So a local "maker space" has two introductory workshops. One for laser cutting/engraving, the other on 3D printing. Ideally I'd visit both, since I'm clueless in both techniques and I haven't designed ...

While many of us now have laser cutters — either a K40-style machine or one of the newer high-output diodes — you probably don’t have one that cuts metal. True, some hobby lasers now offer IR laser ...

There are limits to what you can do with an FDM printer to make your parts stronger. It really comes down to adding more plastic, like increasing wall thickness or boosting up the infill percentage.