Metal staircase designer 

Tobias, a 33-year-old metal staircase designer from Bruges, discussed his journey from a soccer-playing youth to running a small company with four colleagues. He emphasized the importance of 3D scanning and software in his work, noting that it has significantly reduced the time and complexity of creating steel staircases.

Q: Introduction: Could you briefly introduce yourself and your background in 3D technology?

I am Tobias Knockaert, born and raised in Bruges. 33 years old, girlfriend Kika and daughter MIllie. Played soccer in the past and now an active multi sporter. Already very young I seemed to be passionate about technology. Playing with screwdrivers in the workshop of my dad and making various machines/constructions with leftovers. I then studied science-maths in middle school and later on Industrial designer and electromechanical engineering. 3D had been around the whole time as a tool to visualize and make ideas happen. I eventually became self employed and run a small company where we design, produce and install tailor-made steel staircases with the help of 3D software and 3D scanning.

Q: What do you find most fascinating about 3D printing/scanning in your field?

You can just do things that weren't possible in the past. It saves so much time and reduces errors. With 3D scanning, you can have the geometry of a complete building on your screen and engineer from there on. You don't have to tape measure on site, you can discuss possible problems by means of the scan. We import the resulting pointcloud in our software and just draw over the points that are on the screen. Like a little toddler that would draw in a babybook. We then design sheet metal parts that we order directly from the supplier. We basically just weld these parts together into an assembly. We don't cut, bend or adapt too much.

Q: Can you share a specific example where 3D technology has had a significant impact?

I would say that 3D really excells in designing and measuring things that aren't straight or full of details. We onced scanned the inside of a whole church to make something fit in the glass windows. The level of detail was enormous.

Q: What new careers are emerging in this field, and what skills are essential for them?

For sure, production and preparation will shift even more from the workshop to the computer. Drawing a hole on computer takes less time than making one with a drill for example. Hence, you'd say you need more computer skilled persons who can direct robots, automatic processes etc. But the specific knowledge that is specific for each domain in the making industry cannot be thaught by book or on computer. You have to experience and gain experience. In my opinion, you can only achieve this by making things in real life yourself. Grab an angle grinder, weld, make things and you will become a better designer and fabricator.

I believe AI will have a supportive role in the industry, making robots more intelligent and making programming them easier. However, robots are limited by their physical capabilities. For unique tailor made parts, furniture, installations in a home you need a flexible versatile skilled asset aka skilled craftsmen. We are still far away from creating a humanoid robot that will do that. Technologically it's the most difficult thing you can build.

We really need to upgrade the status of a skilled worker. It's just unfair.

Q: Where do you see 3D technology heading in the next 5-10 years?

Every CAD software will have an AI assistant and this will further improve 3D drawing efficiency. I don't think it will completely replace a CAD drawer. You will still need somebody to tweak the last 20 % that AI doesn't get.  Designing is quite subjective.

3D scanning will probably shift to smaller and cheaper devices. You will have a decent scanner in your smartphone.

3D printing market share will slowly grow but is has been made clear that traditional technologies (milling, turning, casting) are still irreplaceable

Q: What's a common misconception about 3D technology that you'd like to address? 

It's not for nerds. 

Q: What advice would you give to young people who want to enter this industry?

Don't forget to make and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. It's not only a computer game.