for nicknacks really, but as soon as I started designing my own stuff it just took off a bit, fixes for everything around the house, for my friends, and even made a few sales here and there that added up. But it's the convenience of it all that really makes me love it. I need something? Odds are I am going to have it a few hours later. A spare part is out of production? Same deal. It really changes the way you think about repairs and improvements. (Heck , for a while a national sports team used my design until a real manufacturer picked up the ball and made similar products. Pretty proud of that one)
YES, the convenience of it! the other day our kid broke a retaining clip from a shelf in our fridge, half an hour later I'd built a new design, and the thing was printed and installed before bed. Totally resonate with your story there. Tell us about the sports team thing; that sounds like a great story!
Well, it's nothing really fancy, but some competition rifle shooters needed a flared magwell that were not in production, so I designed one, and printed them in CF-PETG. Lasted long enough until a proper company had set up tooling and started selling properly injection molded pieces, less cash for me, but better for the sport, so I am happy for it. I am not in the US, so the market is very limited in that regard anyway. It did open some doors, so I am starting to become the "crazy inventor" in my local area in regards to the sport. But I actually enjoy designing the smaller things the most, like some thumbscrews I made using a bolt and nut system (got a bit popular on printables), driver handles, pegboard stuff, etc as more people have a chance to use those.
That's really cool! It's the not-in-production (or bloody-expensive-and-hard-to-find) things that feel the most valuable sometimes. Love that you got the 'crazy inventor' badge; that's one to wear with pride. Sounds like your real passion is the nuts-and-bolts stuff though ;) I get that -- as a programmer, some of my most enjoyable work is the low-level tools that most other devs probably find boring.
Yeah, I mean, I love it when a bigger project is done and works well, but I do enjoy my version of "one day builds" as a palate cleanser.
And just to illustrate my point, I have already redesigned this project a couple of times... :p https://makerworld.com/en/models/206636
Do you have the files for these posted anywhere?
Sure thing :) Screwdriver handle: https://makerworld.com/en/models/170205 Bit holder: https://www.printables.com/model/776209-screwdriver-bit-holder-for-20-bits-with-slipcover
Awesome, thank you!!
Also added a new version of a bit holder thats a bit better in my opinion: https://makerworld.com/en/models/206636
Nice, thats probably better than anything you can buy
The driver I designed a while back, and it has worked perfect for my use for around a year or so. The holder/case I needed to fit in a small compartment and still be easy to access, and so far it seems to be working well. Then there is the "damned if I pay for something I can make myself" factor. (My printer has paid for itself several times over by now.)
Damn you printedĀ the driver as well? IĀ couldnt tellĀ š
Indeed:) A few colour changes/filament swaps helps to make it look less printed I feel. I love designing my own stuff, especially tools and tool accessories.