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Plastic Extruders, mostly - > http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/Extruder
HeeksCAD (Open CASCADE based solid modeling tool) - 15 years ago
Hi, Anyone knows this CAD program? I've tried it and it looks really promising, yet it is unstable and not very intuitive. However I have little modeling experience, so I can't really compare it well.by ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: Skeinforge Powwow - 15 years ago
Hi Enrique, I encountered a problem when running skeinforge on treasurechest.stl by Zaggo ( ) $ python skeinforge.py ~/Desktop/treasurechest.stl File /home/erik/Desktop/treasurechest.stl is being chain exported. Carve procedure took 45 seconds. Preface procedure took 1 seconds. Inset procedure took 114 seconds. Traceback (most recent call last): File "skeinforge.py", line 331, in main()by ErikDeBruijn - Skeinforge
Re: X-axis skips. Out of ideas... please help - 15 years ago
Thanks. It seems to skip much less frequently already. Today I printed 8 chess pieces and 4 whistles without any hickups! I will also do what you suggested, sam0737, thanks.by ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: Slight problem with the Cartesian Bot 1.06 files - 15 years ago
Thanks for the tip Wade. I would certainly be a problem that could fool me for a long time. The jitter in the connector would be more when the machine shakes, sounds like the conditions under which the problem occurs. I will add another capacitor to the stepper board and make sure that the connectors are clean and mate well. So far so good: I'm running it at 25 mm/s so that the problem would reby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: X-axis skips. Out of ideas... please help - 15 years ago
I got my hopes up, but then still one layer went where it shouldn't be. It took so long on such a big object that it almost seems that it is much better, but still not completely solved. Step required a > 2 usec (microseconds) pause and got 5 usec. For Dir, 120 usec is required if it changes. But this operation is in a different section of code, so I expected there would be enough delay. I wby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: Slight problem with the Cartesian Bot 1.06 files - 15 years ago
If we make a new release, it might be an idea to rotate the X-idler bracket, since it prints upside down now. I had mostly printed it to find out that it should be printed in a different orientation. I was printing a set of parts and this was actually a show stopper for me, since I was unable to use the Java host and liked skeinforge better anyway. But I have no 3D CAD experience. Now I know howby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: X-axis skips. Out of ideas... please help - 15 years ago
Thanks nophead, for your suggestion! I didn't think of that. I got the enabled input inverted, because you need that to get things working at all. The direction and enable can be inverted from the parameters.h, but I forgot to invert the STEP/CLOCK pin! I looked at the datasheet again: The delay between HIGH and LOW was 5 usec, but should have been from HIGH (default), to LOW (for minimum ofby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: X-axis skips. Out of ideas... please help - 15 years ago
I've removed the line in the firmware where it would disable the X-stepper. Not very efficient in terms of power usage, but this might be what's causing the problem... tested it, but it also seems to skip. I could actually hear it skip, and looking at the plastic pattern, it seemed to happen during the infill, but there was nothing special about the movements (just normal turns of direction). Theby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
X-axis skips. Out of ideas... please help - 15 years ago
My X axis skips steps, giving me prints with misaligned layers every once in a while. On average this happens once every object. Sometimes twice or more, and sometimes I get lucky and a print finishes without faults. I cannot really put my finger on when the probability of skipping increases. It seems more or less independent of the speed (feedrate or travel feedrate). My Y axis runs fine with tby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: Skeinforge contributions - 15 years ago
I'd also be happy to test for you! A backlash system and native 4D/5D firmware compatibility would also be very nice. This anti-backlash greatly improves my print-quality and reliability (prevents congestions in the extruder because it extrudes in an area which is already filled). For other missing features that I've added myself, you can look here: Actually, right now it does a bit more than iby ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
MEM and FDM - 15 years ago
MEM, Melted Extrusion Manufacturing, is highly similar to what we're doing (also FDM inspired). See the attached PDF. It is now very well known, however. It is developed in China by Wei Fang. Also have a look at this archived webpage: Interestingly it incorporates things into the process that I haven't seen in Stratasys' machines (but so far I've mostly seen products that came from the lowest-by ErikDeBruijn - General
Re: economics, bespoke vs mass production - 15 years ago
Have a look at a discussion over here. It focuses on energy requirements, but the cost aspect is of course caused in part by these energy requirements: For lower quantities (such as several prototypes), mass production is inherently unsuitable, of course. > I for one do not want to live in a mass produced world Count me in, too. We will be able to participate in creating the world. Just lby ErikDeBruijn - General
Effects of gravity on FDM/FFF on overhangs, bridges and cantilevers - 15 years ago
We all have our mental models of what would happen when you produce an object with overhangs without supports. If we explain it to people, we often say, material that's not supported, will fall down. This is not accurate. The effects of gravity are mostly insignificant. Some time ago, I'd tilted my RepRap less than 30 degrees, but I saw no real difference in the fabrication of a horizontal hole iby ErikDeBruijn - Mechanics
Re: Plastic recycler - 15 years ago
Please do try that! I'd be interested in your findings. I've been saving all of the rafts of prints. If I can use this plastic again it would increase the efficiency of the process a lot. Also, it would allow me to use more rafts and support structure, since there would no longer be a material waste. I know that ABS increasingly gets more beige (and brown after that) and changes its material proby ErikDeBruijn - General
Wohlers on open source 3D printing - 15 years ago
There's a post on Wohlers talk about open source 3D printers, such as RepRap, Fab@Home, Makerbot and CandyFab. Terry Wohlers is the additive manufacturing industry expert. His company is specialized in analyzing trends and keeping track of developments and disseminating this information again to its customers. Have a look here: "RepRap and CandyFab are two other open-source developments, withby ErikDeBruijn - General
Re: Visual G-code editor - 15 years ago
Sounds useful. I find that I sometimes want to place with the raw traces.by ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Femto OS (tiny GPL RTOS for AVRs) - 15 years ago
This looks like a pretty powerful OS if we're too much constrained with the current development platform but still want to stick to the AVRs we're currently using. Having a multi-tasking OS may allow the complexity of the software to be reduced a bit. In this movie you quickly see that it's pretty capable of running multiple tasks: What are your thoughts? I'm probably meeting the developerby ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: Reprap printing in multicolor... - 15 years ago
fdavies Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I know that this is not exactly what you are > talking about, but you can color the ABS plastic > quite nicely by coloring the 3mm filament with a > permanent marker before it goes into the extruder. > It takes a while for the color to start up, and > longer for it to fade away. I suppose that this > iby ErikDeBruijn - General
Modification of 3D printers - 15 years ago
Hi, For my masters thesis I'm researching innovations in additive manufacturing (such as FDM/FFF). These innovations come from manufacturers, but also from users. I'm looking for the history of innovations in FDM and sub innovations. I've seen a lot of innovation from voluntary participants (users) in this project and for example Fab@Home. The core innovation of the FDM process was invented byby ErikDeBruijn - General
Re: extruder::set_speed() crashes with DC motor. - 15 years ago
It might also be EMI. DC motors are known for their interference on other equipment. I placed ferrite beads on the leads that go to the motor. Now I switched to a stepper motor extruder, however. It reduces the need for an encoder (simple open loop).by ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: CADspan SKP to STL converter - 15 years ago
I've been using it for some simple models: This plugin really makes CAD design accessible for 3D printing. In my opinion it's the missing link in Rapid Prototyping, design has never been so accessible for non-engineers.by ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: Skeinforge Powwow - 15 years ago
Hi Lewis, you can go from AoI to STL file format with a STL export. You can search this forum or look on the RepRap wiki how to do that. You need to install an STL plugin for AoI. It is then added to the menu of export options. When you have the STL file, you can use it in skeinforge, although it seems to prefer GTS (GNU TriSurface) which is technically superior but not as common.by ErikDeBruijn - Skeinforge
Re: Host Software not right - 15 years ago
Are you using the low variable? You have analogRead and digitalRead. DigitalRead should be with pins numbered above 23 (keep counting up), whereas analog pins start at 0. They overlap, so you can use them digitally or as analog, by adressing the different numbers they each have. You should see if you have active high/low set correctly for STEP and EN(able). Otherwise you will get weird behaviourby ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: 5D reprap-host software skips outline - 15 years ago
Objects look like the above: It shows the sparse structure of object pretty nicely, but without a 'skin' objects aren't very useful. (Below it is nophead's bracket to mount a small stepper for the Z-stage to 3 of 4 of the corner blocks.)by ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: Host Software not right - 15 years ago
Depending on the firmware you're using, the firmware (and java interface) becomes unresponsive when the extruder is heating up and hasn't reached the right temperature yet. This blocks reception of new commands. That might be what you're experiencing. Turning on debugging is certainly a good idea to start understanding what is happening and what should be happening. In the latest (5D) firmware tby ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
5D reprap-host software skips outline - 15 years ago
Hi, I've just started using the latest java based host software because my firmware can't handle the old g-Codes (M101-103 and M108). I like to use this firmware because it is Adrian's main branch and it uses interrupts for timing and has neat acceleration capabilities. The ever lasting dilemma between stability and progress Using the latest host software, the outline is not being printed. Thby ErikDeBruijn - RepRap Host
Re: Skeinforge Powwow - 15 years ago
Hi Enrique, Might it be possible to use Adrian's 4 or 5D firmware in conjunction with skeinforge? I think it mostly needs to be able to translate the travel distance times the feed rate into an E value. I personally hope to be able to use best of both world: both the latest firmware and skeinforge. The newest version of Adrian's firmware seemed appealing because it handles steppers based on intby ErikDeBruijn - Skeinforge
http://openmaterials.org - 15 years ago
This is an good site with video tutorials about using various materials in interesting ways. Very accessible, but still it contains nice ideas! Just thought I'd share it with you guysby ErikDeBruijn - General
Re: Spot: FESTO's iFab - 15 years ago
Forrest Higgs Wrote: > ErikDeBruijn Wrote: > > I can't help but think that there is quite some > > inspiration from various RepRap parts. > > > Actually, if you read their PDF you'll see that > they credit Evan Malone and Hod Lipson of fab@home > credit for the concept. I did, that's why I wrote this: One of the designers is dr. Evan Malone, who is also core deveby ErikDeBruijn - General
Molecubes - 15 years ago
See These are open source modular robots. The cubes can be connected and can reconfigure based on their detected physiology. This can then be transferred to a computer simulation, evolved and then transferred back into the physical domain. Video: You can save a lot in the rapid prototyped parts by making them yourself, moreover there's the option to change a few things in a couple of iteratiby ErikDeBruijn - Let's design something! (I've got an idea ...)