I'm looking at all these user groups, and I am astonished that Boston, The home of the first computer user group in the US, and home of MIT (Well, Cambridge actually, but they're side-by-side) doesn't have a RepRap user group. I am unfortunately not technically adept enough to really start a RepRap on my own, but I would be willing to contribute SOME money, and to learn enough to be useful to any group that might form. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,13217#msg-13217 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:32:41 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15977#msg-15977 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15977#msg-15977
[www.mediafire.com]]]> slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:40:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15735#msg-15735 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15735#msg-15735 technoprobe.blogspot.com].]]> profeaston Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:27:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15732#msg-15732 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15732#msg-15732
I would be even more surprised if they were to find issue with what is, at present, essentially a homebuilt hot glue gun on a cartesian robot. A reprap doesn't require a chemistry lab to verify it's nature; having been told that it's a hot glue gun on a positioning robot, it's pretty easy to see that it's... a hot glue gun on a positioning robot. No need to trust someone's word that the clear liquid in a little vial is one thing or the other for that. It's even explainable to a non-techie. Shouldn't be a problem.]]> jonored Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:58:01 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15731#msg-15731 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15731#msg-15731
although, i do think confiscating thousands of dollars in chemicals from some old guy who knows what he's doing when he doesn't even have anything dangerous is crossing the line more than violating a "zoning" law is.]]> slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:56:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15730#msg-15730 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15730#msg-15730 profeaston Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:35:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15725#msg-15725 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15725#msg-15725
it does bring up an interesting point, though, regarding the "zoning" laws. what's the line between "hobbyist machine tool" and "professional machine shop"? I have a lathe and drill press in my basement along with woodworking tools, but I doubt that would get me in trouble - but if someone had a few mills and lathes, maybe a small CNC machine, could they get in trouble for "zoning" laws?]]> slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:47:30 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15723#msg-15723 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15723#msg-15723 www.telegram.com] .

I spotted it on Slashdot, which referenced Make Magazine. The guy wasn't doing anything illegal, but he has lost an entire basement lab because the authorities got alarmed at all the chemicals etc.

I wonder how they would react to a self-reproducing 3D printer?]]> profeaston Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:31:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15476#msg-15476 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15476#msg-15476 -------------------------------------------------------
> I sent an email to Wendy from plastics unlimited
> and got an answer on prices of plastic from them.
>
> Clear Plex
>
> 3/16]]> JohnWasser Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:47:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15475#msg-15475 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15475#msg-15475 of plastic from them.

Clear Plex Clear Lexan



3/16]]> brucew Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:32:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15396#msg-15396 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15396#msg-15396 singhalaya]]> kanishkamadusanka Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:19:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15368#msg-15368 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15368#msg-15368
and some stuff I have found over the last week.

1st. Bits from bytes has updated his site and now has some PDF files under assembly info. ( I spent most of last week trying to figure the .DXF files out.)

2nd. It looks like the main sheet of parts could be printed out on a 1/4 inch thick sheet of plastic.

3rd. Today I went to Lowes on my way into work and found that they carry acrilic and lexan but it is in .080 and .220 thick sheets ( I thought they came in inch not decimal? )

Bruce]]> brucew Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:01:28 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15237#msg-15237 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15237#msg-15237 -------------------------------------------------------
> Hi guys, I'm Paola from Peru. I'm a participant in
> the International Development Design Summit at MIT
> my team is prototyping a low cost incubator for
> infants, my organization is very interested in low
> cost fabbers and we see a lot of opportunities for
> prototyping small parts for medical devices,
> agriculture, etc.
>
> I would like to visit your group at MIT and learn
> more about rep rap.
>
> Regards
> Paola

Hello there, Paola,

We aren't at MIT, alas! -- just interested people in the general area. Strangely, we don't have any MIT people (that I'm aware of) posting to this group, yet. I have hope; there was one person at our 7/26 (at Olin College) gathering who gave an mit.edu address.

Low-cost incubators sounds like a very worthy project. One thing to keep in mind is that the quality of parts from repRap machines isn't as good as moulded or milled, so there may be issues of sterilize-ability for repraped parts, due to small inter-layer voids. I'm still at an early stage of learning, and haven't built anything but a small bit of electronics -- though I hope to change that real soon now. Bruce W. is the only local I know of who's got a machine running at present.

Good to hear from you,

-- Larry]]> Larry_Pfeffer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:55:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15236#msg-15236 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15236#msg-15236
I would like to visit your group at MIT and learn more about rep rap.

Regards
Paola]]> Paola Lira Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:29:49 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15081#msg-15081 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15081#msg-15081 www.plasticsunlimitedinc.com] is their website. Right near WPI. They sell off the material from their scrap bin reasonably cheap. It's not a /reliable/ supply, but it's not far to go for me. Of course, it's also entirely possible that they might be able to just produce parts - I'm not sure what their pricing is like for that, though.]]> jonored Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:46:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15027#msg-15027 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15027#msg-15027 slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:24:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15026#msg-15026 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15026#msg-15026 -------------------------------------------------------
> I didn't make it to the meeting, but I do live a
> short bike ride away from a place that sells scrap
> plastic by the pound and a friend with a laser
> cutter in his apartment (although he still hasn't
> gotten it up and running).

Jonored,

Please post the name & contact info for the place that sells plastic by the pound.

Best of luck to your friend with his laser cutter. Please keep us posted on that.

-- Larry]]> Larry_Pfeffer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:16:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15025#msg-15025 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15025#msg-15025
by the way, I'm in the process of modeling a reprap extruder (v1.1) and creating drawings, since they aren't available anywhere. here's what I have so far: [img504.imageshack.us]]]> slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:13:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15023#msg-15023 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,15023#msg-15023 jonored Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:59:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14999#msg-14999 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14999#msg-14999 -------------------------------------------------------
> The full specs are here :
> [machineshop.olin.edu]

"NO PVC, VINYL or POLYCARBONATE"

Looks like BitsFromBytes drawing "cartesian-bot-5mm-laser-cut-acrylic.dxf" (the main sheet of acrylic Darwin parts) fits on an A2 (420 x 594 mm) sheet. This translates to 16.5" x 23.4", well within the 20"x32" capability of the Olin laser cutter.

The BitsFromBytes design calls for lots of 5mm and 8mm acrylic and a little 3mm acrylic and 5mm "acetal". Fortunately the 8MM is very close to 5/16" and is under 3/8" so it is cuttable on the Olin cutter. 5mm is only a little over 3/16" so perhaps a substitution would work.]]> JohnWasser Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:12:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14973#msg-14973 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14973#msg-14973
So, according to the Olin machine shop webpage, the Legend 32EX Laser Cutter Can:

Hold up to 37]]> James Switzer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:39:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14943#msg-14943 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14943#msg-14943
the link to the reprap forum on this technology was here

[forums.reprap.org]

Bruce]]> brucew Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:39:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14930#msg-14930 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14930#msg-14930
Bruce--you mentioned a technique that builds from beneath. Do you have a link for that?

Tom
profeaston@roadrunner.com]]> Tom Easton Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:31:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14865#msg-14865 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14865#msg-14865
Again, if any of you need directions on the way here, my phone number is 781-540-9824. (maps and such are in a previous post)

See you on Saturday,

-Jim]]> James Switzer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:31:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14846#msg-14846 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14846#msg-14846
I'll bring my Arduino Diecimila along in case anyone has not seen one yet.]]> JohnWasser Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:22:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14812#msg-14812 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14812#msg-14812 bobt Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:39:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14777#msg-14777 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14777#msg-14777
It's been quiet here, which I've taken it to mean that a noon start is OK.
I've taken the liberty of putting an event posting up:

[boston.garysguide.org]

Please let me know if that needs any corrections.
I'm looking forward to meeting all of you,

Larry Pfeffer

PS *Please* post your ideas about what you'd like to get out of this meeting.
We have some topics, but more would probably be better.]]> Larry_Pfeffer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:24:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14540#msg-14540 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14540#msg-14540 slade Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:09:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14538#msg-14538 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14538#msg-14538
Glad you can make it at noon. (Still waiting to hear from others, but that sounds good to me.)

I ordered a couple Arduino-work-alike kits, and I'll bring them along, if I have them working. With luck, I'll be able to show people something brand new (read, not yet announced to the reprap community.) Fingers crossed.

-- Larry]]> Larry_Pfeffer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:01:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14515#msg-14515 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14515#msg-14515

I which I had my Arduino Electronics up and running but they are not finished yet..
It would be cool if we had anybody come from Dorkbot Boston.

Bruce]]> brucew Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:04:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14514#msg-14514 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?113,13217,14514#msg-14514
I'd like to nail down the start time for our 7/26 meeting, if we can.
(I got a suggestion to post our meeting on [boston.garysguide.org]
I need a starting time before proceeding.)

I had proposed 1:00 pm. We have the room 10am-8pm, thanks to Jim.
Dianne can't come until ~5:00, and Peter has to leave early (~3:00?), and suggests starting at noon.

I'm fine starting at noon. How about the rest of you?
Please post here re your preference for starting time.
With 6+ people, we may not be able to accomodate everyone's schedules perfectly. Some folks may drift in/out, and I think that'll be OK.

As to length, that'll be up to people's enthusiasm and other committments.

Please also post ideas for topics. My list was *only* a starting point.
Suggestion: think about what you want to get out of this meeting, and maybe that'll help generate topics for discussion and hopefully progress beyond the meeting.


-- Larry

PS The suggestion of posting to garysguide.org came from Merdith at dorkbot Boston: [groups.google.com]
Peter and I went to their meeting last night. Interesting folks; many of whom are Arduino enthusiasts.]]> Larry_Pfeffer Massachusetts, Boston RepRap User Group Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:59:58 -0400