Our Library has 3D Printers (and more!)

Last weekend, Susan and I visited one of our local metro libraries. You already know libraries lend books, and probably knew they also have CDs, DVDs, and audiobooks, but did you know they have an entire makerspace full of tools available free for public use? Susan wanted to visit the Bethany Library (part of Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Library System) to look into reserving a room, and while there we got a quick tour of the library’s makerspace. We had seen the space once before when the library was remodeled a couple of years ago, but we wanted to see what… (read more)

Breaking Even on 3D Prints!

There’s a running joke I make every time I 3D print something new. After figuring the cost of the the filament I used (which is usually just a few pennies) I announce the item’s cost and follow it with, “or as Susan would say,” and then I add $600 (the price of the printer) to the total amount. It’s actually kind of a dual-layer joke because Susan never actually says that. I just pretend that she does. Because most of the items I print are relatively small, the cost of the filament I use per print is pretty inconsequential. The… (read more)

3D Printed Phone Holder

Earlier this year, I replaced my computer monitors with slightly larger ones. The new monitors came with stands that don’t adjust vertically, so I bought some small shelves from Amazon to raise the monitors. The shelves had little cut outs to hold my phone and allow the charging cable to remain connected — super useful! After months of neck pain I realized the shelves make the monitors too tall. Instead of hacking them up with a jigsaw I flipped them upside-down, which lowers the top shelf by about two inches. Now they’re the perfect height… but I can no longer… (read more)

Pushing Projects Forward

I can’t remember if I mentioned this or not — I can’t remember anything, anymore — but my 3D printer wasn’t working properly for a while. It was working okay, but not great. Everything I printed was coming out with a weird, rough finish. For the longest time I thought there was something wrong with my printer, but after doing a bunch of online research I narrowed the issue down to a single software setting. Literally, checking a single box in the software fixed the issue. I bought an Ultimate 64 over a year ago. The Ultimate 64 is a… (read more)

A Place to Hang My Hat

Last week while pulling into my driveway, I happened to notice my neighbor outside working in his yard. It wasn’t what he was doing that caught my attention, but rather what he was wearing: a big, wide-brimmed sun hat. I decided then and there that I too would own a large hat to protect my head from the sun. Four minutes later, I had ordered a bucket hat from Amazon. I mostly associate bucket hats with fishing and I’ve always secretly wanted one, which is kind of stupid, because I hate fishing (and the sun). Then again I own a… (read more)

3D Printing Useful Things

I’ve owned my 3D printer for eight months now. I spent the first six months printing “decorative” items that ended up sitting on shelves — and while those things are fun to print, it’s tough to justify the money I spent on the printer ($600) when only printing cookie cutters and action figure stands. Over the past couple of months, things started to change. It all started roughly two months ago, when I realized I needed some bookends for my DVD shelves. Thinking they would only cost a dollar or two, I went to Amazon in search of some cheap… (read more)

3D Printer Back Up and Running

My foray into 3D printing got off to a rocky start. I originally unboxed and assembled my printer on the dining room table. Everything worked great until I moved the printer upstairs. During that process, a wire that controlled a critical cooling fan failed. When the fan failed, a pretty important part of the printer cooked itself. Fortunately, instead of buying the printer directly from China, I purchased it from TinyMachines3D, who priority shipped me a replacement part. When that didn’t fix the issue, Chris, the owner of the company, worked with me over the phone until we got the… (read more)

The Wonderful World of 3D Printing

Last month I didn’t know anything about 3D printers, but the universe has a unique way of telling me when it’s time for a new toy. My friend Justin mentioned he could use something 3D printed. Then my friend Jeff also mentioned 3D printing. A blogger I follow, Rob Cockerham, bought a 3D printer. Then I bought a couple of 3D-printed Star Wars-related items online (you’ll have to wait until Wednesday to see those.) After recently selling my car I ended up with some spare money sitting in my bank account, and decided to take the hint from the cosmos… (read more)

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