RepRap

From reprap.org:

Reprap image from reprap.org

RepRap is short for Replicating Rapid-prototyper. It is the practical self-copying 3D printer shown on the right - a self-replicating machine. This 3D printer builds the parts up in layers of plastic. This technology already exists, but the cheapest commercial machine would cost you about €30,000. And it isn't even designed so that it can make itself. So what the RepRap team are doing is to develop and to give away the designs for a much cheaper machine with the novel capability of being able to self-copy (material costs are about €500).

The RepRap project is a bit optimistic in their description -- their "self-replicating" machine is capable of printing all of the non-commodity parts of their machine, but still needs stepper motors, steel rods, screws, nuts, control circuitry, and of course a human to assemble the pieces.

Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project
• http://reprap.org/
• http://www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/McWire_Cartesian_Bot_1_2 - easy to follow instructions for a kit version of reprap.
• http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/Builders - the RepRap Builders wiki
• http://store.rrrf.org/ - the RepRap Research Foundation store

Participants

• Orph
• adi
• Jacob
• TurksHead
• nejucomo
• Al

Plan

• decide what system to build
  • what print materials? ABS, PCL aka Shapelock, PLA, ...
• Print head
  • multiple print heads?
  • http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/RepRapOneDarwinThermoplastExtruder
  • http://objects.reprap.org/wiki/Nophead%27s_Extruder_Tweaks
• Chassis
  • what design? (lasercut acrylic, plywood + steel rod, ...)
  • The McWire
• Electronics
  • control electronics design (something better than "one Arduino to rule them all" please)
• purchase parts
• * Consult the McWire BOM for what to buy
• build it!

Some parts of RepRap can be developed independently. In particular, the Extruder "print head" is pretty much independent of the chassis mechanism, and looks like a fun project. Might want to consider other print mechanisms too; this one may be specific to a few of the thermoplastics.

Status

• TurksHead has started building a McWire chassis. (10/22)
• adi is researching print materials and print heads. (10/23)

Parts Orders

adi ordered a bunch of components for RepRap from Mouser on 2008-10-29:

SHIPPED TO:
NOISEBRIDGE
83C WIESE ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103

----+-----------------------------+--------+---------+----------+-------------
    |       MOUSER PART NO.       |  EST   |         |          |
LINE|      CUSTOMER PART NO.      |  SHIP  |   QTY   |    UNIT  |   EXTENDED
NO. |        DESCRIPTION          |  DATE  | ORDERED |   PRICE  |      PRICE
----+-----------------------------+--------+---------+----------+-------------
  1  652-3362U-1-202LF             10/29/08       10       0.720          7.20
     1/4"SQ 2KOHMS 10%
  2  517-4814-3000-CP              10/29/08        5       0.190          0.95
     14P DUAL WIPE DIPSKT
  3  517-4816-3000-CP              10/29/08        5       0.190          0.95
     16P DUAL WIPE DIPSKT
  4  571-2828374                   10/29/08        5       0.720          3.60
     5.08MM PCB MOUNT 4P
  5  512-MM74HC00N                 10/29/08        5       0.390          1.95
     Qd 2-Input NAND Gate
  6  512-LM78L05ACZX               10/29/08        5       0.180          0.90
     TO-92 .1A Pos Volt
  7  595-L293DNE                   10/29/08        2       2.740          5.48
     Quad Half-Hs
  8  291-220-RC                    10/29/08      200       0.014          2.80
      220ohms
  9  512-1N4005                    10/29/08      100       0.038          3.80
     1.0a Rectifier
 10  511-TIP120                    10/29/08       10       0.400          4.00
     NPN Power Darlington
 11  517-952-10                    10/29/08       12       0.150          1.80
     .100 SHUNT BLUE
 12  538-09-50-3041                10/29/08        6       0.250          1.50
     HSG 4P W/LKG RAMP
 13  538-08-52-0072                10/29/08       24       0.080          1.92
     TERMINAL 18-20 BULK
 14  538-26-48-1245                10/29/08        1       2.020          2.02
     VERT B/A HDR 24P TIN
 15  294-0.5-RC                    10/29/08      100       0.050          5.00
      0.5ohms
 16  581-5OK102KABJH               10/29/08       12       0.180          2.16
     500volt 1nF  10%
 17  581-5ZH104ZACJA               10/29/08       32       0.160          5.12
     50volt 100nF -20+80%
 18  140-XRL50V100-RC              10/29/08       18       0.096          1.73
     50V 100uF 20%
 19  291-100K-RC                   10/29/08      200       0.014          2.80
      100Kohms
 20  291-2.7K-RC                   10/29/08      200       0.014          2.80
      2.7Kohms
 21  517-4820-3000-CP              10/29/08        6       0.220          1.32
     20P DUAL WIPE DIPSKT
 22  538-22-23-2031                10/29/08       12       0.290          3.48
     VERT PCB HDR 3P TIN
 23  538-22-01-3037                10/29/08       24       0.190          4.56
     HSG 3P W/RAMP/RIBS
 24  140-50P5-332K-RC              10/29/08        6       0.100          0.60
     50V 3300pF Y5P
 25  538-15-24-4745                10/29/08       10       0.770          7.70
     HI TEMP VERT HDR
 26  291-560-RC                    10/29/08      200       0.014          2.80
      560ohms
 27  696-SSL-LX5093GD              10/29/08       24       0.120          2.88
     5mm Green Diff
 28  604-WP937EGW                  10/29/08       12       0.340          4.08
     RED/GREEN DIFFUSED
 29  567-290-1AB                   10/29/08        6       0.380          2.28
     TO-220 VERT/HORZ BLK
 30  538-08-50-0114                10/29/08      100       0.090          9.00
     CRIMP TERM 22-30 TIN
 31  511-L297                      10/29/08        6       9.660         57.96
     Stepper Motor
 32  511-L298                      10/29/08        6       3.470         20.82
     Dual Full Bridge
 33  512-SB360                     10/29/08       48       0.420         20.16
     3a/60V Schottky
 34  571-41031850                  10/29/08        2       3.150          6.30
     40P HEADER GOLD
 35  140-XRL50V10-RC               10/29/08       10       0.048          0.48
     50V 10uF 20%
 36  871-B57560G104F               10/29/08        2       2.740          5.48
     100k 4085
 37  571-2828372                   10/29/08        8       0.300          2.40
     5.08MM PCB MOUNT 2P
                                                                 =============
                                           MERCHANDISE TOTAL:          $210.78