Hey all, I had a funny one, so funny that I nearly fell of my chair laughing. I was emailing the local plastics distributors about supply of 3mm ABS welding rod. After a couple of no replies and don't stocks one came back to me and said. Sure .... But the minimum order is..... 3000 m ! in 10 300 m rolls. I could build a couple of repraps with that. :) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19439#msg-19439 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:36:46 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19704#msg-19704 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19704#msg-19704 > full self replication BAD )

Oh come on. It's not like we haven't been using fully self-replicating machines for a lot longer than we've had any other technology to speak of. It's just that this one is all-synthetic, and requires feed that requires a huge amount more work to get.

I would be tremendously amazed if any "grey goo" that we ever produce can beat 20 minutes to double (which the grey goo we have growing in our gut already does).

The grey goo scenario already happened, and then became pinkish and fleshy. This is just an extension of that which is less restricted in bulk form and more restricted in everything else.]]> jonored General Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:58:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19556#msg-19556 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19556#msg-19556
Demented]]> Demented Chihuahua General Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:12:41 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19551#msg-19551 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19551#msg-19551
Vik :v)]]> VikOlliver General Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:38:45 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19543#msg-19543 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19543#msg-19543
And that's 44.68$US per 25ft spool. Ouch.

In the future, I'm thinking about using .1in cord--I figure that it may be easier to obtain extruder parts at this size here in the US.]]> Lethosos General Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:01:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19511#msg-19511 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19511#msg-19511 -------------------------------------------------------
> Plastics welding machines are a very
> limited market device and cost several thousand
> dollars, typically, in spite of the fact they for
> practical purposes they consist of a hot air paint
> stripper mated with a tube that acts as a guide
> for the filament and a feed mechanism, an
> assemblage that would cost only a hundred dollars
> or so if there were a mass market for it.
>

They aren't all that expensive:

This one's $33]]> rodzite General Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:07:02 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19486#msg-19486 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19486#msg-19486
I find the whole reprap thing a fascinating mental exercise.

Now yourself and everyone reading this ( yes; that means you too, dear reader ) must have dreamed of huge warehouses filled with repraps churning out and endless supply of cool little plastic bits.

I now have consumed vast amounts of time thinking and plotting my reprap project. As a concept it has huge power. A device that can print itself and all manner of cool plastic (..for now) bits.

I have some thoughts in no particular order

- Never design a robot that can build repraps ( full self replication BAD )

- If you make a reprap you SHOULD make at least 2 full sets of extra parts and exchange them for a Multi Pack of Tasty Beverage (nice work Wade)

- If someone asks about your reprap get them involved and be friendly

- Thank the people who work on it now.

I'm making a reprap for purely selfish reasons; I want a cool robot that makes plastic bits.

But.

Thanks Forrest , Vik and Adrian and all the people involved in the project, i'm having heaps of fun.

:)

Simon]]> zignig General Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:30:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19483#msg-19483 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19483#msg-19483
What you should understand, however, is that plastic filament that is being manufactured now is being sold into a VERY limited market, viz, for use in plastic welding machines used primarily for repair work. Plastics welding machines are a very limited market device and cost several thousand dollars, typically, in spite of the fact they for practical purposes they consist of a hot air paint stripper mated with a tube that acts as a guide for the filament and a feed mechanism, an assemblage that would cost only a hundred dollars or so if there were a mass market for it.

Once Reprap-style 3D printing takes off, plan on the prices of 3 mm filament asymptotically approaching the cost of the plastic resin in it. :)-D]]> Forrest Higgs General Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:39:11 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19474#msg-19474 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19474#msg-19474
Stuff is more expensive here in Perth but that is insane.

Will search for other local suppliers.

On another note I should get my extruder nozzles (pfte+brass+acorn) back tomorrow ( 3 for 12 beers ).

Now that price is more like it.

:)]]> zignig General Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:03:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19472#msg-19472 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19472#msg-19472
3000 meters would come out at about $375 then.]]> Forrest Higgs General Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:09:52 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19469#msg-19469 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19469#msg-19469
Vik :v)]]> VikOlliver General Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:41:08 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19448#msg-19448 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19448#msg-19448 degroof General Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:12:13 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19447#msg-19447 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19447#msg-19447
that's about 1200 $US]]> zignig General Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:41:13 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19440#msg-19440 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19440#msg-19440
How much were they quoting?]]> degroof General Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:22:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19439#msg-19439 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,19439,19439#msg-19439
I had a funny one, so funny that I nearly fell of my chair laughing.

I was emailing the local plastics distributors about supply of 3mm ABS welding rod.

After a couple of no replies and don't stocks one came back to me and said.

Sure .... But the minimum order is.....

3000 m !

in 10 300 m rolls.

I could build a couple of repraps with that.

:)]]> zignig General Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:51:48 -0500