How 3D printing supercharges creativity

In a recent video (below) I share how I often come up with new creations.

3D printing is a secret weapon (OK, not that secret) in making innovation easier.

For the last few years, I’ve been 3D printing geared cubes and balls (right)  as an “entry level” item to sell at events. I change the designs, enlarge them, and otherwise make them distinctive, but the pieces are still designed by someone else and downloaded from one of my favorite sites, Thingaverse.

I always give credit where credit is due on the designs – just as I ask people who reproduce my work to do – but I’ve gotten tired of that design. And I prefer to offer my own designs.

This year I decided to create tops. I’ve always been interested in them, and that curiosity is great fuel for creation.

Like most things, the devil is in the details. As I mention in the video, I had to learn about balance, weight, spin and even launchers. I’ve made some tops in aluminum and copper, but most are 3D printed.

And I got a huge jump start because of 3D printing. I was able to download some designs from Thingaverse, spin them, play with them, and simply better understand best practices for tops.

Sure, I could have done all that with metal in my lathe or even carved wooden models, but being able to create in 3D-printed filament, even though a print can take many hours, has sped up the creation process immensely.

OK, enough talking – it’s time to get back to playing ….

Enjoy the video: