Delica sketch

 

One vehicle I’m particularly a fan of is the Mitsubishi Delica. The first time I’ve seen one of these was in Austin. I was very drawn to its stubby proportions. With its knobby tires, brush guards and vinyl graphics, it looked like a very adventurous looking vehicle from a different era. This was sketched on an iPad using Sketchbook Pro.

 

Some initial progress before the final version.

 

3D Printed Plant Pots

 

One thing I always wanted to do with a 3D printer was to create some interesting plant pots. I did an image search and saw some really interesting designs
that you couldn’t produce with conventional injection molding.

 

I sketched out three different types of ideas. The first is a “screw” type design. It’s a design that looked more scalloped and organic.
The second design involves a pillowed “waffle” design that wraps around the pot. With the third design, I sketched out a more geometric idea that where each layer resembled a ring of bricks.

 

Amongst the three, I liked the “screw” design the best, and wanted to see how it can be made. With Adobe Illustrator, I explored different types of profiles. Some profiles were more dense, while other profiles were more organic or geometric.

 

Using Solidworks, I tried modeling a few of these profiles and liked the scalloped profile the best. I copied the profile onto three planes and experimented with size and rotation to get the right shape. After finding the right shape, I added a base with drainage holes that features a rotated pill-shaped hole design.

 

After almost 19 hours of printing, the first design turned out great!

 

I was very pleased with how this pot turned out. The overall shape looks modern and sculptural.
The rotating design has movement like a turbine.

 

The next design I attempted to model was the “waffle” design. After a few attempts trying to emulate the scalloped surfaces I sketched, I settled upon creating a more geometric pattern and then added rounds to the inner surfaces to create a softer look. The pattern almost resembles a pineapple skin.

 

After 17 hours of printing, I was very satisfied with the result. The overall design looks more robust
compared to the more organic 1st design.

 

I’m very satisfied with how these first two designs turned out. I may create more designs in the near future. If theres enough interest, I may sell these pots individually.

 

Some 3D prints

 

Since the first Prusa nameplate print, I’ve been dabbling in a lot experiments. There has been a lot of headache, tweaking and failures.
Through these experiences, I’m now more comfortable using my Prusa MK3S+.

I bought and tested a variety of different filaments. I experimented with both PLA and PETG.

 

The Lucky 13 model was a bit tricky. It required more precision to print the smaller parts and make them fit to form a posable action figure.
I learned that PETG is a better material, due to its flexibility vs the brittleness of PLA.

 

After figuring out the smaller Lucky13 figure, I decided to print a larger version. The larger version was very successful, with the parts fitting together correctly and feeling robust. I think it may have taken around 4 days to print out all the parts.

 

A mosaic in Irvine

 

My parents had a rental property in Irvine, and I moved there with my cousin temporarily until I found a full time position. The condo had a nice backyard, but the grill area was unfinished. I thought it would be a nice opportunity to liven up this unfinished area with a mosaic.

 

I did some quick mockups in photoshop. One idea was to convey sky and grass, the other idea was a more basic blue.

 

I started the process by replacing the rotten plywood with fresh sheets. Then I used cement board as a mounting surface for the tiles. I did some research and found a great place in San Diego that sold broken tile in some very nice colors. Navy blue looked very sharp.

 

The installation process was fun, but a little challenging. It involved quickset cement, and being able fit tiles in appropriate places.
I did have to modify some tiles to make it the right size.

 

After the tiles were put up, grout was added. Once the grout dried, it was scrubbed away to reveal the mosaic design.

 

A few weeks after the mosaic was installed, the Irvine HOA notified me about some upcoming updates to the property. They told me that this mosaic was interfering with their updates. The HOA is difficult to deal with, so I complied and had to take the mosaic down. I was a little upset at first, but I did try something new,
and learned a new skill that I’ll apply in the future.

 

A cardboard truck for the Rai family

 
 

Around May 2021, my friend Jasmin reached out to me about creating a semi truck that holds toy cars for her kids. I agreed to help her out and worked with the various materials that she had around the house. She had a lot of extra cardboard and some interesting scrap paper. With some patience and hot glue, I was able to make a nice semi truck. This truck didn’t survive toddlers, but it was something fun to build and a nice gesture for a new friend and her family.