3D Printing Adventures: From Dumpster Finds to Multi-Color Magic

Started: Jan 2025

It all started back in 2019. I found myself falling down the YouTube rabbit hole, watching makers experiment with 3D models and printers. I was fascinated, but I couldn't justify the cost. It seemed like an expensive hobby for something I wasn't sure I'd stick with.

The Lucky Break

Fate intervened in late 2020. I stumbled across a Fokoos Odin-5 F3 in a giveaway bin. Free. I couldn't say no to that.

I brought it home, set it up, and immediately hit the steep part of the learning curve. This wasn't a "plug and play" machine. Bed leveling was manual. Calibration was manual. Every single print required the ritual of the "paper test"—sliding a piece of paper between the nozzle and the bed until it felt just right.

It was a pain, honestly. If I skipped it, the print failed. But looking back, it was the best way to learn. I was forced to understand the mechanics of how these machines actually work.

Finding My Footing

I started small. The obligatory Benchy, temperature towers, calibration cubes. Once I dialed it in, I moved on to the fun stuff. I printed Pokemon models and intricate jewelry like snowflakes and Christmas trees for my wife.

My workflow became a ritual: print everything in white filament, then prime and paint it later. It added a personal touch to everything I made. I even ventured into custom prints, making a nameplate for the house.

The Upgrade: BambuLab A1

After a couple of years of manual calibration and tinkering, I finally decided to treat myself. I pulled the trigger on a BambuLab A1 with AMS.

The difference? Mind-blowing.

The automation is a godsend. No more paper tests, no more fiddling with tension springs. It just works. And the multi-color printing? It changed the game completely (even if the "filament poop" is a bit wasteful!).

Functional Prints and Design

With the A1, I shifted from trinkets to functional pieces. I've printed:

• A custom holder for my Sushi Go Party cards and pieces.
• A sturdy phone stand.
• Holders for my filament spools.

Now, I'm tackling the next frontier: Design.

It's significantly harder than I expected. Translating the idea in my mind into a 3D model is a real challenge. I've managed some small wins—lettered keychains, Pokemon coasters—but I have a long way to go.

What's Next?

I'm still exploring everything the A1 can do, but I admit, I'm already eyeing the new tool-changer printers coming out. Maybe someday. For now, I'm just happy to have a printer that spends more time printing than it does waiting for me to level the bed.