TLDR: reflecting my profound passion for 3D printing through the printers I have used:

• FDM: Lulzbot, Makerbot, Ender3(v2, v3, s1, pro), CR-10, Ultimaker(2+, s3), Prusa i3, BambuLab (P1P/S, X1C).

• SLA: Anycubic Photon, Formlabs Form3, Computed axial lithography (CAL) custom printers (Prof. Hayden Taylor’s lab).

• Other: Markforged(Onyx Pro, X7), Stratasys(SAF H350, Fortus 380MC, Object260 Connex3), HP JetFusion 4200, Cabon3D M2.

Longer version: I know, you're probably wondering, "How is a manufacturing method a passion?" But my journey with 3D printing has been a long and fascinating one, and I assure you it's quite an interesting story.

I first learned about 3D printing during my freshman year of high school. For the rookie FRC robotics team from my small high school with fewer than 200 students, the lack of resources and mentorship was striking. During our first season, we improvised, using manual tools for fabrication, but our robot fell apart. Realizing the need for a systematic approach, I taught myself CAD and subsequently trained the entire hardware team on OnShape and GD&T principles. With no CNC machines, I led the team to use printed and glued drawings on aluminum frames for more precise drilling and cutting.

But what does this have to do with 3D printing? Even though we managed to build slightly better robots, traditional subtractive manufacturing methods (remember, we didn't have a CNC machine, everything was handmade) were not precise or quick enough for the intense FRC season. After gaining recognition as the leader of our rookie robotics team, I convinced the school leadership of the importance of hands-on STEM experience. With their support, I founded a Maker club, securing funding to purchase a 3D printer (a green Lulzbot) and various other maker tools. As these tools were new to everyone at my high school, I took the initiative to master them through online tutorials and then taught everyone interested, students and faculty alike.

Although the early versions of Cura and the open-sourced Lulzbot were challenging to use in 2017, I was immediately captivated by the idea that I could have a physical copy of my designs in just a day or two. After learning about more FDM printers, I saved enough money to buy my own Ender 3. I still vividly recall the thrilling nights spent upgrading it with direct drive metal extruder gears, BLTouch Auto-bed leveling, and extra fans for improved cooling. At 15, I even delved into learning about programming C and embedded system development (PlatformIO) to flash custom Marlin firmware and g-code onto my beloved tool.

My passion for 3D printing continued through college. Whether it was fixing my lab's Ultimaker extrusion and bed adhesion issue with new nozzle and tapes, teaching my project teammates about designing for 3D printing (like avoiding excessive overhangs and optimizing inter-layer strength with ribs), or creating tutorial videos about 3DPrinterOS for using Berkeley’s public 3D printers, I was always the go-to person for anything related to 3D printing. Eager to streamline the 3D printing process further, I researched optimizing 3D printing orientation using supervised machine learning with Prof. McMains. Tired of the inconsistent print quality at school, I purchased a BambuLab P1S and started my own 3D printing business for Berkeley students.

FDM desktop printers are just a fraction of the 3D printing world. To gain experience with more advanced printers, I seized every opportunity to get trained and print something through research labs at Berkeley, friends who conduct research at other universities, the Berkeley Jacobs Makerspace, and companies where I interned (shout out to Intuitive Surgical for letting me learn and use many awesome industrial printers).

I truly believe 3D printing is the future of "making," whether it involves small gadgets, engineering parts, electronics, houses, rockets, food, or even human organs. I will continue to immerse myself in this rapidly evolving field and gain hands-on experience with super cool printers.