Between prototypes, projects, and the occasional failed print, how y’all keeping your area tidy? Do you have buckets or shelves for work in progress things?
I just spent half a day cleaning up my area(I let it go for too long). Im trying to prevent the clutter and I’m debating about selling prints this year as well. Any organizational ideas would be appreciated.
I clean as I go. I’m odd but I get out only the tools I need, once I’m done I put them back. I’ve had to force myself to do this and it’s finally stuck. It’s difficult as hell.
My previous life I had a work bench and had to keep it clean for work.
I honestly doubt a tidy printing area is achievable. I always chuckle at those 3D printing YouTube videos where their work area is spotless. I’m convinced they shovel all their clutter out of frame right before hitting record.
My reality is piles of half-finished projects, misprints, and random components scattered everywhere. The only system that works for me is keeping active designs in individual bins. That way, I can pour a specific project onto my desk and sort through the chaos. The mess can be frustrating, but I’ve come to accept it as a necessary part of the creative process.
I mostly just try not to look at my mess. Once in a while when the stars and moon align, I straighten out my mess.
Seriously though, I tend to keep my hobby’s separated by bins that I keep stored on shelves. My 3D printing stuff gets its own bin that’s filled with parts and old prototypes/projects. I keep all my printer hotends and accessories in custom little cases that awesome people on Makerworld created. All my Maker Supply stuffs live in a storage bin organizer with a bunch of little drawers. I suck at labeling stuff though, so I tend to have to search. My filament is where things go sideways. They are in various stages of desiccated plastic cereal boxes, in filament boxes, plastic bags, or unopened. I have a shelf to store all that stuff on, but I haven’t taken the time to actually organize it well. Lastly, I have a dedicated trash bin for throwing all my supports, purge lines, and failed prints into.
I’m in the middle of remodeling my office, so hopefully I can be a bit more purposeful with how I set things up and reduce some of my chaos. Have to figure out where I’m going to put this big H2C that’ll be here Tuesday.
Teachers pet!
I have an almighty mess I clean up only when needs must. I have a very large desk that wraps around it is usually overloaded with various stages of multiple projects and anything else that I just stack on top of it.
My brain is messy, so my work is messy.
I wish I was more like @R3d-Five in this regard.
I have a very small area I have to work in, so it’s really not that difficult to keep it clean.
I will lose tools and parts and will forget where they are. I’ve stood at my desk looking for something but don’t remember what it is.
Boxes. Lots of cardboard boxes.
I don’t know what’s where and I can’t find anything, but at least it’s in boxes.
I have several filament racks and I try to put the filaments back in their place after using them, the same applies to the tools.
I will soon have to reorganize my workplace, which will be terribly difficult, so I will also accept all advice you have 