New to the RepRap project but overwhelmed.

Hello all. I've been doing research on making my own RepRap for about 2-3 weeks now gathering all of the information that I can about these amazing machines and what they can do. I've had my heart set on making a RepStrap 1.0 Seedling machine for my senior project at DeVry in Fremont, CA.

I've got a couple really big questions though that I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me with.

First off - I've done some looking around on the RRRF and I've found that I'm not going to be able to get a thermoplastic extracter as it 404's on their website. Not only that but the pre-set laser cut plastic bases are not there any more either. The bases won't be that much of an issue as I know how to use a drill press. About the sticker layouts though - some of them aren't 8.5x11 sized, should I just measure to all the holes in mm and draw them out on the board if my PDF reader wants to resize them to fit an 8.5x11?

I really want to go with the Arduino based RepStrap because I have a tiny bit of experience with and Arduino connected to a stepper motor at work. The part that concerns me is that on the wiki, it calls for a Stepper motor driver v1.1, but the only one available on the RRRF site is a v2.2, and even then those are out of stock and seem to have been for quite some time.

I could however go with the Sanguino if finding the parts would be easier. Majoring in electrical engineering has it's pluses, so the extra wiring shouldn't be an issue.

And lastly, for anyone around the Bay Area in CA, do you happen to have any free time in the coming months so my partner and I can come by and check out your guys' RepRaps to see how they ultimately work and function via the software side?

Thank you guys so much for you time.


While typing this I got distracted and found that there are lots of kits available online so I don't think finding parts will be that much of an issue, but I don't know if I want to go Gen 3 as there aren't as many people out there with RepRaps running the Gen 3 software?

Hi

Electronic parts are probably best sourced from MakerBot in the US:-
[store.makerbot.com]

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Regards

Ian

Hi, I'll second the makerbot. They have most of the parts that rrrf once had. I would also suggest that you look at the bay area uses group. [groups.google.com]. We are Lannie g a so ial gathering @ the TechShop in menlo park [www.techShop.ws]

I actually saw the Menlo Park meeting at Techshop but it is a little too short of notice to make it.

I've been checking out makerbot too, seems that I can find most/all of the parts that I'm going to need there except for the extruders, but as I can see they're moving so as soon as they're done moving they'll probably start stocking back up again.

The fact of me finding some place to machine a few parts for me is concerning though - I don't know how expensive it's going to be to get those parts from a place that can custom print them.

Hello

Welcome to the forum



John
Don Joao Resort