Portrait Series: Francis
3D Printing Tomorrow’s Solutions
Keylane owes its success to the diversity and talent of its employees. For our new portrait series, we highlight the connection between our Keylaners’ talents and their exceptional work ethics.
Meet Francis – a bonafide tinkerer by nature who’s passion about 3D printing and solution optimisation.
Read on for the full interview.
How did your passion for tinkering develop into a fascination for 3D printing?
I was always fascinated by technology. As a six-year-old, I would pick up old appliances from the street and take them apart. Washing machines, TVs, tumble dryers… My parents’ shed soon filled up, and eventually I learned how to repair appliances. I still get the urge to tinker when visiting the recycle centre, but my wife has clear rules about that! 🙂
At my previous employer, I was captivated by a 3D printer they had bought to experiment with. Outside of their experiments, I started playing around with the machine (following a short how-to). Soon after that, I was driving to Den Helder to buy my first 3D printer.
What was the first thing you printed?
Phew! I think it was a curtain rail holder.
What does your passion for 3D printing bring you personally?
It is as a challenge to find a solution to a problem; a chainsaw that doesn’t work properly, a little bracket or clip that has broken off. The answer is often not straightforward, so you really have to focus to develop the optimal solution. It’s important to understand how the object works but also, for example, how to create the optimal strength or flexibility. Focusing on such challenges gives me a lot of peace. It’s like a sort of bubble where nothing distracts me. And when I finally find the right solution, it’s a great feeling that gives me a sense of pride.
Are there similarities between your Keylane role and your printing passion?
Yes! It’s definitely that I enjoy figuring things out. Repairing things and exploring how they can be improved. For example, I really enjoy ‘virtualisation’ in my Keylane role, or distributing packages to laptops. There too, I have to figure out why things do or don’t work. I like working on something very focus demanding, that eventually I’m able to wrap up. It gives me the same sense of pride I get from 3D printing.
What do you hope to achieve next with 3D printing?
I’d love to work with a 3D printer that can print in multiple colours. Besides that, I want to get even better at using the design tools. Despite the courses I’ve taken, there’s still so much more to explore in designing, such as the potential for ‘vectoring’. Ultimately, I also want to learn how to work with CNC machines. With those, objects aren’t printed but carved out. That’s really next level!
And what object would you most like to print?
At the moment, I’m looking into how I can print an RC plane or drone. There are so many mechanical properties involved in that. It’s a puzzle I’m still wrestling with!
Come join us and share your unique talents
If you’re interested in joining Keylane, we’d love to hear from you. We have an open, diverse and inclusive culture, and we aspire to make Keylane not just a good place to work, but a great place to work.
Check out our career page and find your dream job today or drop one of our recruiters a message.
For more information about Keylane, our customers and business partners, visit our corporate site.