Giving Grandpa His Creativity Back: How AI Helped Him Create Again

Imagine losing the ability to do what you love most. For my grandpa, a lifelong maker, losing mobility meant losing his workshop, his tools... a piece of himself. But technology, in an unexpected way, offered a new path back to creation. This is his story.

Meet Grandpa: A Maker from the Start

My grandpa is a child of WWII Slovenia (then Yugoslavia). He's always had creativity buzzing in his hands. Growing up, I was the lucky recipient of countless cool, handmade toys – things born from his imagination and skill in his workshop. He is formally trained turn mill operator, who really loves to make.

Then, life threw a curveball. A medical error led to him losing a leg in his retirement. Suddenly, the workshop he loved became inaccessible. The tools, once extensions of his hands, gathered dust. He eventually had to sell most of them. It was heartbreaking.

A Glimmer of Hope, A Wall of Complexity

Trying to find new outlets, a friend introduced him to 3D printing. The idea sparked something! He asked if I could help. We started with an Ender 3 printer. Big mistake. That thing was... well, let's just say it wasn't user-friendly for him. He barely managed a few prints, mostly models someone else had pre-loaded onto SD cards. I was living abroad then, unable to offer much hands-on help.

When I finally moved back, we upgraded him to a Bambu Lab A1 and a tablet connected to MakerWorld. This was much better. He could browse, tap the "green button" a few times, and boom - something printed! But it was still just printing other people's designs. The desire to create his own things remained.

We tried traditional CAD software. Oh boy. At his age, mastering a mouse for intricate tasks is tough enough, let alone navigating the millions (okay, maybe slight exaggeration) of functions in programs like Fusion 360 or Tinkercad. We even hired an instructor! Bless him, Grandpa tried. He meticulously wrote down instructions in his little notebook, step-by-step, for every single action. That's just how he has to use computers now.

And then there's the language barrier. He primarily speaks Slovenian. Finding learning resources or software support in Slovenian? Nearly impossible. It felt like we hit a wall.

The ChatGPT Spark

Around this time, I introduced him to ChatGPT. Just for fun, you know? And he loved it. He started writing poems, asking questions. He just... got it. The conversational interface clicked.

That's when the lightbulb went off for me. What if... what if making a 3D model was as simple as describing it? Like talking to ChatGPT?

GrandpaCAD: Talking Models into Existence

So, I started building GrandpaCAD. The core idea: a conversational AI where you describe what you want to make, and the AI translates that into a 3D model. No complex menus, no fiddly mouse work, just words.

He could type (or maybe eventually speak!) in his own language, "Make me a small box with a lid," or "I need a simple bracket to hold this shelf," and the system would generate the CAD file, ready to send to his printer.

Okay, Quick Nerd-Out

For the tech-curious: yes, we're using Large Language Models (LLMs) under the hood. We're essentially teaching an AI to understand descriptive language and translate it into geometric code (specifically, generating JSCAD code for now). It's complex stuff involving natural language processing, geometric modeling constraints, and a whole lot of trial-and-error. It's definitely not perfect yet, especially for complex designs. CAD is a beast! But for the simpler, functional parts Grandpa often wants to make? It's a start. A really exciting start.

The "Wow" Moment

Seeing him successfully design and print his first simple part using GrandpaCAD... it's hard to describe. The frustration melted away, replaced by that familiar spark of creative joy. It wasn't just about making a plastic object; it was about reclaiming a part of himself that he thought was lost. It was empowering. Awesome, really.

More Than Just Grandpa

While this journey started with my grandpa, the mission has grown. GrandpaCAD is for him, first and foremost. But it's also for anyone else intimidated by the steep learning curve of traditional CAD software. Students, hobbyists, other seniors... anyone who just wants to make simple, custom things without spending months learning complex tools. We're focused on simple for now, because honestly, that's where we think this approach shines brightest today.

Join Us & Help Grandpa Print!

Want to try turning your ideas into 3D models just by describing them?

GrandpaCAD is still growing. By subscribing to a plan, you not only increase the limits but also directly support the development and my grandpa by extension.

Want to directly fuel Grandpa's creativity? When you choose a subscription, you'll see an option to add a "virtual spool of filament" donation. Every bit goes directly towards buying filament for Grandpa, letting him print his creations without limits! He goes through quite a bit now! 😉

Thanks for reading his story. Let's make making easier, together.