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Computer
Computer Diary
RepRap


"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure."

Marianne Williamson
from her book "A Return To Love"

RepRap

Updates

Sun, August 26, 2012: First version with overview, bit history and references .
  1. Introduction
    2.
  2. Complexity Overview
    3.
    1. High Building Complexity
    2. Medium Building Complexity
    3. Low Building Complexity
    4. All-In-One
  3. RepRap
    4.
  4. 3D Printing Information
    5.
  5. 3D Models & Printing
    6.
  6. Stores / Fablabs
    7.
    1. Europe
    2. Rest of the World
  7. Full Printed - Poetic Short Movie
    8.

Introduction

What are RepRaps? Self-Replication Rapid prototyping - a machine which partially can produce parts of itself using 3D Printing technology .

It extrudes a heated plastic layer by layer in X, Y and Z and so creates a solid form, called Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) (aka Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)) - there are other ways to build 3 dimensional solid forms parametrically, but FFF is rather simple and cost-effective approach.


Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

I got interested in RepRap a few years ago but didn't follow up as the first models were expensive and too complex to build and use - this changed and since about December 2011 got interested more thoroughly again, thanks to several Kickstarter projects, such as Printrbot .

Due the nature of RepRap, plans are all Open Source, for everyone to adapt, alter and republish - it is like the Open Source movement, now it's about creating solid things.

Some of my thoughts on RepRap:



Darwin RepRap (2007, Classic)

Sells Mendel (2009, Classic)

Prusa Mendel (2010)

Printrbot (2011)

FoldaRap (2011)

Eventorbot (2012)

Complexity Overview


Adrian Bowyer
Adrian Bowyer , Senior Lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Bath (UK), started the RepRap movement around 2005 with a very comprehensive aim in mind: Wealth Without Money .

His first model was the "Darwin", which was then improved to "Mendel" - at that point the community started to develop and extend the variation:

High Building Complexity

  • Mendel aka "Sells Mendel", classic (1x Z-axis motor), Z-axis is X/Y-way stabilized Not recommended to build since simpler versions exist:

Medium Building Complexity

  • Prusa Mendel , (2x Z-axis motors), printed parts massively simplified - quasi standard now

Low Building Complexity

  • Printrbot , loosly based on Prusa Mendel , very simple, Z-axis in the open (one end fixated)
    • Wallace , parametric version, Z-axis stabilized using a horizontal rod to connect both Z rods.
    • Portabee , Z-axis in the open

  • Bukobot , alike Printrbot but with aluminium extrusions (very rigid) and Z-axis is X-way stabilized
  • FoldaRap , with aluminium extrusions, Z-axis is X-way stabilized, foldable

All-In-One

  • FoldaRap , power-supply & controller nicely integrated, speciality: foldable (easy to transport)
  • MakiBox , case with power-supply, controller, all in a box, speciality: pellets to filament converter built-in (still in development)

Read further my technical notes at RepRap.org.

RepRap

3D Printing Information

3D Models & Printing


Stores / Fablabs

Europe

Rest of the World

for other areas, check 3Ders.org : price & feature overview .

Full Printed - Poetic Short Movie

Full Printed from nueveojos on Vimeo.


.:.


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