The future can be anything you want. Let's make it bright!
It all started with Legos. That powerful sensation of, "I can make anything!"
I recall the specific moment and feeling when my college roommate at Florida State University told me about 3D printers. He had to show me the TED talk because I thought he was nuts. I remember trying to imagine the power of a machine that can make any shape... And what it would require of me to make it work.
Studying Chemical Engineering and wondering how I'd find a job during the recession without working for big oil or big pharma; after FSU, I found a job as a bartender in Chicago.
And, I started collecting skills I knew would be important. Coding, soldering, electrical circuit design, wiring techniques. A buddy and I would salvage electronic components from old TVs and build new circuits with them. Collecting and honing skills by recycling discarded machines.
By chance, I was introduced to Google's Sketchup by my younger brother. Suddenly, I had a 3D drawing program. I started practicing.
Eventually, I made my way to Ithaca, NY, and stayed for 3 years while my girlfriend went to school at Cornell University. I got a job managing Cornell's Food Engineering Research Lab and was introduced to my first full-sized Extruder, the good kind with twin-screws. An extruder is a machine that pushes stuff out of a hole. Sounds simple, right?
The type of Extruder we had at Cornell is used to make food products like cheese-puffs or breakfast cereal. Cornell's extrusion research has a unique feature: super-critical carbon dioxide injected at very high pressure.
The machine is older than me. It will not fit in your house, and many of its parts require two strong people to lift. You take a ladder to the second story of the machine to add more material. If you get your finger stuck in the machine you will not get it back. It was a fun machine. 😁
But now, the cool part. About a year into my time at Cornell I bought my first 3D Printer, a Reprap Prusa I3. During the 4 weeks it took to ship from China, I read everything I could find about 3D Printing. When it arrived I started printing everything. I was terrible at it. 😂
But, with practice, discipline, practice, determination, practice and hard work, I got better. It also took a lot of practice.
Shortly before we left Ithaca, a buddy of mine mentioned the fact that he breeds Leopard Geckos. We got our two beloved Leos from him and I also got a request: He said, "Make me a water bowl so crickets can't drown." And I did.
Then my girlfriend said, "Make me a Calcium Dish that can't be flipped." And I did.
I was looking for a new job at the time, here in my home town, Orlando, FL. Hoping to ease my financial situation while I was looking, I decided to go ahead and post the LG Water Dish and the LG Calcium Dish on Etsy. I mean, they work so well, why wouldn't I share them?
You liked them. You told me, "Stroodies, now make me this!" And I did.
Welcome to the Future, you found it! It can be anything you want. Let's make it bright!
