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What creative projects have you been working on?
This topic is part of a series. It is meant to be a place for users to discuss creative projects they have been working on.
Projects can be personal, professional, physical, digital, or even just ideas.
If you have any creative projects that you have been working on or want to eventually work on, this is a place for discussing those.
Previously I shared about my progress on my itsy bitsy fishy desktop pet game. I spent a lot of time making it possible to procedurally generate the fish's appearance-- just the surface design, not the body shape. The outline, fill, pattern markings, etc. are all on separate image layers so I can programmatically control each layer's color and appearance. The next logical step is to add breeding mechanics! I really enjoy breeding mechanics in virtual pet games, and it's one of my gamedev dreams to implement that too. I have a bluesky thread with video demos of my "virtual genetics" and a peek at my code. The baby fish randomly inherits traits from its parents. Unselected traits just get carried as hidden genes, and may be passed on to the next generation. There's also a chance to mutate and get a random color. The hidden genes are like recessive genes, but unlike in real life, fish traits in my game aren't categorized as dominant/recessive, since trait inheritance is just random. I am planning to add a cute little "pedigree" / "family tree" feature to show each fish's parents and grandparents. Aside from that, I've been working on adding more pattern marking variations, decorative plants, and hopefully an option for a larger tank too. Oh and some hats for the fish too!
So since I got my audio player project to the level that I am willing to share it, I started doing a write up to post here on Tildes. Initially, I was thinking the write up was going to be both sharing the development process as well as a showcase. However, the original code author did a really good write up and video demo, so instead I will just share my experience developing a device with some slight showcase. I have done a rough draft, with some editing still to be done, but I am surprisingly at 2800 words. I am shocked that it ended up being so long, but also this has been a 10 month journey so not fully surprised.
Making a list of all the things I can think of that I want to either design or download and 3D print. Brainstorming a lot on this front.
Realized Milwuakee's shop vacs hose attachment ends are sized oddly (proprietary?) and don't fit attachments that have a supposed compatible size. So an attachment I bought does not work, but is close. So I am inclined to see if I can find or design a proper 3D printed adapter to do it for me
Update: already found multiple prints to fix this on Thingiverse. I love the 3D printing community. I do wish I could make it into some kind of business but that's tough when the market is already saturated and selling prints of others' designs is typically not how people license their prints
Update update: tried the entire nozzle replacement that screws on the end of the shop vac hose, and the replacement printed in works perfect. my third-party attachments now can fit on the end of the shop vac nozzle with no problem. hack your stuff, it's awesome!
I too have long thought over how to make money from 3D Printing, and everything I can think of that isn't already saturated is where 3D Printing is only part of the product, not the entire product.
Like I've had the idea of making cat scratching posts out of discarded cardboard cores(or the thicker outer shipping tubes) from rolls of printing material, sisal rope, and an MDF base, and using a 3D Printer to print out the top cap of the scratching post. For the thicker tubes I was thinking about making the top cap and either putting an iris diaphragm design or a lift door so owners can store cat toys inside. Also be able to 3D Print top and bottom wall mounts for a cat scratcher tube that attaches to the wall.
The other thing I'm currently working on designing is a terrarium/insect enclosure that uses thicker clear acrylic tubes and caps the top and bottom to create 360° terrariums with modularity.
I think the key is to be able to access an uncommon part, like cardboard or acrylic tubes that not everyone has easy access to, and that's what would set a 3d printing business apart from the typical slop.
Yeah I've tried to see if I can land on something easy to ship + uncommon/useful, etc.
Like, for instance, some kind of replacement part that perfectly fits/snaps in somewhere in some type of appliance / electronic / etc. Like gears, clips, covers, spacers, etc. but specifically made to fit certain models/makes of products.
Yeah, that seems to be where it's at, I know there's a big demand for custom charging stands for hair clippers for barbers and hair stylists. A lot of them want wall mounts or have different or uncommon brands and want an easy stand to just place and charge, or even just organize in drawers.
I was thinking about that for a bit, but doesn't really scratch a personal interest for myself.
So I'm currently designing a 3D Printable terrarium/insect/jumping spider enclosure that uses clear acrylic tubes as the viewing area so you can have a complete 365° view. I'm basically designing the top cap and the bottom base, but needing to also make sure that everything is detachable and modular so you can take it apart and have different pieces for customization and whatnot.
I'm already designing it so the top is modular to switch out with a clear window piece, an LED light, or just a cover. Eventually I want to design doors or drawers into the base as well.
Also kind of want to make a feeding door variation for Jumping spiders.
It's been slow going as I'm dealing with some mental health issues and executive function issues, but it's been something that has kept my attention.