toms3dp
patreon
An Update
🕑 Added 2022-11-20 19:11:58 +0000 UTCHi.
I feel like I owe you all a bit of an update of what's going on behind the scenes. As much as I can, I try to stick to the bi-weekly video release schedule, as I feel like that's what you all came here for and support my work for, but everything else, like Q&A hangouts, has kinda been falling off the cliff for the last couple of months. I'm sorry about that.
Here's the thing: You probably have seen the story about my studio this year, and it has been extremely draining me, physically and mentally. Working for basically two months straight to get set up in what you think is the perfect space for growing the channel and expanding the scope of what I can do, and then not even 6 months later having to basically evacuate it again due to issues outside of my control and spending what now has been another three months trying to squeeze 100m² worth of equipment back into the basement that I had just moved out of - on the one hand, it's amazing what you can get done under pressure, but on the other hand, I'm now back to square one, exhausted, drained, and realizing the energy I spent on all that really was just borrowed from future me.
Yes, I am incredibly grateful that I can do what I do for a living. But I also feel like the dream of building what I can only describe as a mini-Linus-Tech-Tips in the maker universe, it seems like the more energy I spend on chasing that dream, the more I neglect what I actually want to do, which is exploring the weird and wonderful world of 3D printing and everything that is attached to it. And as a consequence, I'm letting all of you down by not being able to provide you with as much content as I would like to.
So, I don't know. I'm just now starting to get back into a bit of rhythm with video releases, but both the studio and the workshop (remember my very first video setup?) are still an absolute mess. Things like the lathe and mill are still temporarily stored in a friend's shed and I'll need to move them back home soon (where there'll be barely any space for them) or else I'll be left with not much more than a pile of rusty scrap metal if I leave them there over winter.
I hope I'll be able to get into bigger projects again, soon-ish. I need to recover from the beat-down that the recursive studio move situation has been, but at the same time I need to have a video uploaded every two weeks and that's where most of the energy these days is going towards. Things like printer builds, livestreams, building that camera / printer robot that I've been talking about for a year now, that all needs extra effort to prepare, while I'm simultaneously trying to put out regular content, compress all of my equipment into an already-used space 1/3rd the size of where it came from, and recover from the move somehow. If you feel like my content has been a bit "filler-y" at times, that would be the reason for it.
I've just gotten the first parts of the livestreaming gear set up again, so hopefully next weekend we can have the next Q&A hangout with Inquisitor Patrons - I've also got that new Bambu Labs printer incoming, so we'll have a look at that in a livestream on the More Layers channel, too.
Anyway, thanks for your support throughout this ordeal - I'm really hoping to make 2023 a much better year the mess 2022 has been!
-Tom
Comments
Henry Feldman
I saw this photos and my first thought, was OMG what crazy experiment were you trying when your shop blew up into shards of sheetrock...
Hüseyin Karatas - HK-3D
Nimm dir die Zeit. Kein Stress.
head(amame)
Find the joy first, content later!
Michael Schecker
if you are in a hurry go slowly you and what you do is worth it
mark jackson
Relax Tom...we all know where your heart is.
Filament Stories
I've never felt like you were letting us down. I'm not here with any expectations other than I want to support your work. I can't imagine how frustrating and exhausting the studio move(s) had to be.
mooklepticon
Take it easy, man. Gina at octoprint recently went thru a hard burn out phase. Maybe she has some advice? Regardless, the workspace situation sounds extremely defeating. I can only imagine.
Andrew Kenton
I agree totally what everyone is saying. You will get there.
Daniel Crosslink
Thomas, I totally feel what you’re going through must be a total mess but I am sure at the end you will come out stronger and wiser up for new challenges. I raised my pledge.
Tony
Don’t worry, and please take care of yourself!
Bob Dunlop
Thomas, I deeply understand the challenges you've been facing. Based on the image it looks like a fire? Just a little over two years ago we lost our home and everything within to one of the California wildfires. I jokingly refer to our departure as getting out with 4 cats, two cars and two computers. Beginning again at 70+ has presented challenges. On the brighter side, we were able to accomplish a move from California's wine country to the beauty of northern Colorado. So, while missing the 150 years-worth of family photos, overall, our lives have been great since arriving. I don't feel qualified to give advice, but can suggest that one step at a time moving forward yields good results. I've found your videos so useful and have repeatedly suggested your channel to others looking for 3D printing advice. All the best to you and I look forward to whatever you choose to publish. Thanks again for all of the fine work! Bob
Jonathan Charnas
Yeah you were kind of out of it at ERRF when I snagged that selfie with you. Not surprising, given the amount of stress you've put yourself under. Including the sprint filming of the ERRF videos themselves 🙈. I'm just going to say this: I spent a decade in the IT field, started as a programmer in a startup and then dug through all other hats to wear in that sector. Gave it up to build my company, in the 3D printing field. In no small part inspired and helped by your content. One thing I've learned the hard way, is to give myself a break to rest and put a few things on hold if my health (including mental) is going to take a hit otherwise. I understand that for someone whose revenue comes from content you may be worried about hurting yourself by not producing for too long periods of time. But I'll be frank: I don't have time to watch every single one of your videos. I choose what I watch, and support you here because I know you need the financial stability to keep the interesting stuff I do watch going. I don't know if youtube is going to penalize you in some way for shifting from a two week schedule to less, not my area of expertise. But I know that I won't withdraw support from you for doing it, given how transparent you've been about everything going on.
