Reprap Forum - MetalicaRap A self-replicating metal powder printer: http://reprap.org/wiki/MetalicaRap https://reprap.org/forum/list.php?215 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:43:46 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,888053,888053#msg-888053 3D Metal Printer Project - Electron beam melting (7 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,888053,888053#msg-888053 My name is Agustin. I'm from Chile. I have been reading and following MetalicaRap for many years, and I would like to share with you my creation.
I'm making a 3D Metal Printer using an electron beam. Is a very expensive project, and I have worked many years on it.
Now I'm opening the project to the community inside a crowdfunding model. I'm going to share the design, tests, updates, so I can receive some support and continue working 100% in this project.
Recently I made a Patreon page for this purpose:
https://www.patreon.com/3dmetalprinter

I'm wondering if you can take a look to this project. I can share with you pictures, and all the information you need.
My goal is continue working fulltime in this project, so any support is welcome!. Many thanks!]]> chucrutcito MetalicaRap Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:58:12 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,831217,831217#msg-831217 Managed versionable repository (1 reply) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,831217,831217#msg-831217
happy to learn about MetalicaRap!

Also I have to admit it is not easy to get an overview of digital artefacts created in the projects.

What do you think if MetalicaRap could have a GitHub based organization with a set of (or even just one) repositories organized for example like the following:

- hardware
-- module1
-- module2
- software
-- module1
-- module2
- management
-- BOM
-- project plans
- documentation
-- user manual (could be a TeX project)
-- possibly copies of sourced parts documentation if applicable

At GitHub, not only versioning is possible but also:

- release and distribution of file releases
- automation of for example manual generation or software compilation and testing
- issue and task management and tracking

What do you think? if we would agree on the first structure I'd volunteer to pick up existing files, set up the repository and add accounts.]]> reprap80 MetalicaRap Sat, 01 Sep 2018 15:36:43 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,826939,826939#msg-826939 Another active project - electron beam welder/3D printer (3 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,826939,826939#msg-826939 I´m not a part of MetalicaRap team, but i´m doing the same by my own.
If you are interested in my progress, check this link:
https://hackaday.io/project/54658-metal-3d-printer-electron-gun

Hynek]]> hyna MetalicaRap Sun, 19 Sep 2021 11:47:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,764143,764143#msg-764143 Is this project still active? (6 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,764143,764143#msg-764143 alan8325 MetalicaRap Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:03:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,730613,730613#msg-730613 Like Metallica project proposition (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,730613,730613#msg-730613
As time has past, though, I have learned a lot, as an entrepreneur and open source developer, including spending four months developing and building opens source cbc machines, and more than a year working with milling machines.

I have been, in consultation with as many others as possible, been advancing a concept for a more practical, doable metal printer. I put a proposal up at here [forums.reprap.org] . It is pretty well thought out, but we need capital.]]> Adouglas89 MetalicaRap Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:29:20 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,666224,666224#msg-666224 Copenhagen Progress (7 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,666224,666224#msg-666224
Updated mechanical parts including minor changes to electron gun and chamber, along with changes to nylon insulators in High Voltage Power Supply Transformer. New information flow enabling people to create there own working drawings; Achieved by downloading files from parts section and opening zipped .stp files in freecad, then exporting each part in FreeCAD drawing workbench.

Working drawing's details can be gained from FreeCAD part name;it has part number, version number, description and material information in its part name. CNC finish is adequate for all parts as vacuums up to 10-6 Torr do not require specialized surface finishes.


Assembly301.zip (main assembly)
Minor improvements, part numbers/ version number/ description/ material information. available when .stp file is unziped and opened in FreeCAD.


Solid Nylon Transformer HV Insulator.zip (insulators for HV SMPS transformer)
Switch Mode Power Supply Transformer 1KV and 63KV nylon insulators, Printed in Nylon with a 100% Infill(Solid). Unzip the file and open the .STP in FreeCAD then export to .STL for 3D Plastic Printer,

Updated Switch mode power supply PCB's will be released soon.

kind regards

MetalicaRap Team]]> rapatan MetalicaRap Sun, 19 Sep 2021 11:10:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,568646,568646#msg-568646 Current Status (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,568646,568646#msg-568646
I'm just starting to get involved with Reprap. What is the current status of this project? Is there yet a working Metalicarap prototype that can fabricate a metal object?

Thanks,
Alan]]> alan8325 MetalicaRap Fri, 09 Oct 2015 19:40:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,545369,545369#msg-545369 building a prototype (30 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,545369,545369#msg-545369
THANKS!!!]]> solidsnake1013 MetalicaRap Fri, 20 May 2016 15:22:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,456717,456717#msg-456717 I'd like to help (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,456717,456717#msg-456717 I am very pleased to find that this is being worked on!

I'd like to help. I'm a keen Inventor user, from reading some other posts it' sounds like this is something that might be useful. I may be able to help in other ways, for example I have access to small cnc shop.

If I can help please let me know where should to begin.


Kind regards,
Ambrose]]> BASE10 MetalicaRap Sat, 17 Jan 2015 14:02:55 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,451025,451025#msg-451025 Fundraising & project management of metallica RepRap (4 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,451025,451025#msg-451025 I live in San Francisco and I am trying to understand a status of the Metallica RepRap 3D Printer. Has anyone been able to build a prototype of Metallica RepRap with Electron guns using EBM.I see Arcam has some EBM 3D printers. Are these essentially the same as described in the Metallica RepRap?

If funding is the only issue, then I think I can help to raise the funds for a project and then we can showcase in the Maker Faire. Can someone please tell me the status and what we need to proceed in terms of funds, infrastructure, skills, etc?

Thanks

Manindra]]> mmajumdar MetalicaRap Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:18:43 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,442363,442363#msg-442363 my thoughts and problems i see on the project (5 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,442363,442363#msg-442363
Firstly i have a degree in electrical and electronic engineering so i do have an understanding on complicated things but when i look at the pages here i go cross eyed and i'm sure it's even worse for those interested enthusiasts who have limited technical backgrounds. While it might take a bit of work the project needs to be simplified over multiple pages, breaking each part down with a simple how to part and possibly a more detailed why part for those interested. It may even be worthwhile setting up a new website to do just that with different sections for different versions.

Now onto the problems i see with the actual project mainly size and power requirements because on the first paragraph it says this project is for an affordable home manufacturing system which the current design definitely is not. The first and most important is the power requirement for a purely safety aspect. In the design you have a 'up to 5kw' convertor, however, i don't know what it's like in other countries but here in the UK if you went up to 5kw you would be blowing up fuses as we use 230v and 13amp fuses meaning on a single ring in the home if you can't go above 3kw. When you consider you'll probably have other devices on that ring including a computer to run the printer the most you would want the entire printer to run at at maximum would be 2kw. Using a smaller beam at a slower build rate would be needed be within a home users reach.

The size of the printer for a home base is also a major problem, because quite frankly i don't know many people who have ceiling which are at least 3m tall, i live in an old house with tall ceilings and there only 2.64m high, most modern houses are barely pushing the 2.3m high. As i said 2 and half years ago, a 5x5 cm build area would have a lot of uses and if your using lens's that need 1m for a 30x30 then those same lens would only need 16cm for the 5x5, there already you have a big space saving. you could even just remove the movement lens's, have a beam going straight down and move the beam gun, it may remove some functionality and be less precise but at least it would be a working device that people could use at home.

I'm sure there are plenty of other points i've though about witch i can't remember right now but i do think the above address's some of the major problems i see atm with this project.]]> puggybelfast MetalicaRap Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:36:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,415221,415221#msg-415221 Incremental Sand Casting Powder Bed. (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,415221,415221#msg-415221
It would require three X/Y heads:

  1. A water misting head (ie inkjet technology)
  2. An electro-valve controlled vacuum pipe, that can suck up dry sand grains.
  3. A metal 'pour' head (ie solder flowing into a hollow tip soldering iron, like the design used for solder removal irons)

I would envision printing would follow this process:

  1. Part bed lowers by one Z increment
  2. Powder feed (fine grain dry sand) bed raises by one Z increment
  3. Fine sand is rolled from powder feed to part bed
  4. Water mist head on the X/Y head traces a halo around the printable portion of the Z slice (to prevent sand from sliding into printable area)
  5. Vacuum head is selected on X/Y plane, and dry sand in the printable portion of the Z slice is removed.
  6. Metal pour head is selected on X/Y plane, and pour is performed at selected spots in the Z slice for fill operations (a bit of tricky math going on here for good spread)
  7. Go to 1.

The intent is to do incremental sand casting, where you are casting one layer at a time, using sand as a support structure, and you can perform the operation at normal atmospheric pressure.

If you have an existing powder bed setup, this shouldn't be impossible to prototype.

I have no interest in metal casting myself (I'm working on a water fused sucrose powder bed printer), but maybe someone else might find this idea useful.

Thought I might as well write it down here.

Anyone know of existing technology like this?]]> Ezrec MetalicaRap Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:39:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,412515,412515#msg-412515 MetalicaRap challenges / Critical thinking (1 reply) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,412515,412515#msg-412515
  1. Poor Surface finish ;
    Electron beam process can polish a material on the fly when a small amount of argon is added to process, when more surface deformations are present this polishing process maybe time consumming.
  2. Removal of printed support structures
    Electron beam based process can also electron beam machine the part removing structures more cleanly once part has been cleaned of excess powder, though it will create a heat effected zone.
  3. Printed part deformation due to residual stress
    this is normally only a problem in the first number of layers, so dummy material is added to reduce this in the part, also post printing layer scanning electron microscope measurement of the part and analytical software may be used to reveal size of distortions prior to fitting. Post process electron beam machining may also be applicable though this process creates a surface heat effected zone.
  4. Inconsistency of material structure within part
    More consistent heat history via analytic shape to heat print control profile software, powder consistency metrics may help.
  5. Difficulty of applying post printing thermal treatments of parts needed for some specalist apllications,
    part can be heated with beam prior to quenching in oil baths.
  6. Time consuming process of testing each metal powder for consistency of printing on standard metalicarap, requiring hundreds of repeat prints, to enable a statistical reliability profile to be gathered, enalbing a validation certificate for powder and process on a particular design of machine, so as to be suitable for safety critical metal part applications. Currently the aero space industry have validation for over 6000 metal alloys, on many diffent processes/machines. Printing on a single machine only a couple of materials could be validated each year.
  7. Slow speed of printing (0.2Kg per hour) , Eventually a 10Keuro to 15K euro MetalicaRap kit could fit in the home enviroment where speed of printing is not such a problem.
]]> rapatan MetalicaRap Mon, 29 Sep 2014 19:45:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,405245,405245#msg-405245 metalica rap hardware kit (5 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,405245,405245#msg-405245 meninas92 MetalicaRap Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:20:27 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,403460,403460#msg-403460 Sintering Alpha Aluminium Oxide (a-AI2O3) Need a Binder (5 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,403460,403460#msg-403460
I hope I'm in the proper place, please let me know if I should be on another Forum for this.

Here is my question, if I have a deposition head like this Universal Past Extruder: [www.thingiverse.com]

And I have Alpha Aluminium Oxide powder (a-AI2O3 @ 10um), what do I use as a binder? "Darvan C" or some slurry with Dextrin powder? If it's the Dextrin what do I add to it... Water?

If I use one of them as a binder would I use a Laser or IR to Sinter before adding a new layer of powder and hardener? If so at what concentration or spec? The Ceramics are for a Piezo application.

I'm trying to print some green ceramics and will be firing them after so the binder doesn't need to be permanent, any suggestions, links, or tips are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help and time,

Rob]]> crob09 MetalicaRap Mon, 08 Sep 2014 22:22:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,386633,386633#msg-386633 Spreading uniform thin layer of fresh metal powder (3 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,386633,386633#msg-386633
With the desire to have high precision parts I saw 5u spot size being mentioned. To get the full accuracy in the Z axis you will want each new layer to be not much thicker than 5 microns and very uniform. I imagine that drawing a squigie across to roll out the next layer of metal particals is likely to make a mess! I was thinking about how to control the dispersal of powder as the leveler moves across and back. Since the bottom of the powder box/build area is being lowered every time, you know exactly how much new powder is needed across the whole build surface. And it should not change much from the center of the build out to the edges, so you don't have to modify the dispersal based on the currently printing part.

My first thought was to have an auger or roller system that would spread out the powder into a thinner and thinner, but hopefully uniform layer. But the more I thought about it the more that it seemed almost as unlikely as the squeegee. So then I thought about other ways to cover the whole surface with a very thin but very uniform layer of power. And that is when I thought that spraying a 'mist' of powder from a number of nozzles well above the work surface to let them settle. But even that would tend to be thicker in the middle, thinner at the edges. And then I remembered how very uniform thicknesses of paint are applied, using an electrostatic powder coat paint approach. Since the bed is either un-sintered metal powder or sintered metal object, it will be easy to apply a uniform voltage across the whole surface. Typically in powder coat painting the object being 'painted' is grounded and the power electrified. The approach works well with insulating powder as long as the target is conductive. But even with a conductive powder, if it is all heavily negatively charged when sprayed out it will spread apart from electrostatic repulsion, then be drawn to the comparatively positively charged bed so that it should spread out and be very uniform. You will still want to draw a leveling bar across to prevent random buildup of high or low spots, but now it is just intended to move a tiny amount of powder if any at all. Normally spraying all that powder around would create a health hazard, but we are already talking about sealed build area with inert gas fill so spraying out the powder and negatively charging it should not cause any additional problems. You may want to wait a little longer for all the powder to settle before sintering the next layer, but a draw bar used to shovel out the new material then back again to level it will have to go slow or make multiple passes to get such a thin layer to come out as even so that should not really slow the build process down much and it should improve the accuracy of the Z axis build.

Mike]]> rocket_scientist MetalicaRap Thu, 24 Jul 2014 10:59:41 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,365177,365177#msg-365177 metalbot.org down? (6 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,365177,365177#msg-365177 metalbot.org

I recently stumbled upon this very interesting wiki about projects to do DIY direct metal laser sintering, but before I got the chance
to read in depth, the website gone down. I think any attempt in printing with metal is very worthwhile, even if the electron gun
approach is superior of course, laser would be a good alternative approach.

Is it just maintenance? Or is the website moving? Anyone knows something?

Thanks!]]> Dejay MetalicaRap Thu, 19 Jun 2014 11:02:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,305172,305172#msg-305172 Many lasers into one, by means of fiber glass (5 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,305172,305172#msg-305172 Here the article describes how many lasers have been combined into one by means of fiberglass rods. If this works out to be practical perhaps this could be a way to use fifty 0.2watt dvd lasers to form a 10watt sintering laser.

Anyways, just an idea.. I just wanted to throw this out there.]]> TheTechnicalNoob MetalicaRap Wed, 08 Jul 2015 15:28:56 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,239323,239323#msg-239323 Forging (10 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,239323,239323#msg-239323
Thanks,
AJ]]> AJ MetalicaRap Tue, 19 Nov 2013 05:09:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,234019,234019#msg-234019 Power Supply (5 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,234019,234019#msg-234019
You said that the design circuit in the paper you point to in the wiki contains two dummy capacitors and dummy inductors. are there any circuit diagrams or illustrations of how the non-dummy versions would work?

Thanks guys]]> wogglestick MetalicaRap Mon, 01 Sep 2014 08:21:18 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,228992,228992#msg-228992 Gathering of every information about MetaliRap (4 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,228992,228992#msg-228992
First of all, I'd like to emphasize that 3D metal printers at home ("low cost") will be a huge benefice for everyone, a true revolution. So the open source project MetalicaRap is really great, thank you !

As a newbie in the field, I'd like to have an idea of the people (in the world) working for this kind of project (3D EBM metal printer) but above all, get an overview as complete as possible in a video (for example) of the project, as the wiki (that maybe contains enough information) repells me a bit.

I read (on this forum) that the project would long at least 1 to 2 years... (again) maybe sharing a video explaining what needs to be done with some headings should accelerate the search imho.

Hope to hearing from you soon,
Amodio]]> Amodio MetalicaRap Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:16:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,198549,198549#msg-198549 Im back with some information (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,198549,198549#msg-198549 I made a few promises to post schematics but I got involved in a few projects both at home and at work, unfortunately this slipped my mind.

I have here a very simple power supply schematic from a Wentgate EB welder we used to have a long time ago. It was a low power, small chamber machine. I believe the maximum power was around 1kW - 2kW might have been lower or higher.

The bias method uses the transformer bias method. Basically a small high voltage power supply which consists of transformer whose output is rectified and filtered. The output is wired in series with the filament in reverse polarity relative to the high voltage power supply. The "Gun Cable Plug" has three pins, L and E are the filament and N connects the negative of the high voltage power supply directly to the Wehnelt cap.

I have seen a few X-ray power supplies on eBay which use the exact same bias method. So this is a very simple yet tried and true method to regulate beam current. The only problem is how to digitally control the beam current bias transformer. Building a variable AC power supply is no small task but the AC transformer could be substituted for a switching transformer which can be PWM regulated from a microcontroller. The 400Hz system I described before simply used a power op-amp to drive the bias transformer using a sine wave. The 400Hz was constant and the amplitude was varied to change the voltage. The reason for 400Hz was simple, it reduces ripple in the bias supply.

As you can see, in the second picture, the curve shows you how the bias voltage affects the beam current for a given voltage from the power supply. the higher the voltage the more bias voltage you need to cut off the beam.

This schematic is a great starting point and is very similar to the system in one of our EB machines.]]> thaddeusw MetalicaRap Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:36:14 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,196025,196025#msg-196025 CAD model of my next machine (9 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,196025,196025#msg-196025
It has
- 300 mm circular build platform
- 300 mm z axis height
- removable part box containing powder + finished part
- removable hopper's so you can fill them up
- large door (500 mm diameter clearance so hopper and part box can be removed)
- door parts are printable, small pieces are bolted together + simple o ring seal

- e-beam coils need to be added
- haven't decided on the vacuum pumps, I've put one in for looks

Comments? improvements? Feature requests?


]]> pyrotronics MetalicaRap Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:36:00 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,192211,192211#msg-192211 Microwave sintering (11 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,192211,192211#msg-192211 Has anyone tried sintering powdered aluminum/steel/copper with a microwave oven's magnetron?

[www.accessscience.com]

I just happened to bump into this page today and I read the bit at the end about powders being microwave absorbent when fine enough. Would a vacuum chamber still be necessary?]]> dudesom MetalicaRap Tue, 02 May 2017 23:10:42 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,185328,185328#msg-185328 (possible) applications of MetalicaRap? (1 reply) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,185328,185328#msg-185328
i read about the goal of the team to print diy solar cells but if metalicarap is completed what other applications it would have?

apart from kitchenware,machine parts and other simple household related items(that come to my mind because of normal 3d printing) would it be possible to create industrial machines?

for example will diy (plastic) electronics advance? will we be able to create industrial level inkjet printhead for oled,eink and other screen printing technologies or plastic electronics printing inkheads and more complicated machines?

because if it is possible i believe it would create a great impact in the world...and also attract much more people to reprap,metalicarap and 3d printing in general.
also it will attract more people to contribute in the project and also the kickstarter campaign]]> dinosath MetalicaRap Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:06:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,179837,179837#msg-179837 Kickstarter? (41 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,179837,179837#msg-179837
I recently came across your cool idea for a DIY homemade EBM printer, and I'd like to ask how long the project has been going on.

Have you people considered trying to do a Kickstarter on this to get the money to make it happen? If your project succeeds, it would be a great symbolic breakthrough that would certainly make 3D printing vastly more popular.

I've never bought a 3D printer myself, because I don't find plastic to be very appealing. But a machine that could print in metal would be awesome. I'd imagine people could even make their own car parts with it.]]> sanman MetalicaRap Sat, 31 Aug 2013 15:34:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,177022,177022#msg-177022 DAC's and Circuit for Deflection Coils (no replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,177022,177022#msg-177022
I've just been playing with the Build Speed Calculator and noticed the scan rate for the deflection coils. Has anyone found a spec for the DAC?

e.g. 160khz, 12bit, Parallel interface for FPGA, possible candidates and cost?

And circuits to drive the coils. I have no idea what voltage will need to be applied, 500 volt?

Cheap audio amplifier circuitry to take 0 - 3v3 to 0 to 500 volts?

Would a cheaper option work with a opto isolated mosfets that PWM the voltage at ~200kHz so no expensive DAC's required? Maybe have a low pass filter on the output to smooth it back to DC

Your thoughts?]]> pyrotronics MetalicaRap Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:44:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,168692,168692#msg-168692 Hollow Part Construction? (2 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,168692,168692#msg-168692
How does the MetalicaRap produce hollow parts?

My understanding is that any hollow parts would be produced filled with metal powder. That metal powder would then have to be removed through some sort of hole when the printing is complete.

This would prevent the construction of, for example, a completely hollow sealed sphere. However, any internal geometry is possible, so long as the powder can escape after printing right?

In any case, it seems probable that any hollow cavity would require some sort of opening, to prevent the part imploding when removed from the vacuum if nothing else.

Is my understanding correct?]]> jdccdevel MetalicaRap Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:30:35 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,168641,168641#msg-168641 Surplus SEM refurb (3 replies) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,168641,168641#msg-168641
I've received a ISI-40 scanning electron microscope that's in need of some TLC to get it going for sem vision testing.

It doesn't have the control cabinet. Its only the full vacuum system, E beam and the main high voltage power supply (no idea what voltage). I did however find a few rack mount adjustable high voltage power supplies that should aid it getting it going.

Where should I start to determine what voltages to apply to coils, beams?

So far my plan is to,
1: get the vacuum system going/ sealing
2: get the ebeam going
3: get the ebeam scanning using a microcontroller
4: get back scattered scanner reading using a high speed micro + adc
5: get 3d detector setup and test using a fpga / dsp

Any other thoughts? Wisdom?


Pyro]]> pyrotronics MetalicaRap Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:52:16 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,165254,165254#msg-165254 Salvage parts from old TVs? (1 reply) https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?215,165254,165254#msg-165254
I've been lurking for a while, and this project is so awesome, I can't help but want to help.

I've been looking at the specs, and I understand that the electron gun from a old CRT TV isn't powerfull enough for this. However, some of the other parts (beam deflectors, lenses, filaments, power supplies, etc) are already there.

It seems to me that an old CRT monitor or TV would be a great source for parts for getting the SEM vision system working, and figuring out the rest of the systems involved (the vaccum chamber, software for aiming the beam, calibration routines, etc).

With a readily available source for parts, systems development could be done in parallel, with materials that most computer people have lying around in a junk pile. Once the power supply and high energy electron gun is finished, it could then be swapped into a "mostly working" system.

Is there any reason why this couldn't work?]]> jdccdevel MetalicaRap Mon, 12 Nov 2012 04:41:37 -0500