This idea is partially inspired by memories of an old pen plotter at an engineering firm where I worked while in school. Has there been consideration of designing a fairly uniform standard set of toolheads with docking stations at the sides of the work area. Even now they could consist of several extruders for the different plastics. Eventually there could be welding heads, CNC cutters and routers, negative support material extruders, etc. If the machine was able to switch heads automatically this could allow construction of complicated devices without constant supervision. For example a few layers of plastic could be extruded, then the router bit could smooth the internal surfaces and more layers could be deposited to create something like a waterpump manifold. If the attachment was standardized different experimenters could create their own toolheads and share them with others. The pen plotter with its selection of ink pens, felt pens and maybe an x-acto blade was limited to only storing tools in one dimension. The reprap could theoretically park tools on four sides. Things like this will be necessary before the reprap is able to create something like a bicycle. Actually it's interesting to consider that mp3 players and probably laptops will be created with repraps before someone makes a bicycle. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13295#msg-13295 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:22:58 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13334#msg-13334 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13334#msg-13334 rodzite Mechanics Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:29:57 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13319#msg-13319 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13319#msg-13319 [blog.reprap.org]
I don't know if the STL files to produce it or the software to use it is available at sourceforge but you can have a look. This holder is only usable along one side, but a "carousel" or more likely a "ferris wheel" or endless belt of docks seems like the best solution for increasing capacity.]]> BDolge Mechanics Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:37:05 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13313#msg-13313 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13313#msg-13313 (sorry, not v useful for my first post)]]> Lampbus Mechanics Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:14:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13295#msg-13295 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?14,13295,13295#msg-13295
Has there been consideration of designing a fairly uniform standard set of toolheads with docking stations at the sides of the work area. Even now they could consist of several extruders for the different plastics. Eventually there could be welding heads, CNC cutters and routers, negative support material extruders, etc.

If the machine was able to switch heads automatically this could allow construction of complicated devices without constant supervision. For example a few layers of plastic could be extruded, then the router bit could smooth the internal surfaces and more layers could be deposited to create something like a waterpump manifold.

If the attachment was standardized different experimenters could create their own toolheads and share them with others.

The pen plotter with its selection of ink pens, felt pens and maybe an x-acto blade was limited to only storing tools in one dimension. The reprap could theoretically park tools on four sides.

Things like this will be necessary before the reprap is able to create something like a bicycle. Actually it's interesting to consider that mp3 players and probably laptops will be created with repraps before someone makes a bicycle.]]> rodzite Mechanics Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:43:27 -0400