What Tooling Do You Have

You might also want to look at Build a reprap. Perhaps some or all of that page should be merged into this page. (Discuss)

You might also want to look at RepStrap. Perhaps some or all of that page should be merged into this page. (Discuss)

Community?

People are more important than tools. First check to see if you have a local RepRap User Group. Ideally, they may allow you to borrow a set of Mendel parts, as part of the Loaner Program. Or they'll be happy to sell you a set.

Already have a RepRap? Excellent!

If you have a RepRap, like Mendel, print a set of parts and build a RepRap. This is the ideal case. But if you are reading this, you don't have a RepRap yet.  :D

For Sale Forum

If you'd like to buy a set of parts, and you don't have a local RUG, try the For Sale Forums.

Table Saw

If you have a table saw, build a WolfStrap. You can also build a Wooden_Mendel but it is more complicated and a less elegant use of wood.

Manual Milling Machine

If you have a milling machine, you could build a Metal_Mendel. but you're better off building a WolfStrap out of aluminum.

Or better, build a ORE-Bot. This may require metal-lathe operations, and Guy, ORE-Bot's designer, cheerfully says that it's a lot of work.

Or convert it to a CNC milling machine. (The standard RepRap electronics and stepper motors seem adequate to drive very small milling machines.)

CNC Milling Machine

This is quite a versatile tool, and there are several paths from this machine to a Mendel.

• take a #Manual Milling Machine path
• take a #Large CNC Router path
• temporarily convert this to a (non-spinning) CNC FFF machine (attach an extruder), and directly extrude the Mendel parts.

See MillStrap

Drill Press

Build an Eiffel. And then add a Bill of Materials to the page.

No Drill Press?

Build an Eiffel, but use pre-drilled square steel tubing. And then add a Bill of Materials to the page.

Laser Cutter

If you have a Laser Cutter, build a LaserCut RepRap or a Pirated_CupCake. Many local shops which make and engrave trophies, desk ornaments, etc., have moved to Laser Cutters. Many local universities have laser cutters in their art/architecture/engineering/design departments.

Large CNC Router

If you have a large CNC Router, build an Isaac. (The Isaac is currently the best-documented FlatPack RepStrap design so far.)

lots of fischertechnik parts

FTIStrap is a working RepStrap which was almost completely built from fischertechnik parts.

lots of Meccano parts

In 2005, VikOlliver constructed a PrototypePrinter largely from Meccano and Polymorph. (Meccano parts are sold as "Erector Set" the U.S.)

lots of LEGO parts

Development:Lego RepStrap discusses the possibility of building a working RepStrap from mostly LEGO parts.

Large Pile of Money

If you have a large pile of money, use a commercial 3D printer to print off a set of Mendel parts.

Further reading

• Category:RepStrap has a long (exhaustive?) list of RepStraps
• Several of the above techniques open the possibility of a Ship of Theseus scenario: Use what you have available (a small mill or fischertechnik parts or etc.) to build something that acts enough like a Mendel to print out Mendel parts, then print out parts and swap out one part at a time until all that is left is a Mendel.