Julie's Journal: Our New 3D Printer

Back in the fall, we were blessed to receive a 3D printer through a grant.  Lisa went to a training on it and then, due to the busyness of the holidays and the beginning of a new year, learning to use it was pushed to the back burner.  A few weeks ago, though, we started learning how to use it and have been printing ever since.

We've printed toys:

Bookmarks:

A phone stand:

A puzzle:

A very cool measuring cup:

And a few other things:

Our last project was this impossible nut/bolt - also called the Machinist's Illusion:

The logistics of printing the nut/bolt completely stumped Lisa and I.  The nut and the bolt are two separate files and we just could not figure out how it worked.  Fortunately, Chance had a moment of brilliance and now we can print it perfectly every time!

There's definitely been a learning curve with this printer.  We've had our share of failed prints, as well as the successes. 

We will eventually make the printer available for use by the public and offer some classes.  We are currently working on policy for using the printer and learning to troubleshoot it.  I also have a little reading to do to continue to learn what the printer can do.

Yikes!

What should we print next?