The Resilient Crafting Community

Crafting skills and techniques have been passed down from one generation to the next, since the days when you didn’t even need workshop insurance! Each generation has drawn on its predecessor, from the artisans of ancient times, to the guilds of the medieval period and the creative explosion of the Renaissance. This aspect of passing on skills in the crafting community continued despite the Industrial Revolution when machines began to take over from crafting processes and mass production reduced the overall demand for handcrafted items.

In the 20th century, crafting began incorporating new materials and technologies, such as plastics and computer-aided design (CAD). Then the arrival of the internet and digital tools in the 21st century heralded a crafting comeback with online platforms enabling crafters to share skills and techniques more than ever before.

Now, with accessible tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters, the possibilities for modern craftspeople have extended yet further. Not only is it possible to engage with online communities to source ideas, troubleshoot issues, and get feedback on designs, but you can also take advantage of opportunities for collaborative 3D projects with open-source designs (there is a vast library of them).

For members of the modern-day crafting community, 3D printers offer a wealth of possibilities. They can be used to produce specialised objects at home, or in your workshop, and you don’t even have to design them yourself if you don’t want to!

If you are interested in the world of 3D printing, read on, we have provided here a brief exploration of the benefits of owning a 3D printer and an insight into some of the skills and techniques you can use to broaden your crafting capacity. As an aside, if you decide to invest in a more expensive 3D printer and need to discuss your workshop insurance as a result, please do give us a call.

3D Printers

A 3D printer is a device that produces three-dimensional objects using a digital modelling file. These printers create the desired object by squeezing different materials such as plastic, metal, resin, and ceramics layer by layer. If you are interested in having a go and buying a 3D printer for yourself…

• Make sure to choose a printer that is big enough to produce objects of the size you want.
• Be aware that the resolution of the printer determines the level of detail of the printed objects.
• Different 3D printers can work with different materials, so you need to choose a printer that is suitable for the material you plan to use.
• To help the design process, the printer must have software that is easy to use.

A 3D printer can be purchased from anything under £100 to over £10,000.
Take a look here.

Here are a few ideas for 3D printing that we’d like to pass on to you in good old crafting fashion:

1. Custom Tools and Moulds:

You can design and print custom tools, such as knitting aids, sculpting tools, or specialised cutters using your 3D printer. It can also be used to create moulds for soap making, candle making, resin casting, and chocolate moulds.

2. Prototyping and Design Testing:

Before committing to a final product, you can print prototypes to test your design concepts. This kind of rapid “prototyping” allows you to make adjustments and improvements.

3. Bespoke Components and Parts:

You can print replacement parts for tools or machines which can extend the life of your equipment and at the same time, reduce waste. Whether it’s hinges, clasps or handles, they can all be designed and printed to fit.

4. Personalised Creations:

Your 3D printer can create intricate, personalised jewellery that would be difficult or time-consuming to make by hand, as well as other bespoke items such as nameplates, ornaments or keychains.

5. Complex Structures and Geometries:

Highly detailed and complex structures that would be challenging to create using traditional crafting techniques can be achieved much more easily with a 3D printer, anything from architectural models to intricate miniatures for games. 3D artists can produce sculptures with complex internal structures and very fine details.

6. Material Experimentation:

You can use your 3D printer to experiment with filaments that mimic wood, metal, or other materials and these can also be combined with traditional crafting materials (e.g., incorporating printed parts into textiles, woodwork, or ceramics).

7. Batch Production:

Small batches of items can be produced efficiently, such as a stock range for your online store or components for larger projects. 3D printing allows you to ensure that multiple pieces of a project are identical in size and shape, which is particularly useful for items that need to fit together.

8. Enhanced Precision and Detail:

With your 3D printer, you can achieve the kind of precision and fine details that are difficult (or extremely time-consuming) to replicate by hand. Furthermore, it’s easy to scale designs up or down to create different-sized versions of a product without losing detail.

9. Designs are available online

3D printer owners do not need to know how to create 3D models using a computer modelling program to 3D print. There are websites online that provide access to thousands of 3D models created by other 3D printer owners which are easy to download and print! Have a look at Thingiverse.

Crafting skills and techniques have indeed come a long way from manual or guild-controlled production, and now, with 3D printing, there is a fusion of home or workshop-based crafting and digital processes.

With 3D printing it’s also refreshing to see that, notwithstanding all the modern technology, crafters still adhere to the traditional practice of sharing skills and techniques with each other, albeit online, fostering a diverse and vibrant global community of makers.

The world of 3D print is certainly an exciting, experimental and community-oriented environment to step into! With relevant insurance in place, such as workshop insurance, a 3D printer and an internet connection, this world truly is your oyster!