Steph Piper: “Printing Isn’t Just About Making Knick-Knacks”

Steph has a background in biofabrication and 3D printing for medical grade implants.

She is currently the Patron of the Brisbane Hackerspace and the Community Engagement Coordinator at USQ, looking after the Library Makerspace. She also teaches 3D printing, 3D modelling, and Arduino classes. She has designed 3D printables for medical, fashion and furniture. She’s also hosted talks and workshops for the Wonder of Science Program, QUT Creative Enterprise Australia, Brisbane Workshop, Woodford Folk Festival, The Planting Festival and much more.

Steph is part of the 2017 Digital Champions Program, has been featured by Peppermint Magazine, was a finalist in the Women in STEM awards and was selected for the Startup Catalyst Youth Mission to Silicon Valley. We are thrilled to feature her as today’s Women in 3D Printing guest!

Nora Toure: Steph, could you let us know about your background and what brought you to 3D printing in the first place?

Steph Piper: My background is in biofabrication. When I was studying Biomedicine, I loved the idea of getting into medical engineering and 3D Printing. While I was living on college, I built my own Reprap Prusa Mendel, and was able to approach a professor in this area with some parts I’d made, on a machine I’d built.

I was put on the research team looking at 3D printable, biodegradable breast scaffolds for implantation. I also worked on other projects around developing ‘smart materials’ which were able to give a material different properties, such as auxetics and triply periodic minimal surface structures.

Nora Toure: What was your very first experience with 3D Printing?

Steph Piper: My first experience was putting together my own Reprap machine. I love the idea of the open source movement, and building your own machine grounds your understanding of the process much more. It was a rough start without anyone to learn from, but with my current role, I can give back this knowledge to many others starting on the same journey.

Nora Toure: Could you explain furthermore what Piper3D is?

Steph Piper: www.piper3dp.com is my blogging website, where I give updates on 3D printing projects, .stl files for download and purchase.

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