Welcome to the VanderLab Blog

Welcome to the VanderLab blog! I'm Richard, and this is where I'll share what's happening in the shop — new projects, tools I'm testing, design tips, and lessons learned at the CNC and printer.

What to Expect

I plan to post about:

• Project walkthroughs — from napkin sketch to finished part
• Tool & material reviews — filaments, bits, software, and more
• Shop upgrades — new machines, enclosures, dust collection, lighting
• Design tips — CAD tricks, file prep, tolerances, and common gotchas
• Behind the scenes — the day-to-day of running a small fabrication lab

First Up

I've got a few posts in the works already — a deep dive on the seat card holder production run, some notes on CNC feeds and speeds for plywood, and a look at how I designed the neon-style sign you might have seen in the portfolio.

If there's something specific you'd like to see covered, reach out and let me know. I'm always looking for ideas.

Thanks for stopping by. Let's make something.