Each month, we pick one creator from the Printables community and give them a bit more space: to show their models, talk about how they design, and choose a theme for a community challenge. It is a way to say thanks, but also a way to show the real person behind the STL files.
For July, our first-ever Designer of the Month is Matthew_Ghost! In this interview, we talked about how he got into 3D printing, what inspires his models, which tools he uses, and what he has learned along the way.
My journey with 3D printing started at university. One of my close friends bought a 3D printer and kept showing me the things he was printing. At that time, 3D printing was nowhere near as popular as it is today, and there were only a few printer options on the market. Seeing what was possible made me want to get my own printer.
As a student, I couldn't afford a high-end machine like a Prusa, so like many beginners at the time, I bought an Ender 3 in 2021.
I still remember my very first print. It was a small whistle with the letters "JP" on it. It was a simple model, but it was enough to get me hooked on 3D printing.
My first design was the Tilt Phone Stand, a phone stand inspired by the shape of a gear. It is still available online today and remains one of my most downloaded models. Its success motivated me to continue designing practical and functional models for 3D printing, and in many ways, it defined the direction I still follow today.
Today, 3D printing is much more than a hobby for me — it has become my full-time job.
However, that wasn't the case until a few months ago. For three years, I worked as a mechanical design engineer, designing huge excavators and industrial machinery weighing several tons. Some of the equipment I worked on was as large as a building. It's a bit of a paradox because now I mostly design things that fit in the palm of your hand.
After finishing my regular job each day, I would come home and spend my evenings designing models and working on 3D printing projects. Sometimes it was challenging, and there were days when I didn't feel like doing anything after work. But I really enjoyed it and always hoped that one day I could do it full-time.
After nearly three years of designing and creating 3D printable models, I finally reached a point where the income from my work allowed me to leave my job and focus entirely on 3D printing.
As I mentioned before, I worked as a mechanical design engineer, and I think that has a big influence on the models I create. I like mechanisms, moving parts, and designs that are both functional and visually interesting.
I also enjoy the assembly process. That's why I try to design my models without glue whenever possible. I prefer using printed screws and threaded connections because they make the model more enjoyable to build and easier to take apart if needed.
When it comes to inspiration, most of it comes from my own needs. I rarely sit down and think, "What should I design next?" Usually, the idea comes from a real problem. If I need a travel box, I design one. If I need a phone stand, I make my own instead of downloading someone else's design.
So most of my models start with something I need myself. Once I'm happy with the result, I share it with the community.
I've been using Autodesk Inventor since high school, so I have around ten years of experience with it. It's still my main CAD software today.
Over the years, I've also worked quite a lot with SolidWorks. In my opinion, both programs are very capable and follow similar design principles. At the end of the day, it mostly comes down to personal preference and what you're used to working with.
It always starts with a problem. First, I ask myself why this problem is worth solving and whether other people might have the same need. After all, I want my models to be useful to as many people as possible.
The next step is research. I check whether someone has already designed a similar solution. If a model already exists but has some limitations or hasn't gained much attention, I try to understand why and think about how I could improve it. I also read user comments because they often contain valuable suggestions and ideas.
If I can't find an existing solution, I usually start with a few sketches and explore different concepts before opening my CAD software. I like to think of at least three possible approaches before deciding which one to develop further.
Once I start designing, I focus on functionality first and appearance second. I usually begin with the mechanical parts and only later work on the visual details.
Testing is a big part of the process. Many of my models include moving parts or mechanisms, so I often print the same component multiple times and make small adjustments between each version. Some models go through ten or more prototypes before I publish them.
One challenge with 3D printing is that every printer behaves a little differently. A model can work perfectly on my printer and still cause problems for someone else because of different tolerances, settings, or calibration. That's why I spend a lot of time testing and try to design my models to be as reliable as possible across different printers.
The model I'm most proud of is actually the very first one I ever designed and shared online: the Tilt Phone Stand. I still use it every day, and I still like the design. The community response has been great, and it's been interesting to see how many people have printed it, remixed it, or taken inspiration from it for their own designs.
Another model that means a lot to me is my Safe. What makes it special isn't the number of downloads, but the feedback from people who print it for their children. I often receive messages from parents telling me how much their kids enjoy it, and that's always great to hear.
I experienced this myself at a maker exhibition in Prague, where I had the Safe on display. Watching children interact with it and seeing how excited they were was probably one of the most rewarding moments I've had as a designer.
From time to time, I like to combine 3D printing with electronics. For example, I once experimented with adding a wireless charger and LED lighting to my Tilt Phone Stand. The idea was that the LEDs would turn on automatically when someone placed a phone on the charger.
Because of my background as a mechanical design engineer, I have also worked on projects that combine 3D printed parts with metal components such as linear rails, bearings, screws, reinforcements, and machined parts. Not every application can rely on plastic alone, and sometimes combining different materials is the best solution.
Most of these projects are part of my personal engineering work rather than something I publish online, but they often allow me to explore ideas that wouldn't be possible with 3D printing alone.
Definitely. In fact, I already have the idea partially prepared, but I still haven't found enough time to fully commit to it.
I would love to design a fully functional remote-controlled excavator based on the Liebherr R9600. The reason is simple: this is the exact type of excavator I worked on in my previous job, so I know the machine very well. It's an absolute giant, weighing more than 600 tons in real life!
Photo by: australianmining.com
My goal would be to create a fully functional scale model that could actually dig, move, and work like the real machine. Ideally, it would be robust enough to be used as a toy in a sandbox while still looking realistic.
I already have a lot of ideas for how to build it, but projects like this require a huge amount of time for design, testing, electronics, and mechanics. I still hope I'll finish it one day. It would definitely be my most ambitious project so far.
My advice would be to start creating your own designs as soon as possible. Many people spend a lot of time downloading and printing models, which is great for learning the basics, but designing your own ideas is where the real fun begins.
Don't worry if your first designs are simple. My first successful model was just a phone stand. What matters is solving a problem and learning something from each project.
I would also recommend being patient. Most models don't work perfectly on the first try. Testing, redesigning, and printing multiple versions is a normal part of the process. Even today, I often print the same part many times before I'm happy with the result.
And finally, don't compare yourself to creators who have been doing this for years. Focus on learning, improving, and enjoying the process. The skills and experience come naturally over time.
I think we're still only at the beginning of what is possible with 3D printing.
Printers are becoming more affordable, easier to use, and much more reliable than they were a few years ago. Because of that, more and more people are bringing 3D printers into their homes, which is helping the technology reach a much wider audience.
When I bought my first printer, 3D printing was still something quite unusual. Today, it's becoming a normal tool for makers, hobbyists, and even families. I think we'll continue to see 3D printers become a common part of many households.
I'm excited to see where the technology goes next and what new possibilities it will bring.
Each Designer of the Month also chooses a theme for a three-week Printables contest!
For July, Matthew_Ghost picked the theme Modular Drawer System. The community can submit their models on the contest page, and once the challenge ends, the designer will help us choose the winners.
The best entries can win an Original Prusa MK4S kit and more than 1,750 Prusameters in total.
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