Alex Gibson - edumaker
@alex.edumaker.net
I'm here to make your #3dprint innovation happen.
Director of Edumaker Limited;
Project manager, technologist, 3D printing consultant;
Rabbit hole speleologist
Director of Edumaker Limited;
Project manager, technologist, 3D printing consultant;
Rabbit hole speleologist
Well, after a full 24 hours, with a swap-out for fresh warm water after 12 hours, PVA supports did almost completely dissolve.
The surface finish of those underside overhangs look exactly like top surface finish #3dprinting quality thanks to 0 spacing.
Just a little residue in deep grooves.
The surface finish of those underside overhangs look exactly like top surface finish #3dprinting quality thanks to 0 spacing.
Just a little residue in deep grooves.
January 13, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Well, after a full 24 hours, with a swap-out for fresh warm water after 12 hours, PVA supports did almost completely dissolve.
The surface finish of those underside overhangs look exactly like top surface finish #3dprinting quality thanks to 0 spacing.
Just a little residue in deep grooves.
The surface finish of those underside overhangs look exactly like top surface finish #3dprinting quality thanks to 0 spacing.
Just a little residue in deep grooves.
And the results are in:
Pretty much as I and Dom predicted, 90% of the PVA supports are dissolved away in 12 overnight hours in initially warm then cold water.
What remains is the dense interface layers in the deepest grooves.
I've put in a fresh beaker of warm-hot tap water, testing passive only.
Pretty much as I and Dom predicted, 90% of the PVA supports are dissolved away in 12 overnight hours in initially warm then cold water.
What remains is the dense interface layers in the deepest grooves.
I've put in a fresh beaker of warm-hot tap water, testing passive only.
January 13, 2026 at 8:26 AM
And the results are in:
Pretty much as I and Dom predicted, 90% of the PVA supports are dissolved away in 12 overnight hours in initially warm then cold water.
What remains is the dense interface layers in the deepest grooves.
I've put in a fresh beaker of warm-hot tap water, testing passive only.
Pretty much as I and Dom predicted, 90% of the PVA supports are dissolved away in 12 overnight hours in initially warm then cold water.
What remains is the dense interface layers in the deepest grooves.
I've put in a fresh beaker of warm-hot tap water, testing passive only.
Before and... During...
Photos of test TPU #3dprinting with PVA soluble supports.
Went into hot tap water at 8pm, by 9:30pm the supports are looking quite gnarly, will it completely dissolve by morning with no further heat or agitation?
PLACE BETS NOW!
Photos of test TPU #3dprinting with PVA soluble supports.
Went into hot tap water at 8pm, by 9:30pm the supports are looking quite gnarly, will it completely dissolve by morning with no further heat or agitation?
PLACE BETS NOW!
January 12, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Before and... During...
Photos of test TPU #3dprinting with PVA soluble supports.
Went into hot tap water at 8pm, by 9:30pm the supports are looking quite gnarly, will it completely dissolve by morning with no further heat or agitation?
PLACE BETS NOW!
Photos of test TPU #3dprinting with PVA soluble supports.
Went into hot tap water at 8pm, by 9:30pm the supports are looking quite gnarly, will it completely dissolve by morning with no further heat or agitation?
PLACE BETS NOW!
Good Ale, indeed.
January 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Good Ale, indeed.
Heading home after a long but productive week #3dprinting, leaving some lights-out manufacturing at Edumaker.
Getting over 1kg/day per P1S, a job due by end of next week will post on Monday morning :)
Getting over 1kg/day per P1S, a job due by end of next week will post on Monday morning :)
January 9, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Heading home after a long but productive week #3dprinting, leaving some lights-out manufacturing at Edumaker.
Getting over 1kg/day per P1S, a job due by end of next week will post on Monday morning :)
Getting over 1kg/day per P1S, a job due by end of next week will post on Monday morning :)
We've had some very productive research and development recently into #3dprinting multiple materials, the Snapmaker U1 has been a workhorse and enabled us to spend our time tweaking the actual material settings to something near perfection.
Here we're dissolving PVA supports from a TPU + PETG part.
Here we're dissolving PVA supports from a TPU + PETG part.
January 7, 2026 at 4:04 PM
We've had some very productive research and development recently into #3dprinting multiple materials, the Snapmaker U1 has been a workhorse and enabled us to spend our time tweaking the actual material settings to something near perfection.
Here we're dissolving PVA supports from a TPU + PETG part.
Here we're dissolving PVA supports from a TPU + PETG part.
It's frustrating trying to run a small business when massive businesses seem to be able to get away indefinitely with not only not even trying to offer the service you paid for, but actively lying about it. It's just a random tax on my work that in this case has consequences.
January 2, 2026 at 11:41 AM
It's frustrating trying to run a small business when massive businesses seem to be able to get away indefinitely with not only not even trying to offer the service you paid for, but actively lying about it. It's just a random tax on my work that in this case has consequences.
Happy New Year to all the #3dprinting community!
January 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Happy New Year to all the #3dprinting community!
Reposted by Alex Gibson - edumaker
So far so good... #3dprinting #openscad
December 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
So far so good... #3dprinting #openscad
More progress on the #duender build.
Halted today while I await some additional hardware vitamins...
Electronics enclosure also #3dprinting
Halted today while I await some additional hardware vitamins...
Electronics enclosure also #3dprinting
December 28, 2025 at 9:41 PM
More progress on the #duender build.
Halted today while I await some additional hardware vitamins...
Electronics enclosure also #3dprinting
Halted today while I await some additional hardware vitamins...
Electronics enclosure also #3dprinting
Today's #3dprinting hack for fun and eventually profit:
Duender by Sergei Irbis.
His design calls for metal corner pieces but we printed in #recycled scrap PLA as this is only a pre-prototype for a similar machine I'm building.
Love Sergei's work, very good way to reuse a pair of Ender 3's
Duender by Sergei Irbis.
His design calls for metal corner pieces but we printed in #recycled scrap PLA as this is only a pre-prototype for a similar machine I'm building.
Love Sergei's work, very good way to reuse a pair of Ender 3's
December 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Today's #3dprinting hack for fun and eventually profit:
Duender by Sergei Irbis.
His design calls for metal corner pieces but we printed in #recycled scrap PLA as this is only a pre-prototype for a similar machine I'm building.
Love Sergei's work, very good way to reuse a pair of Ender 3's
Duender by Sergei Irbis.
His design calls for metal corner pieces but we printed in #recycled scrap PLA as this is only a pre-prototype for a similar machine I'm building.
Love Sergei's work, very good way to reuse a pair of Ender 3's
Great consistent results #3dprinting with filament joined on a Sunlu filament connector.
Tips:
1) repeatedly but gently push together the filament ends during heating phase
2) open flap, leave on heater block for a few secs
3) transfer straight to a jet of cool air [faster and safer than blowing].
Tips:
1) repeatedly but gently push together the filament ends during heating phase
2) open flap, leave on heater block for a few secs
3) transfer straight to a jet of cool air [faster and safer than blowing].
December 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Great consistent results #3dprinting with filament joined on a Sunlu filament connector.
Tips:
1) repeatedly but gently push together the filament ends during heating phase
2) open flap, leave on heater block for a few secs
3) transfer straight to a jet of cool air [faster and safer than blowing].
Tips:
1) repeatedly but gently push together the filament ends during heating phase
2) open flap, leave on heater block for a few secs
3) transfer straight to a jet of cool air [faster and safer than blowing].
How I'm turning up to to the Bluesky Christmas party.
December 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
How I'm turning up to to the Bluesky Christmas party.
Making things out of plastics may be 95% of my job, but those are predominantly prototypes, and not LOAD BEARING OVEN DOOR PARTS.
Because I like and respect my customers.
Replaced this door runner with welcome surprise help from 15yo daughter.
Christmas eve eve is no time for planned obsolescence.
Because I like and respect my customers.
Replaced this door runner with welcome surprise help from 15yo daughter.
Christmas eve eve is no time for planned obsolescence.
December 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Making things out of plastics may be 95% of my job, but those are predominantly prototypes, and not LOAD BEARING OVEN DOOR PARTS.
Because I like and respect my customers.
Replaced this door runner with welcome surprise help from 15yo daughter.
Christmas eve eve is no time for planned obsolescence.
Because I like and respect my customers.
Replaced this door runner with welcome surprise help from 15yo daughter.
Christmas eve eve is no time for planned obsolescence.
I got a bit carried away with the Sunlu #3dprinting filament connector.
Turns out one can indeed #reuse the PTFE sleeves - at least 20 times if careful...
This mongrel spool has printed without issue on a @bambulabglobal.bsky.social P1S, @prusa3d.com MK4S and @e3donline.bsky.social Revo + Titan
Turns out one can indeed #reuse the PTFE sleeves - at least 20 times if careful...
This mongrel spool has printed without issue on a @bambulabglobal.bsky.social P1S, @prusa3d.com MK4S and @e3donline.bsky.social Revo + Titan
December 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I got a bit carried away with the Sunlu #3dprinting filament connector.
Turns out one can indeed #reuse the PTFE sleeves - at least 20 times if careful...
This mongrel spool has printed without issue on a @bambulabglobal.bsky.social P1S, @prusa3d.com MK4S and @e3donline.bsky.social Revo + Titan
Turns out one can indeed #reuse the PTFE sleeves - at least 20 times if careful...
This mongrel spool has printed without issue on a @bambulabglobal.bsky.social P1S, @prusa3d.com MK4S and @e3donline.bsky.social Revo + Titan
Having teased the unboxing a week ago, update on the Snapmaker U1:
So far we love it!
First run experience was great, we were immediately able to print customer parts with close dissimilar support material, and now we got around to printing the demo dragon model it came with, confirms calibration 👌
So far we love it!
First run experience was great, we were immediately able to print customer parts with close dissimilar support material, and now we got around to printing the demo dragon model it came with, confirms calibration 👌
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Having teased the unboxing a week ago, update on the Snapmaker U1:
So far we love it!
First run experience was great, we were immediately able to print customer parts with close dissimilar support material, and now we got around to printing the demo dragon model it came with, confirms calibration 👌
So far we love it!
First run experience was great, we were immediately able to print customer parts with close dissimilar support material, and now we got around to printing the demo dragon model it came with, confirms calibration 👌
I feel I'm getting somewhere with my prompt engineering.
ChatGPT is actually recommending I leave a dirty hack now it works and call it a night rather than giving me neverending eager beaver suggestions.
ChatGPT is actually recommending I leave a dirty hack now it works and call it a night rather than giving me neverending eager beaver suggestions.
December 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I feel I'm getting somewhere with my prompt engineering.
ChatGPT is actually recommending I leave a dirty hack now it works and call it a night rather than giving me neverending eager beaver suggestions.
ChatGPT is actually recommending I leave a dirty hack now it works and call it a night rather than giving me neverending eager beaver suggestions.
Reposted by Alex Gibson - edumaker
More excited customers for the #MiSTerFPGA #Multisystem2 console.
Quick reminder, we use recycled & sustainable packaging in all our #Retrogaming products, we pack each order so it gets to you safe & secure - You are not paying for a 'fancy box' every ounce of energy+cost goes into the product. 👍
Quick reminder, we use recycled & sustainable packaging in all our #Retrogaming products, we pack each order so it gets to you safe & secure - You are not paying for a 'fancy box' every ounce of energy+cost goes into the product. 👍
Huge thank you to @heber-limited.bsky.social as my #multisystem2 just arrived today! I'm so excited to get this up and running 😀
December 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
More excited customers for the #MiSTerFPGA #Multisystem2 console.
Quick reminder, we use recycled & sustainable packaging in all our #Retrogaming products, we pack each order so it gets to you safe & secure - You are not paying for a 'fancy box' every ounce of energy+cost goes into the product. 👍
Quick reminder, we use recycled & sustainable packaging in all our #Retrogaming products, we pack each order so it gets to you safe & secure - You are not paying for a 'fancy box' every ounce of energy+cost goes into the product. 👍
Reposted by Alex Gibson - edumaker
While there is an attachment on this extruder … this machine is basically a large scale 3D printer for printing houses.
December 7, 2025 at 7:13 AM
While there is an attachment on this extruder … this machine is basically a large scale 3D printer for printing houses.
First use Friday here at edumaker!
Always a highlight of the job to try out new #3dprinting tools.
Always a highlight of the job to try out new #3dprinting tools.
December 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
First use Friday here at edumaker!
Always a highlight of the job to try out new #3dprinting tools.
Always a highlight of the job to try out new #3dprinting tools.
My Snapmaker U1 is about to ship!
It's taken a while but after making 2766 previous machines, I'm hopeful they ought to be quite good at it by my unit's turn!
It's taken a while but after making 2766 previous machines, I'm hopeful they ought to be quite good at it by my unit's turn!
December 2, 2025 at 6:25 PM
My Snapmaker U1 is about to ship!
It's taken a while but after making 2766 previous machines, I'm hopeful they ought to be quite good at it by my unit's turn!
It's taken a while but after making 2766 previous machines, I'm hopeful they ought to be quite good at it by my unit's turn!
Reposted by Alex Gibson - edumaker
A Flexible Light Inspired by IKEA
A Flexible Light Inspired by IKEA
The IKEA SMÅSNÖRE is a flexible silicone rod with an embedded LED strip, attached at each end to a base. It’s eye-catching enough, and it has the useful property of …read more
hackaday.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
A Flexible Light Inspired by IKEA
Remembering Sanjay today, by building an open source 3D printer because it exists.
Remembering our dear friend and Co-Founder Sanjay on the anniversary of his passing.
We can't believe it's been 4 years since you left us Sanj, we miss you everyday and hope we're doing you proud up there. 💙💚
We can't believe it's been 4 years since you left us Sanj, we miss you everyday and hope we're doing you proud up there. 💙💚
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Remembering Sanjay today, by building an open source 3D printer because it exists.
Reposted by Alex Gibson - edumaker
Vik Olliver's #RepRap Micron has done a #3Dprint with layers!
The cylinder with the big blob* at the top is 500μm in diameter and 10 layers high.
Details:
blog.reprap.org/2025/11/fina...
reprap.org/wiki/RepRapM...
---
* First print... Cut Vik some slack...
The cylinder with the big blob* at the top is 500μm in diameter and 10 layers high.
Details:
blog.reprap.org/2025/11/fina...
reprap.org/wiki/RepRapM...
---
* First print... Cut Vik some slack...
November 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Vik Olliver's #RepRap Micron has done a #3Dprint with layers!
The cylinder with the big blob* at the top is 500μm in diameter and 10 layers high.
Details:
blog.reprap.org/2025/11/fina...
reprap.org/wiki/RepRapM...
---
* First print... Cut Vik some slack...
The cylinder with the big blob* at the top is 500μm in diameter and 10 layers high.
Details:
blog.reprap.org/2025/11/fina...
reprap.org/wiki/RepRapM...
---
* First print... Cut Vik some slack...
Mosquito proboscis repurposed as a fine nozzle for #3Dprinting - really takes the sting out of sourcing bioprint nozzles.
New Scientist:
share.google/tQQyH0cDAaNM...
New Scientist:
share.google/tQQyH0cDAaNM...
Mosquito proboscis repurposed as a fine nozzle for 3D printing
When engineers struggled to make 3D printer nozzles narrow enough for their needs, they turned to nature and found the proboscis of a female mosquito had exactly the properties they needed
share.google
November 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Mosquito proboscis repurposed as a fine nozzle for #3Dprinting - really takes the sting out of sourcing bioprint nozzles.
New Scientist:
share.google/tQQyH0cDAaNM...
New Scientist:
share.google/tQQyH0cDAaNM...