Maker Spotlight: Yves from Noizie Works - The Ratrig Mod That Failed for Weeks Became This Maker's Proudest Achievement
By MakerViking
Published
Updated
7 min read
Category: Maker Spotlight
In the beginning, I thought I could make money selling designs. That didn't work out. I moved toward open source. Everything I create is free to download, including the Ratrig mods and the Mega Smoother. Talking with other makers showed me how important open-source is, especially when companies try
<div data youtube video="" <iframe src="https://www.youtube nocookie.com/embed/kCfkplx75Ec" class="youtube video embed my 4 rounded lg overflow hidden" allowfullscreen="true" rel="1" </iframe </div <h2 class="font bold" How did you first discover 3D printing, and what was your "aha moment"?</h2 <p class="mb 2" I discovered the hobby about five years ago. I was bored, saw an ad on Facebook for the Artillery X1 which I bought and thought, "Why not?" I also started my YouTube channel without any idea what I was doing. I made some small projects, filmed my experience, and that snowballed into what we have today: me trying to give you the most honest feedback possible.</p <p class="mb 2" My "aha moment" came a few months ago after a burnout. I realized working for a boss isn't for me. Now I'm working on my own print farm, service work, and consultancy startup. So if you're looking for any of these in and around Belgium hit me up!</p <h2 class="font bold" Walk us through your current workspace setup.</h2 <p class="mb 2" Most of the machines I have are provided by companies for review, though that policy is changing. My main workhorses are still the Ratrig behind me and the Qidi Plus 4, although that might change soon.</p <p class="mb 2" I use Fusion 360 for modeling or modifying existing files, and Orca Slicer because it's the best in my opinion. For video editing, I use Premiere Pro.</p <p class="mb 2" I also do woodworking with DeWalt tools mostly because the battery system is convenient. I have a full woodworking setup and a CNC for smaller projects. A lot will change next year as several printers will leave the shop to make room for machines I'm more excited about, like the Voron 2.4.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395331649 madv4t.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" What project are you most proud of, and why?</h2 <p class="mb 2" Recently I posted a video about modifying my Ratrig. I designed a new "stock plus" toolhead to support the Goliath mod. After weeks of setbacks, the project finally came together. It involved designing, creating, troubleshooting, and ending up with something useful not another paperweight. That Ratrig toolhead mod is the project I'm most proud of.</p <h2 class="font bold" Describe a major failure and what it taught you.</h2 <p class="mb 2" That same project. The water block leaked like crazy, the carbon beam didn't fit, and my design had flaws that forced me to redo work under a tight deadline. It taught me not to give up. Sometimes you need to walk away for a week and come back with a fresh mind. The solution is usually easier than it seems when you're stressed.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395362347 hfe8i0.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" What misconceptions about 3D printing do you constantly correct?</h2 <p class="mb 2" That 3D printing is only for making toys. We're far past that. Engineering materials are now affordable, and printers like the Qidi+4 cost just over €500 and can print almost anything except Ultem, PEEK, and similar high end materials. We're no longer limited to fidget spinners.</p <h2 class="font bold" What's your go to troubleshooting process and your most unusual fix?</h2 <p class="mb 2" The most unusual fix was needing extremely low flow, 0.81on the Ratrig Goliath mod, even though most hotends sit around 0.94–0.95. There was just too much flow.</p <p class="mb 2" The real lesson: follow calibration from top to bottom. Start with temperatures, then flow, then all the Orca Slicer calibration steps. Most print problems come down to wet filament or poorly tuned profiles.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395380551 s8nsbz.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" How do you approach the design to print workflow?</h2 <p class="mb 2" I usually design everything myself. Remixing meshes is its own rabbit hole, and working with triangle meshes is cursed. Fusion can convert them, but the results are rough.</p <p class="mb 2" When needed, I do scans for reference and use them to measure or overlay shapes. I once used a brush style mesh tool (like ZBrush or Meshmixer) to add thickness to a model, but that's as far as I go. I prefer designing from scratch.</p <h2 class="font bold" What material or technique is underrated?</h2 <p class="mb 2" ABS. It's easy to sand, easy to glue, and excellent for multi part prints. I often print huge computer cases for a client, and even a 400mm Ratrig isn't big enough so everything needs to be glued. PLA, PETG, nylon, TPU… they're all hard to glue. ABS with acetone slurry is unbeatable. It's not the strongest filament anymore, but for sanding, gluing, painting, and large multi part builds, it's still the GOAT.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395402482 2juwzy.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" How has being part of the maker community shaped your approach?</h2 <p class="mb 2" In the beginning, I thought I could make money selling designs. That didn't work out. I moved toward open source. Everything I create is free to download, including the Ratrig mods and the Mega Smoother (which will also be open source). Talking with other makers showed me how important open source is, especially when companies try to pull fast ones. Open source can't do that.</p <p class="mb 2" It also made me more thoughtful when designing. People around the world might print my parts, so I try to reduce jankiness so their prints succeed.</p <h2 class="font bold" What advice would you give someone overwhelmed by the technical learning curve?</h2 <p class="mb 2" Start small. I started on the couch with a laptop, beers, and Fusion 360 tutorials from Lars Christensen. Follow tutorials, make simple shapes, learn features by trying them. Every design becomes better than the last. It's just like going to the gym! you suck at first, but you improve by practicing.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395425062 ek5w4s.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" Where do you see personal fabrication in 5 years, and how are you preparing?</h2 <p class="mb 2" I think it will become even more important. Here in Belgium, we're still early in adoption, but cheap printers like Bambu, Creality, and the "Qidi printers" are changing that. Schools and households are adopting 3D printing.</p <p class="mb 2" Consumerism and the decline of right to repair are major problems. Companies won't support you, so being able to design, fix, and print your own parts will become essential! Maybe even a future job skill. We live in a throwaway culture, and personal fabrication is the way out.</p <h2 class="font bold" What's currently on your workbench or in your print queue?</h2 <p class="mb 2" On the bench is the FlashForge AD5X. I just finished a video where I added full Klipper support(FLUIDD). Next is a video about graphite beds, I have six of them because the Sovol SV08 bed is horribly warped. Graphite might offer even heating and near zero Z offset variation. We'll test that.</p <p class="mb 2" And in the future, we're going to set a printer on fire… Let's leave it at that lol.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395448479 kbx0fy.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <h2 class="font bold" Outside of making, what inspires your creative process?</h2 <p class="mb 2" Watching other people create. Adam Savage is the reason I started doing what I do. During COVID, his one day builds inspired me massively. In our Discord Team 7, makers like FX Woody also inspire me (HI DUDE!) he's redesigning a Qidi+4 from the ground up, and seeing people push boundaries sparks ideas for my own projects.</p <p class="mb 2" Not everything you make has to make sense. Some of my projects, like the laptop cooling pad, aren't useful to anyone else, but the process teaches you something for the next build.</p <h2 class="font bold" If you could only keep three tools/machines?</h2 <p class="mb 2" A 3D printer, a drill, and a soldering iron.</p <hr <h2 class="font bold" Lightning Round</h2 <p class="mb 2" <strong Favorite filament brand (10 words or less):</strong <br ABS Highspeed from EOM. Prints great, doesn't warp, earns me money.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Most underrated tool under $50:</strong <br A bearing tool for 3D printing, and a metal chisel for removing prints without damaging the flex plate.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong STL website you visit the most:</strong <br Printables—great layout, nice reward program, not pushy, and not run by a questionable company.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Dream machine with unlimited budget:</strong <br Vision Miner IDEX 22V4.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Most played podcast/YouTube channel:</strong <br Mostly non–3D printing stuff like Moore's Law Is Dead and Hardware Unboxed (computer stuff).</p <p class="mb 2" <strong First vs. most recent print:</strong <br First print: a fix for my own printer, back when printers were junk.<br Most recent: rubber duckies on the AD5X for Z mod testing.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Slicer of choice & one setting to tweak:</strong <br Orca.<br Setting: filament and infill.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Biggest maker sin:</strong <br A messy workshop and hoarding filament I never use, especially PLA.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Maker everyone should follow:</strong <br Taylor from YGK3D.</p <p class="mb 2" <strong Maker superpower in three words:</strong <br "Fuck around, find out." I own that one.</p <img src="https://api.tinkeratlas.com/storage/v1/object/public/project images/articles/70aec187 0e8f 4711 b925 a50e749f3deb/1763395465898 6epasm.jpg" alt="" height="auto" <p class="mb 2" </p
