Maker Spotlight: MakerMind Nexus - A Journey Through 3D Printing and Community Building
By MakerViking
Published
Updated
7 min read
Category: Maker Spotlight
MakerMind Nexus shares his thoughts and experiences with 3D printing, and the Maker Community.
<p class="mb 2" <strong How did you first discover 3D printing, and what was your "aha" moment that made you realize this was more than just a hobby?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I first heard about 3d printing back in 2016 when I started working in the education sector and the school I work at brought in a tech consultant who talked to the staff about it. Then over the years I started watching many YouTube channels like 3d Printing Nerd (Joel Telling) and realized that this was something I could do as well as help grow it in our STEM Classes which is when I would say I had my AHA moment.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong Walk us through your current workspace setup what machines, tools, and software form the backbone of your making process?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Current machine setup is the Peopoly Magneto X, Elegoo Centauri Carbon, LDO Voron Switchwire, Kingroon KP3S, Fabreeko/Honeybadger Rolohaun/Kanrog Rook2020 and I have an LDO Kit Rook2020 I need to get assembled. I have also had many other printers over the years.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1759787575339 kt665i.jpg" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong What's the project you're most proud of, and why does it stand out among everything you've created?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I would have to say my family is my greatest project but in the Maker Community I would say the Printer Rehab Project. It is still going and growing. I take in older printers and rebuild them and with the help of companies like Polymaker and Microswiss I have been able to just give them away to those less fortunate that want to be a part of this great community. As for a print that stands out to me I would say the LabRax from Michael Klements on YouTube <a target=" blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="text blue 600 hover:text blue 800 dark:text blue 400 dark:hover:text blue 200 underline cursor pointer transition colors" href="https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKlements" https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKlements</a </p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1759787877942 dmxv9z.jpg" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong Describe a spectacular failure or challenge you've faced in your making journey and what it taught you.</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Overcoming some of the early issues in my days of building a Voron v2.4 the bed leveling and meshings and getting the first layer to print right everytime without having to adjust I would say was my biggest challenge to overcome. With lots of time practice and taking time away to clear my head and start again. That is the key when you get overwhelmed just walk away, clear your head and come back fresh.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong What misconception about 3D printing or making do you find yourself constantly correcting when talking to newcomers?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" LOL, that all we want to do is talk about 3d printing and the cool things we can make that is just simply not true, There is filament, types of printer, what each material is best suited for. I mean it is not just about what we have printed.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <h2 class="font bold" Technical Deep Dives</h2 <p class="mb 2" <strong What's your go to troubleshooting process when a print goes wrong, and what's the most unusual fix you've discovered?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" This is a good one. I would say when I get a print fail I first look to see what kind of fail it was? Depending I would start with where the issue started and work back like if the filament did not come out I would heat the hot end and try to extrude some filament if it is not coming out I would then check to see if the nozzle is clogged or if the extruder is actually trying to push plastic. As for unusual fixes I have been in 3d printing now seriously since 2018 and I think I have seen and done it all. My go to with a clogged nozzle is to take it out and hold it with pliers and just hit it with a torch till all the filament bubbles out and then do a "manual cold pull on just the nozzle while I am holding it with the pliers to help clear it out.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong How do you approach the design to print workflow? Do you design everything yourself, remix existing models, or combine approaches?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I am not much of a designer, I do mostly remixes of other models to work for my situation. In most cases I look for a model that has what I need and then either modify it our cut it up for the parts I need and then add them to my basic models that I setup in Tinkercad. I am a Tinkercad Noob but I get things done LOL.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong What material or technique do you think is underrated in the maker community, and how do you use it in your work?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I would have to say that I am a huge fan of ASA. I have been using it for a lot of my structural parts these days and love it over ABS I know with either there are some risks so I do encourage everyone to stay safe while printing with them.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <h2 class="font bold" Community & Philosophy</h2 <p class="mb 2" <strong How has being part of the maker community shaped your approach to creating and sharing your work?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Just the overwhelming love and support. This community is a great group of people that want to help and build each other up. Everyone here just wants to see everyone succeed in all of our adventures not just in the Maker space but all facets of life.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong What advice would you give to someone who's interested in making but feels overwhelmed by the technical learning curve?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Just find the thing in the Maker Community that excites you and reach out to that community. Join their discords, follow them on socials, and just see what they are doing. Ask them questions like how did you get started and what would you recommend to someone new coming into the space?</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong Where do you see personal fabrication and 3D printing heading in the next 5 years, and how are you preparing for those changes?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I am just a simple guy with a few printers, a webcam and a microphone and in the next 5 years I see me doing just that sitting in my garage chatting with the internet, rebuilding old machines, and helping to bring more people into the 3d printing and maker communities.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <h2 class="font bold" Personal Touch</h2 <p class="mb 2" <strong What's currently on your workbench or in your print queue that has you excited?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" I have been working on the LabRax 10 inch network rack by Michael Klements and printing a lot of little things for my wife, daughters, and their friends and families.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong Outside of making, what influences or inspires your creative process?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Working in a school with many students and staff needs daily either help push me to make things or find things that will work to help meet all their needs. 3D printing has helped me not only get things fast when I need them but also in most cases much cheaper which in a school is a good thing being able to save money.</p <p class="mb 2" </p <p class="mb 2" <strong If you could only keep three tools/machines in your workshop, what would they be and why?</strong </p <p class="mb 2" Right now I would have to say the Elegoo Centauri Carbon is an amazing machine for price to performance, a deburring tool, and a pair of side cutters. With that I can get 90+% of my tasks completed.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1759787940069 glhfdu.jpg" alt="" width="43%" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" Lightning Round</h2 <p class="mb 2" <strong Favorite filament brand and why in 10 words or less:</strong Polymaker, they have a huge list of materials/colors and great pricing.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Most underrated tool under $50 every maker should own:</strong Deburring Tool</p <p class="mb 2" <strong STL/model website you visit most frequently:</strong Printables</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Dream tool or machine you'd buy with unlimited budget:</strong More Elegoo Centauri Carbons.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Most played podcast/YouTube channel while working in the shop:</strong That is hard to say with so many great people in this community, big and small channels.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong First thing you ever 3D printed vs. most recent print:</strong The Cat from the Creality sd and now a LaFuFu/LaBuBu.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Slicer of choice and one setting everyone should tweak:</strong Orcaslicer and Top Bottom and Walls 3, 3, and 3 as a baseline.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Biggest "maker sin" you're guilty of:</strong All of the above LOL. (messy workspace, never finishing projects, hoarding filament, etc.)</p <p class="mb 2" <strong One maker/creator everyone should be following right now:</strong I would love to say me but LeeMerie3d Jeremy and Keila are an amazing husband and wife team.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Your maker superpower in 3 words:</strong Love to talk.</p
