When carpal tunnel made life as a software developer impossible, an entrepreneur was born.
Ivan Davis recently opened New Pueblo Tech, a 3-D printing retail store, at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street.
Along with selling printers, scanners and related supplies, Davis also offers 3-D printing services to artists, engineers and students.
Customers have requested everything from circuit-board buttons to a monkey skull for medical research.
Davis has printed boxes for an electronic cigarette shop and the connectors for a customerβs backyard greenhouse.
βAfter carpal tunnel surgery, I couldnβt sit behind a desk and code anymore,β he said. βBut I needed something that used my skills and kept me interested.β
Davis said he was interested in the technology of 3-D printing but found no local place to see printers or their performance.
Thatβs when he approached some wholesalers about having a retail presence in Tucson.
National companies that Davis partners with list New Pueblo Tech as a vendor.
Printers include Sigma, Zortrax and Zmorph.
Small jobs, such as a bracelet, can take two hours to print. Large jobs β a vase or bowl β can take up to 10 hours.
Prices range from $10 to $100 depending on the size and complexity of the design.
Printers cannot be left unattended and for now Davis is a one-man operation. He also offers custom design services for $35 an hour and can scan an object to create 3-D prints.
βIβve had a fair amount of people who want to print something just for fun,β he said.
The CEO of 3DomFuel LLC said it didnβt take long to partner with Davis after he made his pitch.
βWe select partners that we feel carry the same focus and importance on high-quality, functional and sustainable products,β said Matthew Stegall, CEO of the Fargo, North Dakota-based company. βAfter speaking with Ivan, understanding his commitment to quality and sustainability, we felt he was exactly the kind of partner we needed in his area.β
Stegall believes 3-D printing is set to become more popular as companies embrace the technology.
βAs the industry moves forward it will change and new ideas will continue to push the capabilities of current technology,β he said. βWill 3-D printing in five years look as it does today? Most certainly not.
βIndividuals and companies, however, will continue to grow along with the industry and will continue to push advancements.β
The cost of printers starts at about $2,000, and Davis has been selling between three and five a month since opening in October.
