The ceramic slip deposition or a printed wax investment process combined with an automated investment bath would be one way to precede. Like making candles. Dip, dry, repeat. I didn't see anything in the GADA prize that required any specific solutions. Earlier: people were talking about the cost of plastic, however it seems to me that just as easy as using cheaper plastic is to use less of it inby JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
Could you not source a long continuous sheet of plastic sheeting and use an inject printer as the feed mechanism? have it print a blank sheet every time the reprap sends an m30 command?by JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
This was my initial reaction to what seemed like a wasteful ammount of redundancy. As I have learned more about stepper motors, drivers, and controllers, I now feel less strongly about the topic. To an extent: such a thing already exists via the "NEMA" standardized footprints. Why does the Mendel have it's own custom frame when legos would make a more universal building tool? Why use lego's wby JohnnyCooper - General
I've gone ahead and made a wiki page giving an overview of what I'm working on and my vision of the end result. Visual aids by the end of the month is my goal.by JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
I agree. I think that would be good for the community.by JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
I find it strange that this hasn't been explored more thoroughly. Controlled atmosphere is no more difficult than making an enclosure. The XYZ axes would need a positioning system which is spatter resistant. Sounds like a job for hydraulics.by JohnnyCooper - Plastic Extruder Working Group
I'm working on a set of plastic injection molds for the mendel. When I'm doing the CAD work: I want prints to work from so I'm converting the solid files to drawings. Attached is the first of more to come hopefully.by JohnnyCooper - Casting and Moldmaking Working Group
The primary costs of the reprap are not the printed plastic components which could be injection molded in bulk.(who has CNC mill time to donate? I'll write the code) The primary barrier to entry is still the electronics cost, and the metal vitamins. I have a printout pie chart on the whole thing, and most people who want a reprap are stalled on the cheapest part: the printed plastic. So I see tby JohnnyCooper - General
I've never really understood the artificial divisions between the various sects of robotics. Why is the reprap community having it's own discussions on steppers vs. servos, optical encoders vs. potentiometers, cameras, hydraulics vs. pnumatics, analog vs digital, ect... simultaneously as the amateur astronomy/CNC machinists/RC Cars & Subs & Planes & Boats & Helicopters/roboticsby JohnnyCooper - Robots!
I appreciate the feedback. From a competition standpoint I think you're right that this may be the wrong direction, however I am excited to be working on what may be a highly economical approach to x-y positioning. Fortunately: the R&D for this frame is virtually identical to my work with robotic arms and linear actuators, except for the issue of position feedback which has been resolved. Hoby JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
I was in the kitchen just now when an instruction manual for a pair of Cen-tech digital calipers jumped out at me. These things are just begging to have hydraulic linear actuators strapped to either side of the moveable jaw. The digital output is already taken care of which begs for DC servo implementation driving the hydraulics. Strap two of them together and you have an XY table.(Using one ofby JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
My plan at this point involves either a stewart platform, or an arm. I'm optimistic about the direction of hydraulics via regulated pumps. I'm open to worm gears as well, however I'd rather avoid them. That plan may or may not include a rotating print bed to maximize the work envelope depending on it's performance vs. complexity vs. necessity. Beaglefury: More so than I realized. -> That's vby JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
Blog: Wiki:by JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize
I've decided to start a team for this competition. My goal is to create a polar bot which meets the criteria set out by the contest. Student machinist here. Looking for people with experience in Computer Vision, Servo Control, Stepper Driving, and programming. Mechatronics stuff I guess. In my head: the mechanical stuff is mostly solved, so I'm mainly worried about the computer control systemby JohnnyCooper - Kartik M. Gada Humanitarian Innovation Prize