From Retirement to Making Again: Mark’s Arctos Adventure
By Coco He | September 2025
Read Time: 5 min
When Mark retired after decades in engineering and commercial roles, he wasn’t looking for rest — he was looking for challenges. Projects that stretched his skills, kept his curiosity alive, and gave him the kind of satisfaction that comes only from making something real.“I quickly realized that choosing projects that stretched and challenged my existing skillset was an extremely rewarding way of spending my retirement,” he says. “It keeps my mind active and healthy — the salary is non-existent, but the benefits in kind are massive. .
Finding Joy in the Process
From Raspberry Pi streamers to custom 3D-printed speakers, Mark had already built a portfolio of fun and functional creations. But when he discovered the Arctos robot project, everything clicked.The Arctos — originally designed by Arctosaurus and supported by a vibrant, friendly community — brought together everything Mark loved: electronics, software, automation, and now 3D printing.What makes it meaningful isn’t just the final build, but the act of making itself. “You can discover you need something, design it and print it — so much satisfaction.” Mark says. Having reliable materials and helpful profiles from Overture gave him the confidence to focus less on trial and error and more on the joy of creating. Each step brings a sense of progress, and each print feels like a small victory, tangible proof of learning and persistence.
Choosing the Right Materials
Getting there wasn’t always smooth. Like many makers, Mark started with PLA and PETG. The results were decent, but for a robot that would eventually live in his living room as a “deluxe Anglepoise lamp,” he needed something tougher, UV-resistant, and professional looking.
That’s when he turned to Overture ASA.
“The standout for me with Overture was the technical data on your website along with the profiles for the filaments — not forgetting your customer service of course!” he says. “I’d made my own profiles, but they were nowhere near as good. Yours saved me so much time and improved the results immediately.”
He now uses ASA for the robot’s main structure, nylon for the gears, and clear PETG for the covers — which will soon shine with animated steampunk-style LED strips
Challenges, Community, and the Joy of Learning
As a self-taught 3D printing newcomer, Mark faced plenty of setbacks — from finding the right support material to tackling warping on larger parts. But with patience and help from Overture’s customer service, each challenge became part of the journey.
“Of course I didn’t get everything perfect first time,” he admits. “It took a while to get the support material correct (with help from Overture customer service — thank you), and I’ve had to watch out for warping. But this is all part of the learning process. I’m not in a race to finish the project — I’m enjoying the process.”
And he hasn’t been doing it alone. The Arctos Discord community has been a constant source of help and inspiration, with enthusiasts sharing documentation, guides, and creative modifications. “It’s a fantastic project, and I think Arctosaurus deserves real recognition for all the original work. The community has been brilliant.”
Looking Toward What’s Possible
Mark isn’t done exploring. He wants to deepen his knowledge of material science, refine his designs, and one day produce parts that come off the build plate beautiful enough to stand as finished products.
As for Arctos, his vision is to turn it into an interactive art piece — a robotic lamp with interchangeable “smart” light modules, from a reading light to a mini Las Vegas Sphere.
For Mark, retirement has become less about slowing down and more about creating at his own pace. “Every print is a new chance to learn,” he says. “And that’s the real joy.”
For Overture, stories like Mark’s remind us why we do what we do: to support makers at every stage — from their first print to their most ambitious build. And for anyone watching from the sidelines, Mark proves that with patience, persistence, and the right tools, making isn’t just about objects — it’s about possibility..
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