One person. Every print, checked.

Electrical Engineer by education. Software Engineer by trade. 3D Printer by heart.

The studio started 10 years ago with a simple problem: an old washing machine needed a door switch that was no longer available. Instead of buying a new machine, the answer was a $200 printer (a Select Mini II from Monoprice) and a self-designed part. That little switch is still available on Thingiverse today, and the washing machine? Still running.

What started as a practical fix turned into a decade-long obsession. From that first functional print, the workshop graduated to modified Creality CR-10s and high-precision resin printers. Each project teaches something new about bringing ideas into physical reality.

A favorite print? A Kirby-shaped fume extractor for soldering projects. It captures the whole idea: solve a real problem, with a little personality. Functional parts or creative designs — same level of care.

Beyond 3D printing, the studio is interested in all things manufacturing — CNC machining, laser etching, prototyping — anything that transforms ideas into reality.

August 2025. One of those big online 3D printing services took a file, returned an expensive box of incorrectly printed parts. No one checked the orientation. No one asked about the use case. No one to talk to when things went sideways. Premium price, zero service.

That experience made it clear: the 3D printing industry had lost its soul. Everything optimized for automation and margins, nothing for the actual customer. Something better was overdue.

The Printed Bay exists for that gap. Yes, the name is a pun on The Pirate Bay — an affectionate one. But it also points at something deeper: democratizing access to good manufacturing. Bytes move quicker and cheaper than physical goods; a small local studio can turn your digital design into a real part — with a real human making sure it's done right.

From the workshop in Des Plaines, IL, every order gets reviewed by a person before any printer turns on. Dimensions, orientation, materials, colors — double-checked when something looks off. Printed as if it's for the studio itself, because that's the only standard worth having.

“Bring the joy of 3D printing to anyone who needs shaped plastic and a technical eye on their project. Local printer, careful prep, real conversations — not an instant-quote conveyor belt.”