How A.Prints Began: An Engineer’s Journey into 3D Printing

Our Journey: Where Curiousity Met Engineering

Let me start off with a cliché opening sentence – Ever since I could remember I have been a creative individual. No really, I have been creative since I was a child. My earliest memory was between the ages of eight till eleven, I cannot really pinpoint the specific age, but I really enjoyed taking things apart and trying to see what part what was and so on. In my house we used to have old virgin media and sky boxes, and I used to take a hammer and screwdriver and take it apart (with my parents’ permission of course) and look online at which part is which and what part goes where. I used to get in trouble only because I could never put the darn thing back together again, so I used to keep the destroyed parts in bin bags in our storage cupboards.

Now let us skip ahead to secondary school. During lessons if I had the chance too, I used to love making little paper dioramas, they could be little houses, to maybe a castle, anything that could be built I did it using paper and during lessons only if I was allowed too. I used to try and take them home in one piece, but putting anything in a teenager’s backpack surely is not a promising idea. I picked product design as one of my GCSE subjects due to my love for making things, it was not until later I discovered that most of what I did and what I was into fell under the large scope that is called engineering. I used to stay after school with my teacher to work on our class projects and this was before my GCSE’s; I am grateful I had teachers that like to help with my interests. When it came picking our GCSE’s I made sure that I selected product design as a subject. At end of it, I had successfully made a children’s size blue Italian vespa out of wood with the help of my teacher too. I gave it to my younger cousin, who continues to use it to this day despite having grown since then.  

When it came to picking sixth forms, we had a career advisor who asked me my interests and suggested engineering to me. At that point I did not know that I would become a mechanical engineer, but the thought of studying engineering was a dream come true for me. A few years later, I learned that my career advisor had passed away; her guidance was invaluable to me.  So, I picked a UTC (University Technical College) in East London and that is the place where I fully discovered 3D printing and I can now confidently say that, that institution changed the trajectory of my life and career.

During year 12, we started to use 3D printers in line with CNC milling machines and my love for 3D printers began. Me and a few friends were wondering how attainable one was and after seeing you could get one for a couple hundred pounds, one of my friends bought an Ender 5 and that inspired me to buy an Ender 3. I bought mine during the third national lockdown in February 2021. I remember that day clear as day, the first colour I bought with it was blue and man oh man did I struggle with that Ender 3. Today’s printers are easy to use right out of the box, but seasoned 3D printing enthusiasts remember the challenges of manual levelling and getting that crucial first layer to stick—not to mention the complexities of multi-coloured prints. As soon as I 3D printer arrived, A.Prints was born, it did not take me long to think of a name. It is the first letter of my first name with the word Prints. I have faced many 3D printing errors and learned important lessons, which I will share here.  

I started university in October 2021 and in February 2022, I bought my second 3D printer, and it was a CR-10 Smart Pro by Creality, my favourite brand of 3D printers and the creator of my first printer, the Ender 3. While operating my business during my time at university, I acquired valuable insights into 3D printing and legal matters. I will discuss these lessons in detail in future journal entries. I used to use my 3D printer for my university assignments for myself and for my group projects. My second printer was much larger than my first one with the build volume being 300 x 300 x 400 mm (X/Y/Z) , whereas my Ender 3 was 220 x 220 x 250 mm (X/Y/Z) and that is the main reason I bought it. I wanted to print helmets and masks in one go, which I did and print a range of materials like TPU. After graduating from university, I kept running my business; however, during my third year, my printer sat unused for months, which caused sales to stop. This became another life lesson I plan to reflect on in my journal later.  

My most recent 3D printer which I use alongside the CR-10 Smart Pro by Creality is another Creality printer and it is the Creality Hi Combo with CFS. CFS allows for multi-colour 3D printing in the same print and without the need for manual changing and whatnot. This print is constantly helping me innovate better.

Why We Are Who We Are

3D printing helps me to achieve whatever is in my mind. My own personal mantra is, “if it can be thought, it can be printed.” Owning multiple 3D printers and having my own business means that innovation is a constant thought for me. I am always thinking of new products and how to improve existing ones, I also have a rule that I only sell products that I design. I am not interested in selling other peoples designs even if I pay for their Patreon and things like that, the only times I partake in such activities is when some requests a design that they saw online and I print it and charge them for it as one does. I want my business to shape your life and help you in ways that may be minuscule but have an everlasting impact. No matter how big or small, each product is designed with care, focus, and true enthusiasm. I love designing and I love printing. I decided to begin a journal because I am passionate about this topic and wanted to share my perspective. I want this journal to inspire others or to just be a delightful read on a Thursday Night. 

At its core, this business exists because I love to think and create-turning thought into reality.