How the Sanjay Mortimer RepRap Festival Is Empowering Neurodiverse Talent

You may remember Sanjay Mortimer as the co-founder of E3D and as a figure who played a pivotal role in standardizing the hotend ecosystem. By developing a system of interchangeable parts, Mortimer helped move FDM printing toward a more modular and reliable future. Driven by E3D’s goal to “change the way humanity manufactures goods,” he became a well-known presence in the RepRap movement before his death in November 2021 at the age of 32. In his memory, the Sanjay Mortimer Foundation (SMF) was established to carry forward his passion for engineering while addressing a cause close to his own experience: neurodiversity.

Throughout his career, Mortimer was open about his ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the challenges it presented. He was determined that the condition should not define his potential, a philosophy that now forms the core of the SMF’s mission: “to help those with neurodivergent minds recognize their strengths and talents through engineering and making.” One way the foundation achieves this is by hosting the Sanjay Mortimer RepRap Festival (SMRRF).

The SMRRF is a place for makers to come together.

​Connecting the Community: SMRRF 2026

The SMRRF will take place this year on March 7-8 in Manchester, England. The event features live demos, talks, and family-friendly workshops on engaging topics such as droid building and 3D printing LEGO-style blocks. Attendees can also participate in activities like “Death Racers,” where 3D-printed robots battle in a ring, or join an auction and raffle for a chance to win significant hardware—including the historic Original Voron 2 Prototype Serial 0, and a limited edition Bambu Lab P1S—among many others.