Hi there!

Thanks for visiting my page! I am a research engineer with a focus on manufacturing and materials. Naturally, I got curious back in 2012 when the term “3D printing” was getting popular/hyped in the media. I decided to build a 3d printer from a kit. I am fine with building mechanical kits but not with electronics. I had an irrational fear of electronics and did not dare to experiment with them.  I procrastinated the build. Moreover, I got busy with life and moved on.

After 4 years, I could not resist the temptation. I decided to confront my fear of electronics by taking the plunge. Luckily, there was a need at my workplace to investigate 3d printing. I used this opportunity to build an open source printer (P3 Steel) with some modifications in the firmware to suit a specific purpose. Due to my shortcomings in electronics, I had to put in a lot of extra effort but it was definitely worth it when I saw the axes moving according to my commands. A “Hello World” moment for me! Eventually, I overcame (not completely) my fear of electronics and got addicted to this fascinating way of manufacturing.

The concept of generative design also appealed to me. If you want to know what generative design is, click here. My aim is to learn generative design and print those geometrically complex parts. Generative design is a field where manufacturing, software and art meet. A fusion of these fields will help us manufacture parts in a more “organic” way. Additive manufacturing, I believe is an enabler for this new way of thinking.

As a starting point, I want to learn AM well enough to print those beautiful structures.  I found that Original Prusa i3 MK2 kit is a good fit for my goal. Reliable, beginner-friendly, great community support and above all open source. I went ahead and ordered it!

In the next series of posts, I will share my build experiences (read as mistakes) and experiments! Readers are most welcome to add some tips to help the beginners. I would also like to learn from the interaction. Have a look at the links page for the listing of 3D printer resources I often refer to. Once I go past the basic learnings of AM, I will get my feet wet with generative design.

General