Disclaimer #
I couldn’t communicate effectively to get the image I wanted, so I am attaching all the images that were proposed to me, but I still don’t have a suitable main image. I want to get a fancy AI-generated image of a 3D printer and a computer, but I couldn’t create the best one. So I put all generated images here.
I started with this one, and I only asked to remove the text, but the result was not what I wanted.
The rest of the images are my failed attempts to get a result that I wanted.
3D Printing as a Hobby #
3D printing is my hobby that started with the purchase of a Creality Ender 3 3D printer. 3D printing is a way for me to bring my ideas to life that come to my mind. It answers that part of me that is an engineer but doesn’t have the opportunity to realize my ideas at work. The second reason is the desire to understand how 3D printing works, its capabilities, and limitations. It helps me solve household problems and meet my family’s needs for various items.
It Broke #
I don’t know what percentage of newly created 3D models are due to emergencies, the breaking of an important part, but it is certainly a significant portion. In my case, about 50% of the models I print are due to such situations. The remaining 50% is a response to needs that arise around me.
Drain Strainer #
Typing into Google (in Polish)
sitko do odpływu umywalki
https://www.google.com/search?q=sitko+do+odp%C5%82ywu+umywalki
gives results for what actually broke for me - so my terminology is correct.
Striving for Perfection Through Iterations of the 3D Model #
Quick measurements, an idea of how to model the missing part. And I had the first version of the 3D model. In less than an hour, I had the first printed model in hand.
It turned out that the areas that would be most stressed were too “thin” and could be quickly damaged. A quick correction, adding more elements, a slight correction of the appearance - because aesthetics also matter. The printer received a new printing task. After another hour, I had a new model in hand.
So the whole process from 2 iterations took me about 3.5 hours. I do not evaluate whether the whole process is profitable, for me in the late evening hours, solving the problem comprehensively was the most important thing.
Final Effect #
It’s very satisfying to see that our 3D model does its job. In this case, the drain strainer works perfectly. The whole process is almost like magic - something is created from nothing.
Observation #
3D printing is a hobby now, but will it stay that way in the future? I don’t know how AI will develop and how much it will shuffle the job market in broadly understood IT. However, I know that even the strangest hobbies should be nurtured, various “side projects” should be developed because they can be the key to a future career and one of the ways to develop professionally and personally. Certainly, even in this field, there can be a strong AI influence. However, a broader range of interests and skills shows our ability to adapt widely and be flexible in a changing world.