Define Junque

There is junk and then there is Junque.  The work “junk” keeps it’s original meaning. Trash, cheap, some thing that is thrown away as worthless. Except to a junk collector for scrap value.

Junque, as I define it for 3D printing is something substantial and certainly interesting, but has little intrinsic value. Printed because it can be printed but is not of high material value or for immediate use.

Junque is not bad. It’s something created with no applicable need or purpose. I can design and print 50 interesting flower vases, but I don’t really need 50 flower vases. So they are 3D printed Junque.  High class items with little value for existence. Except if I were actually a connoisseur  vase collector.

So I created the special spelling and capital J, to set apart Junque from throwaway junk.

I print Junque when I have no real problem to solve with real design-for-purpose engineering. 

I truly enjoy design-for-purpose. It’s just that, is not a constant need. So I fall back to design-for-design sake just to keep busy. It could be called artistic design, as I always try different forms and variations.

I will pause everything (except the running printer) when someone brings me a design challenge for some item that can be 3D printed. Sometimes it is a broken existing part, that has no replacement. Here is a real need to fulfill.

I sometimes can see the design flaw or flaws that caused the problem and design a part that will be stronger to better. That’s the fun part. The printing process is NOT my hobby, but simply the tool used to make the improved part.

Other times I am presented with a concept, rather than a fix-it. 

“I have a set of 6 dozen colored pencils and I need a pencil case to display and sort them, so I can find the one I need.”  “YEAH!  I can do that!” 

The made part is also not the goal, but is the reward of design-print. I compare it to sports. The finial score or trophy is the reward. But it is the DOING that is the real reason to participate. 

Saving the cherry on top of the cupcake for last, is the reward for eating the cake. It’s the cake that fills your hunger.

Oh, yeah…

Above is a picture of the pencil case…