I started this 100 Day Challenge to test one thing: my discipline.
At first, it felt easy. I'd already designed a handful of models before the challenge began, so it seemed like I'd gotten ahead of myself. That illusion didn't last long.
The days caught up quickly, and I soon realised how mentally demanding committing to something every single day could be. There were nights where I'd stay up until 2am just to finish a single design so I wouldn't break the streak.
Each model took, on average, one to two hours to design. Printing took another four to six hours, although I eventually found ways to reduce print times through calibration and experimenting with my printer settings without sacrificing quality. After that came the finishing process: washing, curing, sanding, priming, and painting. Depending on the number of colours, that alone could take another three to six hours.
By the end of each piece, I'd invested a huge portion of my day into a single creation. I'd wake up around 7am to clean and cure the overnight print, then spend the rest of the day priming and painting, leaving at least two hours between coats.
The work itself wasn't always the hardest part. The real challenge was finding the motivation to keep going for one hundred consecutive days while balancing everything else happening in life. As the weeks went on, the mental fatigue slowly built up.
There was a point halfway through where I genuinely regretted starting the challenge.
But now that it's over, I don't regret it for a second.
I surprised myself by finishing all 100 days and creating designs I never thought I'd be capable of making. I learned an incredible amount by experimenting with new software, refining my workflow, and pushing through creative blocks. I'm now far more confident designing intricate models and achieving clean resin prints with only minor errors, which feels like a huge personal milestone.
I first discovered 3D printing about three years ago with PLA filament. More recently, I made the jump to SLA resin printing, which is what I used throughout this challenge.
The moment I watched my first print come to life, I was hooked.
There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing an idea that existed only on a laptop slowly become a real object you can hold just a few hours later. Even after hundreds of prints, I still find the gentle hum of the printer strangely calming. (Don't judge me.)
For me, 3D printing is where technology and art collide. It has become one of my favourite creative outlets, and this challenge only deepened that passion.
One hundred days is a long time.
Would you take on a 100 Day Challenge?
Just... maybe don't make it quite as difficult as I did.
