QandA FAQ

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1 Introduction
2 Inquire
3 Aquire
- 3.1 Where can I buy a reprap? (Unanswered)
- 3.2 Where can I source the parts to build a reprap?
4 Construct
5 Calibrate
- 5.1 It doesn't work! How can I find out what I should try?
6 Design and Model
- 6.1 What (open source) 3d modelling tool should I use?
7 Prepare
8 Print
9 Contribute
- 9.1 Where can I find ideas for improving reprap?
- 9.2 How do I know what is actively being developed?
10 Dispose
- 10.1 Where can I sell my reprap?
- 10.2 Are there any special rules or laws when disposing parts or materials from a reprap project? For example throwing away waste feedstock?

Introduction

This Q&A format FAQ is organised very loosely on the typical lifecycle of a reprap project, that is the questions are collected under headings which match the various phases a typical reprapper may go through in building and using a reprap machine. If a particular section becomes unwieldy then perhaps the older questions can be relegated to an overflow FAQ for that particular topic.

Inquire

Aquire

Where can I buy a reprap? (Unanswered)

Where can I source the parts to build a reprap?

See: Mendel_Buyers_Guide
See: Printing_Material_Suppliers

Construct

Which reprap derivative should I build?

Repstrap - Suitable if you don't have the desire or money to buy a set of printed parts, and have access to tools and materials (or junk), plus the know-how of how to knock something together (or simply the desire to learn). Or when you simply want to tinker on something of your own design.
Mendel Prusa - Fewer parts, simpler design. This is the design most people are building now.
Mendel - This is the 'official' design, much more complicated than the Prusa.
Huxley - A simplified and smaller version of the Mendel, but still capable of printing Mendel parts.
Darwin - The original RepRap design. Not recommended to build at this time.

What is a repstrap?

A 3D printer cobbled together from whatever parts you can find which will eventually allow you to print the parts for a reprap machine. Derived from the term bootstrap, as in "to pull yourself up by your bootstraps"

Where are the build instructions?

Hardware

Electronics

Which electronics should I use?

Ramps: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Arduino_Mega_Pololu_Shield
Sanguinololu: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Sanguinololu
Repic: http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Repic, This is still in development

Firmware

Which firmware should I use?

If using RAMPS: Sprinter: https://github.com/kliment/Sprinter, Sprinter has built in SD Card support.

Calibrate

It doesn't work! How can I find out what I should try?

Design and Model

What (open source) 3d modelling tool should I use?

Openscad: http://www.openscad.org

Prepare

GCode

What can I use to produce gcode?

Repsnapper

Skeinforge

How do I tame Skeinforge?

Why does my extruder not work after ugrading/installing Skeinforge 40 (11.02.24)?

See: http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?154,75635
Also see Ohmeye's post: http://www.mendel-parts.com/new_forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=256

Print

Contribute

Where can I find ideas for improving reprap?

See: FutureToolIdeas

How do I know what is actively being developed?

Try: Development and Category:Developments_by_status

Dispose

Where can I sell my reprap?

Ebay.

Are there any special rules or laws when disposing parts or materials from a reprap project? For example throwing away waste feedstock?

PLA: Toss this on your compost dump, or return it to a depot as plant waste.

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