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LoveBugDesigns.us moves from craft shows to permanent location

THE LAAB FAMILY — from left are Skylar, Love, Tom and Miranda — holding Mike, a 3-D printed dragon available at LovebugDesigns.us that has moved into the Downtown Plaza in Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — After having much success at craft shows and farmers markets in the past year, Tom Laabs has moved his Lovebugdesigns.us business out of his living room and into the Downtown Plaza in Iron Mountain.

For Laabs, a hobby gone out of control and a need for a career change led to LoveBugDesigns.us, which offers 3-D printing.

Laabs describes 3-D printing as additive manufacturing. Where subtractive manufacturing is like taking a piece of wood and turning it down into a table leg, additive manufacturing starts with a blank slate and adds layers upon layers to create a final piece.

Laabs moved to the Iron Mountain area three years ago with wife Love and daughters Miranda and Skylar when the trucking company he worked for relocated from Neshkoro, Wis.

Problems with the trucking company and two back surgeries signaled the end of Laabs’ career as a driver. Not wanting to sit idle collecting disability, Laabs began looking for alternatives.

A BATCH OF articulating toys are ready to come out of the 3-D printer at LovebugDesigns.us. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

“I could sit at home and watch television and go insane or I could just keep plugging along,” Laabs said. “I am not going to make a fortune by any means, but at least I am doing something that gives myself a purpose.”

Six years ago, Love Laabs received a 3-D pen as a gift for her birthday and Laabs was the one who took to the pen. He said he used to do ceramics at his grandmother’s and mother’s studios and the process was similar.

Soon Laabs, who has also previously worked in IT, took things a step further by combining his love of art and technology by purchasing his first 3-D printer.

Laabs began making articulating toys — which have sections connected by joints, allowing each section to bend or turn independently — and key chains. In December 2023, he set up at a craft show at the Ruth Butler Building in Escanaba and did so well he had nothing to sell on the second day.

Laabs would experience similar success in the coming months. Soon he earned enough money to purchase several more larger printers.

Laabs is now able to create hundreds of pieces at the same time. The options for what he can create are limited only by the size of his printers and he hopes to add even larger printers in the future as demand dictates.

Laabs offers custom-design service. He can make replacements for broken plastic parts for small engines and automobiles, or models and prototypes for manufacturers.

When LovebugDesigns.us outgrew the Laabs’ living room, he shifted to suite L-106 in the Downtown Plaza. With some extra space in the shop, Laabs has set up a table and welcomes gamers to come in play, as he can print up the figurines that so many of them enjoy. He hopes that the shop will become a real gathering spot.

LovebugDesigns.us will be at the last Iron Mountain Farmers Market on Saturday. Laabs hopes to have the grand opening for his shop Oct. 23. Tentative hours for LovebugDesigns.us are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

To contact LovebugDesigns.us, email to info@LoveBugDesigns.us or call or text to 906-282-5673.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new business owners in the region. Know of a business that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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