Generation Two — The Future of Valve Caps For weeks, nobody knew what me and @iamthatcat were working on. In fact, most people didn’t even know that I design valve caps at all. Behind the scenes, I’ve already created over 20 different valve cap models, constantly experimenting with new shapes, ideas, and concepts. Every one of those models has been released under a public domain license, allowing anyone to freely download, print, modify, and share them. Most of my work gets published on MakerWorld, where I share my designs and projects with the community. But while everyone was seeing my previous creations, I was quietly working on something completely different for the next generation. What people saw were sketches on Bambu Lab and random design tests. What they didn’t see was the amount of time going into redesigning the entire idea from the ground up. Originally, the plan was simple: make separate valve caps for Presta and Schrader valves like everyone else does. But during one late-night design session with @iamthatcat, everything changed. Instead of creating two different caps, we realized we could combine both systems into one universal design. One valve cap. Two valve types. A completely different approach. At first, the idea sounded impossible. Presta and Schrader valves are completely different, and most people just accept needing separate caps. But the more we designed, tested, and refined the concept, the more it started to work. This wasn’t just another model anymore. It became Generation Two — a new step forward built from everything I learned while creating the first 20 designs. Today or next week or week after month I don't know, that project is finally being revealed. After countless sketches, redesigns, and prototypes, the Generation Two universal valve cap is no longer just an idea hidden on a screen. It’s real — a single compact design made to fit both Presta and Schrader valves without needing two separate sets. Just like the previous 20 models, this new design is also being released under a public domain license, making it completely free for the community to use, remix, print, and improve through MakerWorld. This release also marks the official beginning of a new partnership with @iamthatcat, combining creativity, innovation, and a shared vision to create something original. What started as hidden sketches, MakerWorld uploads, and private ideas has now become the launch of an entirely new generation.

The Hive is a collaboration project between Mike Gyver Minis and myself, Together 3D. Where we combine our strenghts into a ready to print and play miniature adventure.Mike Gyver Minis supplies the high quality detailed miniatures and I create the envionment where your party can encounter them. The spark of inspirationEvery project starts with inspiration, and for this modular hive tileset, that spark of inspiration was a single, jaw-dropping image. When fellow miniature designer Mike Gyver Mini’s sent over a picture of an in progress sculpt —an incredibly detailed, terrifyingly epic wasp - inspiration struck.This giant wasp deserved his own hive and we decided to make it work.The goal: a complete print (paint) and play adventureWhen playing tabletop RPGs (like dungeons and dragons), you are building a world and making your players live it.We decided to combine our strengths and work towards a complete package: epic miniatures to encounter in a matching setting.With Mike Gyver Mini’s incredible creatures providing the threat, and my modular tilesystem providing the environment, we are trying to make the hive world come alive.How it grewWhen I looked at the giant wasp Mike Gyver Minis made, I immediately thought of a hexagon tilepattern. But after testprinting it wasn’t how it should be. It felt flat and with not enough detail to match the Giant Wasp. After adding extra texture, it felt more in synch.However, finding a way to keep the same style in the different tiles needed to build a map, proved a challenge. Multiple designs were scratched because they felt “off” with the Hive-vibe.But, every input and test made it better to end up where we are now:a fully functional Hive-tileset, with epic giant wasps to interact with.Designing is not a solo hobbyYou might think designing is a solo hobby, because you are sitting behind your PC by yourself - right? It is not, and that is the beauty of it.Mike Gyver Mini’s and I have been bouncing ideas back and forth for a while. Hyping each other up, asking advice (even though not always implemented 😏).What now?Is the hive done? Oh no - this infestation is just getting started.Expect even more modular tiles and perfectly matched miniatures to join the hive in the near future. What do you think would be a great addition to the hive?You can check out the ever growing collection of The Hive here.