Sometimes you are trying to print something from your 3D printer, and it does not come out the way you want it. There is possibly frustration in the midst of that. But although it may seem to be a waste of time, understanding what comes out of the "failed" project may sometimes give something unexpected. Here are two examples to illustrate this.

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Example 1:
I was trying to test some connecting parts in order to see what the design limitation is. Unfortunately, something happened in the first layer - and all my holes became bigger than I expected. 

![photo_2017-04-07_17-06-05.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTLK6mxfMRshWtq7FmJ4WfnntCeWvT3RRF8j3PZabPWdz/photo_2017-04-07_17-06-05.jpg)
Fig. 1 - The Two Parts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL5E2DXzWr0&feature=youtu.be
Vid. 1 - It is somehow working.

However, when I was playing around with the plank (it has a height of 0.5mm), I noticed that it acted as an interesting spring as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDKBtdbuJc&feature=youtu.be
Vid. 2 - 3D-printed Part as a Spring

It gives ideas about how this particular property of the 3D-printed part can be used in future designs.

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Example 2:
I was printing this out for my project, but because of my printer settings, it printed faster than I expected. Before the print could go on to the second layer, I stopped the print.

![photo_2017-04-07_17-06-16.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXHfTVLLVs9qhvM6qGdeeyfoLjnbmiHuX8GEiSESzrtwP/photo_2017-04-07_17-06-16.jpg)
Fig. 2 - Failed Print?

This print had a layer height of only 0.2mm - giving it this rather flimsy attribute. In a way, you might think it is a very brittle cloth if you bend it too much.

![photo_2017-04-07_17-06-12.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWWen2mzS9q43V1Tf6TpyjBbeF2ft8jxumMkeQNENm9NZ/photo_2017-04-07_17-06-12.jpg)
Fig. 3 - Looks like Cloth

While I do not know how this property may be used for future designs, it is something worth keeping in mind, in case a future project requires such an attribute from the printed part.

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We often look forward to something expected, and if it does not happen, and something else comes out, we tend to become disappointed and frustrated. But perhaps, out of that something unexpected, there are lessons to be learnt. We may well learn to expect the unexpected, as well as to expect lessons from these instances.