Hi, I’m David from the UK. I am retired from a career in telecommunications and computing R&D in UK and Canadian technology companies. I have been building and using 3D printers since 2012 and started using Blender for object design a couple of years ago, mostly hard surface modeling. I am familiar with Python but not used it extensively relying on Fusion 360 and OpenSCAD in the past. I want to build knowledge and skills in developing Blender extensions/add-ons primarily for 3D Printing and see this community as a good starting point, a place to learn from other people's experiences and share what I can. I also hope to explore other creative uses of Blender, for example animation and architecture. For fun I play badminton, cook mostly chinese/asian and explore military history.

@Victor Stepanov Hi Victor, I've posted a summary of some projects in the showcase thread. OpenSCAD and Fusion are quite different, whereas Blender models polygons and is geared towards visual rendering, Fusion and OpenSCAD use constructive solid modelling and are better suited to 3D printed objects. The main advantages of Blender vs Fusion though are the cost, the superior visualisation, tools such as sculpting and deformation/retopo, the many effects from modifiers and the non-destructive workflow. For example, designing the sea surface in the U-boat project was far easier in Blender using modifiers than it would have been in Fusion. OpenSCAD is a scripting language similar in some ways to Blender scripting. It is excellent for precise modelling of hard surfaces using programming rather than direct manipulation (ie mouse etc) but it lacks the rendering and effects, sculpting etc. Hard to say what could be added to Blender at this point, I started before the 3D Pint toolbox was introduced so need to become familiar with that and other nooks and crannies in the main release and add-ons. At this stage I would look for features to add precision and aid object editing and deconstruction/disassembly.

Mostly though I have used Blender to change existing STL models to be more easily 3D printed on an FDM printer, eg a Bofors 40mm AA gun to be printed at 6mm (1/285) scale. This has involved replacing thin barrels with holes for wire, removing detail that won't print and thickening up sections (eg axles) to give a stronger print. At this small scale I have to edit the models designed for larger scales to provide hidden support for the smaller axles, wheels and tracks