Last month, DesignSpark sponsored OSHCAMP. One of the workshops was 3D Printing.
Did you know that you can build your very own 3D printer for under £500! Not only is it relativly cheap, but the hardware design and the software that you need to build one are all Open Source. The DesignSpark team were so impressed, that we are planning to build one ourselves.
Steven Gray with his Arduino powered open source RepRap 3D printer built with Parts from RS.
Not only is the RepRap design open source, but part of the construction of it is to. By ths I mean that a few of the components that you need such as the gears, are made on a 3D printer. So in the spirit of Open Source, RepRap will help you with this, by asking the last person to build a printer to print and gift you the parts!
DesignSpark's @connectorgeek (right) Graham Klyne shows Skeinforge 3D & @peterjfrancis EBMPapst printing software
Graham Klyne setting up the 3D printer using Skeinforge with David Flanders (right)
No ink required!, the printing ingredient is in fact a biodegradable corn based product, so it's enviromentally friendly and edible, if you're feeling peckish, although I can tell you, it doesn't taste that great...
How well does the "build one, print the parts of another one and donate them" idea work in your country? Here in germany it doen't work to well because there is to much demand. But i think every RepRap is a small step towards our goal. :)
You will have fun building one yourself Dreamspark Team and all other reader. Just read a bit on http://reprap.org. If you build one go for the abs-parts for your extruder an your extruder carriage and not for the corn based pla parts because abs is more heat resistent and this way you will not nead a cooling fan.
Excellent!, would be great to see a picture and a read few words about it. As Eric says, if you get a free moment, we would love to see it. All you need to do is add it as a knowledge item. When logged in, click on the contribute to DesignSpark near the top of the page.
Oh I wish Clive can share a picture of the MakerBot for a sense of the size...can Clive upload it as a knowledge item under the yellow tab on the top of the page?
XynxNet
Great article. I build my own RepRap this summer.
How well does the "build one, print the parts of another one and donate them" idea work in your country? Here in germany it doen't work to well because there is to much demand. But i think every RepRap is a small step towards our goal. :)
You will have fun building one yourself Dreamspark Team and all other reader. Just read a bit on http://reprap.org. If you build one go for the abs-parts for your extruder an your extruder carriage and not for the corn based pla parts because abs is more heat resistent and this way you will not nead a cooling fan.
XynxNet
clivemunday
I am based on Hong Kong with a MakerBot 3D printer. As far as I know the only one here so far. It is smaller than a RepRap but it is a great machine
Clive
Pete Wood
Excellent!, would be great to see a picture and a read few words about it. As Eric says, if you get a free moment, we would love to see it. All you need to do is add it as a knowledge item. When logged in, click on the contribute to DesignSpark near the top of the page.
Eric Lee
Oh I wish Clive can share a picture of the MakerBot for a sense of the size...can Clive upload it as a knowledge item under the yellow tab on the top of the page?
Stephen Lam
Great, prefect for R&D house in Hong Kong!