Why I Still Sketch on Paper Before Opening CAD Software
Every project still starts on paper, with a pencil, before a single line gets drawn in CAD software. Here is why that old habit has earned its place permanently.
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A Failed Print Taught Me More Than a Successful One
A spectacularly failed print, hours into a job, taught me more about how my printer actually behaves than any successful print ever has.
What I Actually Use a CNC Machine for Most
People assume a CNC machine is mostly for big, dramatic furniture builds. In practice, the most common job it actually does for me is something much smaller and more mundane.
The Material Switch That Solved a Problem I Did Not Know I Had
I had been blaming my printer settings for months. The actual problem was the material itself, and switching solved issues I had not even properly identified yet.
Why I Design for Repairability Even in Personal Projects
Even on projects nobody else will ever see, I design every joint and fastener to be repairable later. Years of fixing other people's sealed, glued devices taught me why that matters.
The Print Settings I Wish Someone Had Told Me Sooner
A handful of print settings make a bigger difference than any upgrade I have ever bought. I wish someone had just told me these on day one.
Why I Still Get a Kick Out of Watching a 3D Printer Work
After 25 years in tech, very little still makes me stop and stare. A 3D printer turning a file into a physical object still does it every time.
From CAD File to Coffee Table: A Weekend Build
A weekend project combining CNC-cut timber, 3D-printed joinery, and laser-engraved detail — and everything that went sideways along the way.
The 3D-Printed Part That Saved a Client $400
A snapped plastic bracket, a discontinued machine, and a $400 quote for a replacement that did not need to happen. Here is how 3D printing solved it for the cost of some filament.