I have a paper printer at home that is always out of ink.
The world has become so digital that I rarely need to print, but when I do — I quickly realize that it’s not just me. All my friends also have printers without ink. At this point, it’s just taking up space, and it might be time to replace yours too.
The Better Alternative
If you can’t buy paper ink, get a 3D printer.
I’ve been whispering about 3D printers to anyone that would listen for months now. I hesitated to buy one myself, genuinely stunted by the perceived learning curve. It wasn’t the hardware; it was the “slicing software” used to convert a 3D model into a set of instructions that the printer can actually understand. I am notorious for starting new projects and letting them fizzle out, but I’m turning a new leaf to concentrate my time on one thing at a time - Welcome to my change-log.
I got a 3D printer for my 27th birthday. With the slicer intimidation barrier still there, the gift meant I had to make time for it. No more excuses.
Filament Over Ink
In the 3D printer world, ink is called filament.
It’s essentially a big spool of plastic that gets melted and laid down layer by tiny layer. Similar to actual printers, filament allows for printing in a whole spectrum of colors and materials like wood-fill or flexible TPU, and the only real limitation is the size of the printer’s build plate.
After the first print, I was hooked and ordered 8 x 1 kg filament spools. With a 1kg spool of filament and basic printing settings, you can expect to print around 6-7 pieces of varying sizes, though the exact number depends on the size, infill, and other slicing settings.
I spend my days selecting and printing free models. Check out this elegant bowl I printed.
Loud and Proud
The latest addition to my maker lab is… loud.
It’s got a distinct personality, with whirring stepper motors and fans, and it’s definitely loud enough to be heard in the background during meetings. “What’s that noise, Jarry?” is a common question. To avoid that, I schedule my longer prints overnight or on days I’m working from the office.
Projects I’m interested in building once I learn 3D slicing:
- Personalized borders for the Aura Frame.
- Website to schedule tasks on my printer. The idea of it sitting idle feels like a waste. So, I’m planning on exposing my 3D printer to the internet (safely, of course).
Now, I can cook up a custom bracket in software and have a physical, usable part in my hand hours later. It’s a completely new feedback loop for me as a maker.