Extruded Aluminum

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Revision as of 22:44, 10 April 2010 by DavidCary (talk | contribs) (yet another source of extruded aluminum RepRap parts; add thumbnails)
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Aluminum is one of the more popular frame materials.

SamBot

ExtrudedSamBot

This image via EMCRepStrap. This is SamBot, Probably a metric extruded aluminum machine. See Extruded Aluminum#Metric for more details.

T-Slot Based 3D Replicator

<flickr>4379919116|none</flickr>

See T-Rep.

This page is dedicated to the creation of a 3D Replicator with a frame based on T-slotted framing. Here is an excellent source of these materials: http://8020.net/T-Slot-1.asp

We feel that the desire to self replicate has been holding back the RepRap device from gaining wider acceptance and also attaining higher performance levels coupled with greater versatility. Ideally a T-Slot Replicator will be multi-tool enabled with support for FDM, Shape Deposition Manufacturing, CNC_Mill Spindles, Pick and Place and possibly other tools like lasers and Laser Cutters. We also would like to see more versatile and off the shelf solutions for the electronics as few are willing or capable of creating their own boards. Lastly, the software needs to be more plug and play so that less time is spent installing, configuring and tweaking. See also Development Pathway

If you are interested in this project, please share your thoughts and designs here.

Development Pathway

This page will eventually fork into a tree of different webpages. That will include SamBot, HydraBot, My Extruded Aluminum RepStrap, My Extruded Aluminum Laser Cutter, and so on. But right now, all the action is on this webpage.

Metric

kinds of extruded aluminum

3D-Drucker-Poederoyen-NL-funnel-techter 031.jpg

fischertechnik: you can get extruded aluminum versions of some fischertechnik parts

80/20 beams: typically used for machines larger than a refrigerator

MakerBeam: typically used for small desktop models

Early version of Eiffel, showing the grid beam TriLap joints. (The beams should have through-holes repeating along the side.)

grid beam: square beams with a line of holes: typically used for furniture and street signs

square metal tubes, that later have holes drilled only where bolts are needed, as in T-Rep 0 (the progenitor) <flickr>3951997454|none</flickr>