As a volunteer at Bexhill Men’s Shed, I contribute my time and technical expertise across several engineering disciplines, combining mechanical design, electronics repair, reverse engineering, additive manufacturing and software development to support the day-to-day needs of the workshop and its members. A key aspect of my role is not only delivering practical engineering solutions but also sharing my knowledge and experience, helping members develop confidence in modern engineering technologies, digital manufacturing techniques and practical problem-solving.
Within the IT workshop, I design mechanical components and assemblies using Autodesk Fusion 360, producing CAD models to meet a wide variety of practical engineering requirements. I also undertake 3D scanning to capture existing components, enabling damaged, obsolete or unavailable parts to be accurately reverse engineered, repaired and reproduced using additive manufacturing techniques. Many of these components are prototyped and manufactured in-house using the workshop’s 3D printers.
To prepare scanned models for manufacture, I make extensive use of Blender to manipulate STL files, including repairing mesh errors, reducing polygon counts, modifying geometry, thickening thin-walled components, smoothing surfaces and preparing models for reliable 3D printing. This combination of Fusion 360 and Blender allows complex parts to be recreated where original drawings or replacement components are unavailable.
I regularly assist other members in learning Fusion 360, Blender, 3D scanning and 3D printing workflows, demonstrating CAD modelling, mesh editing, reverse engineering techniques and printer preparation. By mentoring members and encouraging practical experimentation, I help them develop the confidence and skills needed to design, manufacture and repair their own projects.
In the downstairs workshop, known as the Quiet Area, I repair and restore a wide variety of electrical and electronic equipment. Projects have included rebuilding the planetary gearbox of a Brio model locomotive, repairing domestic appliances such as rice cookers, restoring record turntables, diagnosing faults in 3D printers and repairing a range of electrical and mechanical devices. This work involves systematic fault finding, component-level repair, mechanical assembly, functional testing and performance verification, while also providing opportunities to explain engineering principles and practical repair techniques to fellow members.
Alongside the practical engineering activities, I contribute to software-related projects including website development, firmware configuration, terminal command-line investigations and optimisation of 3D printer hardware and software. I also document repair procedures and engineering processes, helping members understand the underlying technologies and encouraging the wider adoption of digital manufacturing within the workshop.
My voluntary work at Bexhill Men’s Shed enables me to combine technical expertise with community service, applying skills in Fusion 360 CAD, Blender, reverse engineering, 3D scanning, additive manufacturing, electronics repair, mechanical engineering, software development and technical problem-solving. Equally important, it provides an opportunity to mentor others, share engineering knowledge and help members gain the confidence and practical skills required to repair, create and innovate independently. The role has further strengthened my communication, leadership and collaborative working skills while reinforcing my passion for practical engineering and lifelong learning.