How did See a Need, Print a Need get started?

It all started when I was on furlough due to COVID-19. I was looking for productive ways to keep myself busy and also looking for things to print on my 3D printer. My printer hadn't been getting much attention for quite a while. I came across a post on Facebook about a young boy who had designed a 3D-printed device to help keep face mask straps off the ears. It struck me somewhere in my soul, because I had been reading several posts about those in the healthcare profession and about how hard this pandemic has been on them. I decided to start printing something similar and donating to those who needed them. I found a design on Thingiverse that I liked, started printing and posting in local Facebook groups related to masks. I quickly found the demand to be quite high, and recruited a friend and a fellow Facebook 3D printer to help me meet the demand. I scheduled prints and managed requests. Over the course of 5 days, we had provided over 1,000 of the ear saving devices! However, requests slowed down after that and I switched to printing a bias tape tool (also found on Thingiverse) after one of my ear saver customers requested one. Over the next 10 days, we provided 150 of the bias tape tools to those making fabric straps for face masks! All of this effort was at no cost to the end user, unless shipping was required. Over the 15 days, my printer rang nearly non-stop, except for a 2-day period where I had to rebuild part of it.

Long story short, I really enjoyed being able to help people and the organizational aspect of managing the efforts. I decided that after the need for COVID-19 supplies died down, I would transition See a Need, Print a Need to a for-profit 3D printing business. That's where we are now.

The name is inspired by the quote "see a need, fill a need" from the movie Robots.

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What We Do

01 DESIGN

(optional)

Examples >

02 CONSULT on Settings

(optional; layer height, material type, etc)

03 PRINT

04 POST-PROCESS

(paint, sanding, food safe coatings, etc)

Print Capabilities:

Design Capabilities

Print Volume:

250 x 210 x 200 (h) mm

(9.84 x 8.27 x 7.87 in)

Materials:

PLA

PETG

Special Requirements:

Food Safe (in development)

Dishwasher Safe (in development)

Dissolveable Supports (in development)

Sometimes you can find STL files (the file type necessary for printing) on a website such as Thingiverse.com. This is typical for applications such as a temporary replacement for a broken drawer handle, or a tool for sewing. However, if you have a custom need for a part (a part that will fit specific dimensions and function), then the STL file will need to be generated. If you have that capability, you can certainly do that and send us the STL. If you do not have that capability, we can take care of the design for you!