Robert tells us about 3D printing – how he started and what it means to him.
My path to this hobby didn’t start with a grand plan. For me, 3D printing arrived as an unexpected lifeline. I was in the middle of giving up smoking, and a friend of mine, seeing I needed something to keep me occupied, gave me a shot of his 3D printer.
The machine was a Qidi Smart x one 2. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wasn’t intimidated. I just wanted to dive in. I got it set up, and I was literally starting my first print within 10 minutes. It was just a pre-loaded cube shape, nothing special, but as I watched it build, layer by layer, I was hooked. The moment I held that little plastic cube in my hand, I knew this was for me. The initial goal of just being distracted was gone, replaced by this new, compelling interest.
After the cube, I wanted to try something more ambitious. I went on Printables website and found a model for a dragon with joints that moved. This was a huge jump. It was a “print-in-place” model, meaning it was designed to come off the printer with all its little joints and segments already working. It was amazing to see it print, knowing it would all be done.
And it worked! The dragon came off the printing plate, and I could move it around. The thrill was undeniable, but it also showed me the printer’s limits. Being an older model, the quality just wasn’t great. There was a lot of stringing – this is where thin plastic strands are left over on the model. And it looked rough. I could see the potential, but I was frustrated that I couldn’t make the clean, finished-looking objects I had in my head.
That frustration didn’t make me quit; it did the opposite. I decided if I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. I didn’t just get a small upgrade; I cannonballed straight into the deep end and ordered a brand-new Creality Hi Combo, complete with the CFS 4-spool feeder.
When it arrived, all I could say was, “Wow.” The difference was night and day. Going from that old printer to this new setup was like jumping from a propeller plane to a jet. The two things that blew me away were the print quality and, of course, the ability to print in multiple colors. The fuzzy details were gone, replaced by sharp, professional-looking prints.
The multi-color ability opened up a whole new universe. The first thing I had to print was a little white ghost with black eyes and a mouth. Just seeing it switch to the different coloured plastic automatically was incredible. But after that first fun print, my mind immediately went to practical things. The very next project I did was a set of custom warning signs for my CCTV system, printed in bright, can’t-miss-it yellow and black.
That, for me, was the moment I realised how far I’d come. What started as just a thoughtful gift from a friend to keep my hands busy had turned into a real, powerful passion. I went from printing a simple block, to a stringy dragon, to making high-quality, functional, multi-color items that I actually needed. The printer wasn’t just a distraction anymore; it was my tool for creation.
