🌌 About Azur3DPrint
✨ A passion born under the stars
Since childhood, I have always looked up at the night sky. Summers spent in the mountains with my grandparents shaped this passion: lying on a deckchair with a blanket, watching shooting stars with my grandfather. A few years later, in the early 1990s, I had a life-changing experience: seeing Saturn for the first time through a small 114/900 telescope.
🔧 From astrophotography to a 3D workshop
Alongside my career as a landscape gardener, I developed a passion for astrophotography… and later for 3D printing, initially for practical needs in daily life and my astro setup. During the first lockdown in 2020, a friend — Denis Hubert from the GAPRA astronomy club in Antibes — asked me to make a part… then another, and another. Word of mouth spread (forums, Facebook...), and by January 2021 I had officially founded Azur3DPrint.
I first started making parts for myself (a finder scope holder for autoguiding, adapters, practical accessories). Very quickly, other astronomers reached out, knowing I was one of them: not just a 3D printer, but someone who truly understood the needs of amateur astronomers.
Over time, some customers assumed Azur3DPrint was a full team. In reality, I handle everything myself: website management, design, printing, packaging, emails, and phone calls — all from my small workshop, with passion and precision.
Many are surprised to find it is me personally who replies, taking the time to answer questions, explain accessories, or guide beginners to avoid the common mistakes we all make at first. This direct and genuine connection is part of Azur3DPrint’s DNA, and something I am proud to maintain.
🌍 A journey that travels far
Thanks to the trust of Christian Buil and the success of the Sol’Ex and Star’Ex instruments, my creations quickly went abroad: Switzerland, the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India… My greatest pride remains collaborating with Christian — a figure I admired years ago when processing my images with Iris.
🧭 My philosophy
- Artisanal precision: parts adjusted to the half-millimeter, designed for real-world use.
- A living catalog: constantly enriched by the needs and feedback of the community.
- Shared passion: speaking the same language — clear skies, sharp focus, and attention to detail.
🚀 Looking ahead
I continue to refocus more and more on astronomy: developing new product ranges, exploring astro-decor projects (lamps, sky-inspired designs)… and perhaps one day designing a telescope almost entirely 3D-printed. With technology evolving fast, the journey is just beginning.
Vincent Duchêne
Founder of Azur3DPrint