4 July 2025
by wpAdmin
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Earlier this week, I picked up a new (second-hand) glass. It is quite thick lipped and heavy so not the quintessence of elegance but very stable and a good shape for a martini-type cocktail. This one includes lovage-infused gin along with vermouth, a few black olives and a dash of the olive brine – a classic dirty martini with the additional herbal twist.
3 July 2025
by wpAdmin
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With all the excitement of getting a 3D printer, it is easy to get carried away and not give much thought to the important question of what to print first.
I think my first print was the scraper that comes as a file on the SD card provided with the printer along with a the blade and a couple of bolts to assemble it. The scraper helps pop completed models off the board, particularly flatter ones. The scraper itself is chunky enough to come off easily after a little cooling time but it helps remove little bit of test filament the printer extrudes on the front edge of the plate. I ran out of the sample white PLA filament midway through the holder so, if starting again, I’d split the three elements in the slicer and print just the handle and small wedge first. If I was feeling very confident, I might even insert a pause near the top so that the lettering could be done with a contrasting colour. Even without, I’d probably switch filaments to print the holder and I might want to modify that to have a wider base for stability. My solution, particularly given it ended up in a random two-tone, was to create a gridfinity bin (model on MakerWorld) that hides the bottom section and prevents it falling over.
However, the next few things I printed were other utility items directly related to the printer. These included a toolbox that can be attached to the A1 Mini, a poop collector, some clips for the cables and some clips for filament spools. I’m not entirely sure what order I printed them but I’d probably suggest the cable clips and the poop collector first, which are both excellent models. With the box, I think PLA works okay as a material but the model creator is right that a light coloured lid plays havoc with the camera. I might be tempted to look for a different storage box model if you don’t have a suitable container – I’d probably end up with another gridfinity-based one. The filament spool clips are useful; I learned the hard way that the filament should always be kept under a small amount of tension, otherwise it crosses over and tends to jam. However, I find this particular model a bit fiddly – perhaps it needs to be scaled up a little or perhaps I just need to find another model.
All of those things, or other items or prints which serve the same function, are ones I count as important to get early on. There is one other item too, a filament roller, but I think that probably deserves a post of its own.
2 July 2025
by wpAdmin
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Even if I had chosen a different printer, range of filaments or design software, there is one thing that I am sure would be true: it is almost impossible to get a design perfect on the first go. That is doubly true for items that have to interface with real world things, like the lawnmower pinion gear I posted about last month. Something are hard to measure, you have to work around how the printer extrudes the filament and often there are design aspects you forget until you start trying to use the ‘finished’ item.
It would be a huge waste of time and material to try and run off completed items too soon. What I will often do is spend a while sketching things out on paper and trying different ideas out. Once I settle on something, the next questions are whether it can be simplified and whether it will be strong / flexible enough. Once the design idea is settled, I will then think about whether there are any critical parts that need to fit and look at producing a smaller version so I can try them.
For example, I was recently working on a cap for the end of a plastic pipe. The measurement should be easy enough but I still ended up printing three short test rings. The first, at the measurement, was too small as was the one 1mm wider. 2mm wider was just a little lose and so, when it came to printing the cap, I ended up going for 1.5mm wider. The draft pieces took about 3-4g of filament and about 15-20 minutes of printer time but that meant the final piece (40g and just over an hour) landed where it needed to be.
Design, physically test critical parts of the design and then commit. Even then, there may well be later versions once it has been tried in practise but that is always the benefit of hindsight.
1 July 2025
by wpAdmin
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Discounting the software that runs the printer itself (“firmware”), there are two main categories of software to consider: 3D design tools and slicers.
The slicer software takes a 3D model and turns it into information the printer can render in molten plastic. There are lots of options but with a BambuLab printer, the only straightforward choice is BambuStudio. For some people, that is a problem but it works well enough for my needs and does all the things I would want a slicer to do, like let me fine tune how the spaces inside the model are filled or drop a pause into the printing so I can swap to a different colour of filament (handy for making text stand out).
You don’t necessarily need 3D design software, as long as you are content to just print off models other people have designed. For me though, the ability to design and print custom solutions and enhancements for my environment is a major part of the game. There are many choices although even the simplest can feel like they have a steep learning curve; others feel more like trying to climb an overhang. Trying to create a 3D model with accurate dimensions on a 2D screen is a mentally challenging task.
I have dabbled in 3D design software in the past but, since January, have mainly been using OpenSCAD. At a couple of points, when I felt I was hitting a brick wall, I have tried TinkerCAD (an online tool) and FreeCAD but both have managed to quickly convince me that perhaps OpenSCAD wasn’t so hard after all!
OpenSCAD is definitely software that appeals to people who think like programmers. You write a script in plain text and then run it to see the results. Other people might find it better to stick with more visually orientated tools. However, the big step forward in my learning was discovering the BOSL2 library. Pretty much all the things I had been struggling to do with standard OpenSCAD, like rounding off edges and neatly putting several different objects next to each other, are made trivial. Like Perl, it makes easy things easy and hard things possible (which will mean something to many programmers and probably not so much to most other people).
For my purposes, OpenSCAD with BOSL2 has been a brilliant tool. I don’t think I regret all of the first period when I was just trying to work within the constraints of the bare, official release but I wouldn’t have lost out by going straight to a development snapshot (not as scary as it sounds) from the OpenSCAD Downloads page and I could have benefited from getting started with BOSL2 (under Libraries) a little earlier. With the development version, I would also recommend turning on the Manifold 3D rendering back-end, which greatly speeds up rendering compared to the default CGAL (Edit | Preferences | Advanced).
30 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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The A1 Mini printer comes with a small amount of white PLA filament, which is enough to do a small print or two. I think I managed the BambuLab scraper (additional fittings for which come with the printer) and part of something else. However, I think it is essential to order at least one additional spool of filament to avoid being left to cool your heels just at the point when your enthusiasm is at its peak.
I ordered two, which actually turned up a week or two in advance of the printer itself. I got a spool of black PLA and one of white PETG. PLA is the present “standard” material and PETG is a little tougher and more flexible. I’ve mainly used PLA and it would have been suitable for everything I’ve done so far so, for someone starting off, I’d probably advise just getting a single spool of PLA.
I’m also not sure that either black or white were the best first colours. Black is harder to see the details on, especially when trying to install a printed part in a dark space, while white stands out too clearly. If was starting again, I would probably go for a batch of PLA in neutral grey, which is one of the colours I’ve subsequently added to my collection.
My first two spools were from BambuLab but the others have been from Sunlu. Both seem pretty good from my experience so far. Other colours I’ve gathered are ‘coffee’ (creamy light brown… not the way I normally have my coffee), a vivid green and a metallic ‘bronze’ (more of a shiny orange but still beautiful).
Before I get more, I could do with finishing off one or two of the existing collection. You need to store the stuff and that takes space! In my home environment, I haven’t had particular problems with moisture so a dehumidifier hasn’t seemed necessary. On the other hand, there is no point having endless spools of plastic slowly degrading so I don’t want to build too large a collection. When I do create room my next targets are going to be some kind of “wood” filament (which often includes actual wood particles) and possibly some TPU (a much more rubbery material, good when flexibility is important).
29 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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My choice of printer was a BambuLab A1 Mini. It is one of the smallest but also one of the most inexpensive 3D printers on the market (BambuLab have a sale on until 15th July, reducing the price even further). The pricing made it affordable but what won me round was the general consensus that it was a device in the “it just works” category. With some printers, the hobby seems to be mainly about building them and trying to get them to work but the A1 Mini has lived up to its billing and I’ve been able to concentrate on designing and printing rather than having to spend a lot of time on the mechanics of the printer.
Shortly after I bought it, there was some controversy around BambuLab as they imposed limitations on the slicer software that could be used with their devices. As a long-term Open Source advocate, this pained me a little but it still all works, including the option to check in on longer running prints from my phone when I am out and about, and it still remains as the option I would advocate (with the caveat that I haven’t had the chance to compare with similar competitors).
One of the benefits of the device is that it is small although the design needs you need to leave a certain amount of space, particularly at the front and back of the printer. You don’t gain a lot of space back compared to the smaller end of the market for enclosed printers and it also means there are some materials (eg. ABS) which it is recommend you don’t print (fumes and heat requirements). The small size means that the touchscreen is also on the small size, although I have found it responsive and still easy to use. If I was wanting to cover my walls and drawers with 3D printed storage solutions a larger build volume would be ideal (18 cubic centimetres means, for example, a maximum 4×4 gridfinity base plate) but I can live with that and most of my printing easily fits within the space.
So, although I haven’t got wide-ranging experience, I can say that the A1 Mini has proved a good starting point.
28 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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Between my chainsaw accident and then the session in the middle of June being cancelled, it seems like a long time since I’ve made it to one. Today I took the ukulele and contributed a few songs.
First off, I went for Wayfaring Stranger, in D minor. Others have sometimes done it but a key that forces me to sing too high or low for my comfortable range so I thought I’d get in first where it suits my voice. On my next go, I had been contemplating Watch What You’re Doing by Larry Norman (one of the songs that comes to mind in connection with chainsaws!) but, although I figured out the chords this morning, I wasn’t quite ready to unleash it. Instead I did the medley of Ain’t She Sweet / Five Foot Two / Yes Sir, That’s My Baby which is ideal on the ukulele. When it came round to me again, I ran with You Can Do One Ron (my rewrite of Da Doo Ron Ron) and, for a short one at the end, Bring Me Sunshine.
We don’t really need much more sunshine at the moment but it is another one suited to the instrument!
27 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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I’m now getting on for six months hands-on experience of 3D printing. That doesn’t make me a world-leading expert but it is enough time to have a better idea of how I can make use of the technology, what I’d do again and what I might think about doing differently. I’ll reflect on my choice of printer, filament and software in a series of posts over the coming week or so. By and large, I’m happy with the choices I’ve made but there are certainly refinements and things I would have done a little differently if I had known then what I have discovered since.
One thing I am very happy about is the decision to make an active start on 3d printing rather than just watching videos about other people doing it. I don’t have the printer running every day but it is rare that I go more than a week without transforming a bit more filament into something useful.
26 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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I hadn’t planned to spend this evening on DIY but the toilet seat cracked and so it needed replacing. First task: remove the cracked seat.
Unfortunately this hit various snags. Firstly, our toilet has a design where you can’t easily reach under to access fittings but you have to squeeze into a tight gap and reach round and back and up. I figured out a way to connect a small torch to a small mirror so I could see what was going on under there but, of course, reaching in obscured the view.
I’m also used to toilet seats with a large nut to hold onto underneath; this one has a small, square nut in a metal fitting. Perhaps there is a technique to it but, couple with the difficulty of access, I couldn’t figure it out. After various attempts with fingers and mole grips, I resorted to working up a 3D design and printing it out. Several iterations were needed as I couldn’t easily measure but I ended up with a piece that helped remove one of the screws by allowing me to hold it underneath while Jane used our impact driver at the top.
Alas, the head rounded off on the other side and so the rest of the evening was spent working on drilling the screw out. That’s still not done so I probably need to get a new drill bit for metal. I was working slowly and taking plenty of breaks to cool things off but it is taking far too long.
We probably won’t aim to replace the whole toilet but I will certainly be looking at the fixings on the replacement seat and trying to find something that will be easier to deal with.
25 June 2025
by wpAdmin
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Apparently the reason the American band Living Colour doesn’t use the US spelling is that founding guitarist Vernon Reid was born in London UK. His family moved to New York before his second birthday but, if you know his guitar playing, you won’t be entirely surprised by him making other quirky choices. The band was one I listened to a lot in my early bass playing years and I think had quite an influence on me.
I recently became aware that a documentary video that I haven’t seen for years was available on YouTube. Worth a watch for me:
Also on my “watch soon” list is a “Tiny Desk Concert” from the band which was released just a few hours ago:
(Doug Wimbish rather than Muzz Skillings on bass for this one).