Setting up RepRap in NL
Posted by WebSpider
|
Setting up RepRap in NL August 17, 2010 05:53AM |
Hi there!
After seeing a RepRap Darwin and Makerbot in action at a local hacker-convention, and seeing the interest this project got from many hackers, I am working on setting up a Mendel myself, mainly for the purpose of self-replicating so the costs for other people to start with 3D printing aren't as steep. The main reason not to start on this project from may people was the cost. Offcourse there are still the costs for electronics, motors, etc, but with a little effort we should be able to at least get the costs of a makerbot down for local development purposes.
I am mainly interested in getting the word out there that there is a 3D platform that could use some more development, and getting more local people on-board so they can do development of the RepRap's once they have their own running. There are currently about 15 known bots in NL, so we could use a bit larger community locally, but also globally: When this project matures seriously, there is an alternative for shipping stuff all over the world and recycling waste in one. World domination isn't a bad goal in this case, I'd say!
So far I've gotten access to a local laser-cutting shop, that is willing to cut me the big slabs and parts from plexiglass (PMMA) at material+electric costs and am looking which parts to get additionally. I've seen the webshop at grrf.de, and was wondering: When I cut my own slabs and parts, get all the kits listed at [shop.grrf.de] and get a plastruder, put everything together, I should be ready to start replicating, right? It sounds simpler than it probably will be
Additionally, would anyone happen to have a single file that combines all Mendel parts for a single laser-cut?
Did I overlook anything, except that this new project will probably grow me some grey hairs?
After seeing a RepRap Darwin and Makerbot in action at a local hacker-convention, and seeing the interest this project got from many hackers, I am working on setting up a Mendel myself, mainly for the purpose of self-replicating so the costs for other people to start with 3D printing aren't as steep. The main reason not to start on this project from may people was the cost. Offcourse there are still the costs for electronics, motors, etc, but with a little effort we should be able to at least get the costs of a makerbot down for local development purposes.
I am mainly interested in getting the word out there that there is a 3D platform that could use some more development, and getting more local people on-board so they can do development of the RepRap's once they have their own running. There are currently about 15 known bots in NL, so we could use a bit larger community locally, but also globally: When this project matures seriously, there is an alternative for shipping stuff all over the world and recycling waste in one. World domination isn't a bad goal in this case, I'd say!
So far I've gotten access to a local laser-cutting shop, that is willing to cut me the big slabs and parts from plexiglass (PMMA) at material+electric costs and am looking which parts to get additionally. I've seen the webshop at grrf.de, and was wondering: When I cut my own slabs and parts, get all the kits listed at [shop.grrf.de] and get a plastruder, put everything together, I should be ready to start replicating, right? It sounds simpler than it probably will be
Additionally, would anyone happen to have a single file that combines all Mendel parts for a single laser-cut?
Did I overlook anything, except that this new project will probably grow me some grey hairs?
|
Re: Setting up RepRap in NL August 17, 2010 08:36AM |
nophead, ok clear again
It seems like I'm going to have to adjust my plans, but that's exactly why I'm here: to learn stuff from you guys, and hope I can add to the community!
PMMA tends to break under stress, so it's a bad idea to use this for items that are exposed to stress, added to that when lasercutting it, you stack layers of PMMA on top of eachother, adding stress to the compounds. I see there are enough places on the net where I can get ABS Mendel plastics that will do just fine.
Next thing I'm reading into is how to get a plastruder, either assembled or kit. Seems this part of the RepRap is an area of science in itself :-) The geared extruder looks like a good choice, but I was wondering: Do all the extruders fit on the Mendel, or is there a limited choice? The way I'm looking at it, the extruder is mounted on the X-axis, so anything on the X-axis should be fine?
It seems like I'm going to have to adjust my plans, but that's exactly why I'm here: to learn stuff from you guys, and hope I can add to the community!
PMMA tends to break under stress, so it's a bad idea to use this for items that are exposed to stress, added to that when lasercutting it, you stack layers of PMMA on top of eachother, adding stress to the compounds. I see there are enough places on the net where I can get ABS Mendel plastics that will do just fine.
Next thing I'm reading into is how to get a plastruder, either assembled or kit. Seems this part of the RepRap is an area of science in itself :-) The geared extruder looks like a good choice, but I was wondering: Do all the extruders fit on the Mendel, or is there a limited choice? The way I'm looking at it, the extruder is mounted on the X-axis, so anything on the X-axis should be fine?
|
Re: Setting up RepRap in NL August 17, 2010 12:07PM |
Did I overlook anything, except that this new project will probably grow me some grey hairs?
Yup, WolfStrap.
We don't have a bill of materials but I think it is much cheaper to build than a Mendel, even with Loaned Parts.
-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.
Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!
Yup, WolfStrap.
We don't have a bill of materials but I think it is much cheaper to build than a Mendel, even with Loaned Parts.
-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.
Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!
|
Re: Setting up RepRap in NL August 17, 2010 01:52PM |
The WolfStrap is certainly the cheapest repstrap that is well documented but it is not designed for a long life, ergo it was designed to be able to create a least one full set of Mendel RP parts with the idea that the electronics and motors can be used in the Mendel.
I sense we might start arguing design-intent or philosophy here.
When you have that set of Mendel parts, what do you do with your WolfStrap?
And what do you do with your Mendel parts?
And do you build another WolfStrap, if you have the woodworking tooling?
Only webspider can answer these questions.
-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.
Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!
I sense we might start arguing design-intent or philosophy here.
When you have that set of Mendel parts, what do you do with your WolfStrap?
And what do you do with your Mendel parts?
And do you build another WolfStrap, if you have the woodworking tooling?
Only webspider can answer these questions.
-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.
Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!
|
Re: Setting up RepRap in NL August 17, 2010 04:00PM |
My intent in this project is to have a RepRap that can replicate at length, so more RepRap's can be built cheaper for developers in NL. With a larger userbase, progress will be made more rapid since there are simply more users that drive the progress and help in achieving it.
I'm not interested in creating the cheapest RepRap possible right now. Right now the main goal is twofold:
1) The RepRap should be able to replicate over and over again at a reasonable cost price
2) The machine has to look interesting, since I am planning to visit schools, etc and demo it to get more interest going (hence the PMMA I started out with, which I think I'll replace with translucent ALS) for further development.
I've seen one opportunity to get a ready-made Mendel for $1300, which is a bit over the top though: When I add up all the parts I need, and buying the electronics after them being soldered, it will cost me about EUR800. The difference in price will print a lot of RepRap's
I'm not interested in creating the cheapest RepRap possible right now. Right now the main goal is twofold:
1) The RepRap should be able to replicate over and over again at a reasonable cost price
2) The machine has to look interesting, since I am planning to visit schools, etc and demo it to get more interest going (hence the PMMA I started out with, which I think I'll replace with translucent ALS) for further development.
I've seen one opportunity to get a ready-made Mendel for $1300, which is a bit over the top though: When I add up all the parts I need, and buying the electronics after them being soldered, it will cost me about EUR800. The difference in price will print a lot of RepRap's
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.