I’ve always considered myself as more of a “software girly” — I was used to solving problems through code on my computer. But Vivero has pushed me into unfamiliar territory which I think has been my biggest area of growth so far!
Learning how to use most of the hands-on tools found in the Burling basement (3D printers, Cricut machines, etc.) has been a complete shift from my comfort zone, but it’s been such a refreshing change of pace. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating something physical after years of working purely in digital environments.
For areas of weakness, I find myself being overly cautious with expensive or unknown hands-on equipment (due to my lack of experience with hardware). My hesitation sometimes holds me back from fully exploring what these tools can do.
Without a doubt, learning how to use the 3D printers has been my favorite discovery as a Vivero fellow. There’s something magical about watching a picture from a digital file transform into a physical object, layer by layer. The process appeals to both my technical side (optimizing print settings, troubleshooting issues) and creative side (endless possibilities).
Considering what I’ve gotten good at, what I’d like to improve, and what I’ve enjoyed learning, I want to focus my professional development on becoming truly comfortable with our new H2D printer. This machine represents the perfect intersection of my interests – it’s technically challenging while offering incredible creative possibilities beyond just printing. Specifically, I want to
- Make reliable, clean prints
- Learn proper maintenance: replacing left-hand filament and swapping nozzles
- Learn how to remove the nozzle attachments to replace with a pen for pen plotting
- Experiment!
My first priority is getting comfortable with standard 3D printing on the H2D. I want to build a solid foundation before exploring advanced features. The first step is simple — just have more practice!