We reworked the roof of a compact additive-processing cabinet into two pieces, adding open-top access and a separate lift-off cap that matches the neighboring enclosure. The revised assembly is now prepared for a physical fit check, while a cabinet component has reached 60% on the printer. Splitting the roof should make access easier without losing the shared profile. The fit check can catch clearance or alignment issues before more material goes into the assembly.
FROM THE SHOP
Recent shop updates
Recent owner-approved updates from ongoing work at Spark & Spool Co, shown newest first.
We moved seam and retraction tuning into practical PETG trials. One seam tower reached the final stretch on the printer while a compact retraction tower was sliced with controlled seam placement for the next run. These small calibration parts let us inspect where starts, stops, and travel settings leave visible marks before committing larger parts to the same setup. That keeps adjustment work quick and material exposure low while we narrow in on a cleaner process.
We prepared a resin build for a compact mechanical part, orienting the body and projecting shaft on a dense support structure before starting the sliced-job export. The difficult part is supporting the overhangs without crowding functional geometry or making cleanup harder than necessary. This moves the part toward a controlled machine trial, where the result can expose weak support or awkward orientation before later pieces consume more resin and shop time.
We moved a narrow handrail transfer-rail component from print setup to printer-reported completion in PETG. The long, toothed profile is now ready for hands-on inspection rather than being treated as proven from the screen. Checking the physical piece for straightness, tooth detail, and fit can expose issues before we commit material to the surrounding assembly.
We prepared two filament build plates for an additive-cell assembly, separating the body, mounting frames, transfer rail, and small feet into practical batches. One plate uses carbon-fiber PETG with support under the main body; the other uses a fine nozzle for the receiver and rail pieces. The split is intended to make fit checks easier and expose support, clearance, or orientation problems before committing the full assembly.
We prepared a resin plate with two multi-leg mechanical assemblies and four small mounting parts, giving each piece its own support structure. The challenge is balancing dense support under the larger bodies with clean access around narrow struts and holes. Grouping the related parts on one plate is intended to make the next fit check easier and expose geometry or support problems before more resin and machine time are committed.
We tightened our PETG-CF setup with two focused calibration steps. We prepared a cropped base trial with deliberate seam placement and dimensional compensation, then completed a one-layer Z-offset print for physical inspection. The seam setup targets a cleaner transition, while the completed print gives us a low-cost first-layer sample to examine before larger jobs. These controlled checks are intended to catch first-layer and surface issues while adjustments are still inexpensive.
We developed a compact two-hook hanger with a broad backplate, raised center spine, and offset upper and lower arms. The current CAD model resolves those features as one continuous part, giving us a clear view of hook reach, junctions, and likely print orientation before material is committed. This early design pass is meant to catch awkward clearances and fragile transitions while the geometry is still inexpensive to change.
We prepared a broad, low-profile safety component in carbon-fiber PETG, tuning wall and bridge behavior around its mounting holes and center clearance before slicing. The part then moved into an active machine run and reached about one-third of the print. Moving from setup to the machine gives us an early chance to inspect whether the geometry and material behave as intended before the component is relied on in service.
We moved a lattice pumpkin into a live PETG print and checked the part on the machine at roughly one-quarter complete. The open-textured body and supported base are building together under active temperature and fan control. That mid-run inspection helps us catch layer, support, or cooling trouble before a long decorative print consumes the rest of the material and machine time.
We prepared matched packing lists and set-by-set inserts for a multi-part order, then checked every document against the kit counts and validated the files before packing. That gives the shop a practical final control: every bag carries a clear contents list, and missing or duplicated parts can be caught before handoff.
We arranged a resin batch of small angled parts on individual support towers, then sliced the plate and reviewed the lower layers before committing a machine run. That shop check lets us tune contact points, spacing, and orientation while the cost is still setup time—not failed resin, damaged details, and cleanup.
We finished a multicolor PETG test card and now have a real part in hand to inspect for surface finish, edge quality, and color registration. The setup used dedicated filament assignments and a face-down presentation surface. That gives us a clean checkpoint before we spend more machine time and material on the next run.
A multipart production batch moved into print preparation, with the main assembly and repeated components arranged together on the build plate. In parallel, a shared operations view is tracking machine status and pairing progress before jobs are committed. That combination brings more design-to-production clarity to the shop: parts can be staged as a deliberate batch while the equipment needed to run them is visible in one place, supporting more repeatable output.
A small multi-part print moved from slicer setup to a monitored machine run. The build was arranged on the plate, prepared with production settings, and checked through the printer controls as the job progressed. That closes the gap between a digital layout and an observable shop-floor step, giving the next iteration a clearer path toward repeatable fabrication.
A repeated-part production layout was prepared in the slicer, organizing a multi-piece batch around a textured build-plate-related component. The work moves the design from individual setup toward a more repeatable print run, where part count, arrangement, and machine time can be considered together. In parallel, centralized printer status work is improving visibility into available machines and active jobs, supporting clearer scheduling as batches move from design to fabrication.
A faceted furniture-form study moved from 3D review into print preparation, with parts arranged on the build plate for the next production step. That handoff matters because it turns the design conversation into a repeatable shop-floor check: geometry, part orientation, and the practical path from modeled form to physical output can now be evaluated together.
A lattice-sided enclosure moved from slicer setup into an actively monitored 3D-print run. That shift turns the design from a screen model into a practical production check, giving the shop a chance to assess printability, pattern strength, surface finish, and fit before committing to repeatable fabrication. The work is building a clearer path from geometry and settings to a dependable physical part.
A framed shop-support concept is taking shape in the design workspace. The work includes a clean perimeter component and a stacked structural layout with repeated bays, giving the build a clearer path from individual parts to a practical, repeatable assembly. The current focus is on simple geometry, consistent framing, and a layout that can be reviewed before moving further into production planning.
Modeled a structural 3D piece and prepared detailed parts for 3D printing.
Prepared multi-part 3D print layouts and reviewed sliced toolpaths for enclosure-style components.
Prepared 3D models for printing, including a lattice base with four raised supports.
Modeling of components has progressed, with basic shapes outlined for potential prototyping.
Prototyping of printed parts is underway with visible progress in creating more refined designs.