Hey guys ,

my name is Niklas. I am a student of engineering at the University of Kassel (Germany).
Due to that, I want to write a dissertation about „Open Source Manufacturing“.
While exploring the Internet for some open source hardware projects and some good hints given by my professor, I found the RepRap. Referring to this, I got a few questions relevant to your Project. Therefore, I would be very thankful if you could answer them.
1. When did the project start ?
2. Which license do you use?
3. How long did the development time take? Would you say it was shorter as „closed“ projects?
4. Do the seller of RepRaps give you guarantees ? They want to make profit, don't they ? (I ask, because Mr Bowyer wrote that he is not interested in profit, but this must not be according to the sellers, or ? )
5. Do you make your project completely open from the beginning or do you first developed it to go later open?

Thanks for reading and helping me
Niklas

Hello Niklas,

1) - History is here

2) - License is here

3) - Development time is endless, we are still doing it, it will never be finished, but it becomes exponentially quicker and faster as more and more people get involved - at this point it's faster but more random (and more creative) than closed source in my opinion.

4) - Yes, you can make a profit if you like and if you give support you should. Many RepRap webshops and kit providers give a guarantee, some help support, a few go deep into helping people with this great project, everyone seems to enjoy it and it's becoming a way of life for many.

5) - projects are better if open from the start, many get worked on by one individual for months, then get released and take on a new and more full 'life' in the hands of everyone else.

Do you need anything else? - Good luck with the dissertation.

Do also check out Thingiverse. and imagine what you could open-source manufacture...

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[richrap.blogspot.com]

First of all you might want to ask in the Deutschsprachiges Forum.
Also view the introductory video by Adrian Bowyer on the RepRap wiki Main Page.

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Niklas S.
1. When did the project start ?

In 2005 with the The Bath University press release.
See the RepRap Project page from Bath University.
See the RepRap Project Wikipedia page.

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Niklas S.
2. Which license do you use?

You might want to read the wiki some...

From the main page click on the license link in the menu on the left.

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Niklas S.
3. How long did the development time take? Would you say it was shorter as „closed“ projects?

This would be good questions for Adrian Bowyer.

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Niklas S.
4. Do the seller of RepRaps give you guarantees? They want to make profit, don't they? (I ask, because Mr Bowyer wrote that he is not interested in profit, but this must not be according to the sellers, or ?)

You would have to ask the sellers, but the most successful is MakerBot and they still have everything open source.

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Niklas S.
5. Do you make your project completely open from the beginning or do you first developed it to go later open?

RepRap has been open source from the very inception.

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Bob Morrison
Wörth am Rhein, Germany
"Luke, use the source!"
BLOG - PHOTOS - Thingiverse

Hey guys thanks for your great support !
At least i got two last questions .

1. Did the community participate in developing the RepRap ? Or was it develop by Adrain Bowyer himself and the community improved the RepRap ?

2. What are the tasks of the community ? (to develop designs to print, improve the RepRap ...)

Again thanks for helping me !

Niklas S.