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RepRap
Public Group active 2 days, 13 hours agoInterested in experimentation and building machinery that can self replicate ?
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Richard Allsebrook posted an update in the group RepRap: 2 days, 13 hours ago · updated 3 hours, 35 minutes ago · View
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Chris Warburton posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week ago · updated 2 days, 12 hours ago · View
Just to let the group know, I’ve now got a full time job with ocProducts, so the RepRap will have to move on to something of a backburner. I can’t make it to the lab now, but John doesn’t mind the machine moving temporarily, eg. to the gist lab or access space, if it’ll get working quicker (eg. via some evening tinkering by the RepRap & Shacknet people). We’ll have to sort such an arrangement out properly with John first though.
The RepRap itself, as Andy said, is pretty near completion. The Z axis is playing up (it’s been dodgy since the start), which will either need a simple tightening/lubricating/gluing/etc. which is just a matter of figuring out where; or else it may all be misaligned and need some hardcore tinkering. If Andy made it into the lab today then he’ll probably be able to give a much better estimate on this (he might’ve even got it running smoothly
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Yup spent the day with it yesterday. The Design of The Darwin Z axis is such that it nicely summs up all the friction of the four lift posts and dumps it on the one stepper motor. I realigned the frame and be yesterday and adjusted some of the tension out of the anti backlash spring assemblies. It seems to run a lot better now but is still in need of more friction reduction before it will be fit to print. It misses steps at low speeds. (may be possible to nudge the current up a little too).
Tidyed up the wiring etc too and secured the conduits.
All in all asuccesful day definite stpe change in the right direction but not yewt quite ready to pring. I will be going back next week for a nother day at it. Taking some lighter springs/spacers and some super glue to thread lock some of the more troublesome fasteners. Hopefuly soon it will be good to go.
Gratz on the job!
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Karl Buckland joined the group RepRap 2 days, 14 hours ago · View
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Andy Kirby posted an update in the group RepRap: 6 days, 17 hours ago · View
Just finished cataloguing and compiling a list of RP parts to make a Mini-Mendel complete with the most promising component revisions. This is currently being printed by nophead (in between his more commercialy oriented printings). So hopefully a set of parts may be along in the near future for me to start my build.
I will be feeding back to Nophead how the build and parts go with the aim of settling on a viable set that he can offer through Ebay in addition to the Full Mendel models he currently prints. The Mini-Mendel should enjoy a lower parts cost than the Full Mendel.
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Richard Allsebrook posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week, 3 days ago · updated 6 days, 17 hours ago · View
This popped up on my radar this morning: http://blog.cloudscad.com/
A web based SCAD tool. Still under development but it’s looking promising…
Worth taking a soin with is heekscad http://code.google.com/p/heekscad/ . I am just about to give up on freecad http://sourceforge.net/projects/free-cad/.
Both are based upon the opencascade geometry engine. (which will reverse engineer point clouds like you get from laser scanners!!!!!) Heekscad looks to be the most happening at the moment. Freecad does’nt look useable unless I have missed something.
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John Cahill posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week ago · updated 6 days, 17 hours ago · View
Hi all, sorry for missing the last meeting. I’ve been unwell with the flu and a chest infection for a bit. Beth is currently working down south but will be back in Sheffield in a few weeks.
When are we meeting up next?
I saw Richard’s link for the the 3d scanner. I’m building one of of these! I bought a red semiconductor laser diode, (with a line output), on Ebay yesterday. I’m going to construct a jig out of steel rather than extrude one.That sounds cool. WOuld love to see it go when you get it done. Get better soon and our regards to beth.
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John X Moseley posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week, 1 day ago · updated 6 days, 17 hours ago · View
Hey Andy, just doing some research on the reprap controllers here and I stumbled on your min644p page – excellent stuff.
I’m going to get the Dremel out and get started tonight.Yeah thats the board, chip and xtal I gave you last week. Most excellent. I have spent the last couple of days collecting the .STL file together for a mini-mendel and sending them off for printing. So in a week or so hopefully I can be following you. Nophead is doing the printing.
I’m thinking this board would be great for ArtBot version 3. Gotta make another.
BTW the pads are for 0.8mm holes, right? Just bought some new ones – mine were all snapped from the last time I tried this malarky.If you are making another download and print the layouts from my blog/docs on line as I increased the pad sizes.
I drilled my boards with .6 for the component leads and .8 for the pin strips. May need to go a little larger than .8 depends on how well the holes line up.
Yeah I go through board drills at a fast rate. Having a mini drill press thingy makes them last a little longer. Drilling by hand you are too likely to change the angle during the drilling and snap the bit.
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Chris Warburton posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week, 2 days ago · updated 1 week, 1 day ago · View
Played with the RapMan a bit more on Friday. Thanks for the filament Andy! Got the Z axis moving again, but it’s still a bit jerky. The good news is that I’ve tested the extruder and the heater works, the thermistor works (which is the one I was worried about) and the stepper works. The filament goes in fine, but nothing’s coming out of the tip, so that’s my job for today
Was using ABS filament at 240C, tried the stepper and manually pushing it through. The screw-based extruder design is pretty poor IMHO; it shaves the edge of the filament off rather than pulling it down :S
It’s extruding! Turns out the rollers were the wrong way around (I didn’t assemble that part!) so it’s giving out nice tangled plastic squiggles
Now to get it printing test objects Wow excellent, well done chris. The worm feed extruder’s are a bit error prone but will get you to the stage of being able to printout a new extruder model. Most folk are going with variants of the Wade geared pinch roller design these days. Looking forward to dropping by on Thursday AM to have a look. Sounds like you are not far of finished really.
Best price I have found for filament retail so far is http://www.reprapsource.com/en/shop As they are in Germany the postage is not as prohibitive as from the states.
Actually I take that back this guy is retailing it marginally more cost effectively in the UK. Providing you buy 5Kg.
Oh forgot to mention. Find a thermometer that will read the temps at the nozzle and check that what you set is what you get. Knowing what the error values (If any) are for a range of temps will help you later. Or at least give you confidence in it’s capabilities.
Chris see you in the morning at the Uni will be along at about 10:00 ish after breakfast.
w00t! Good work Chris! Can’t wait to see the results of your first printing
w00t! Good work Chris! Can’t wait to see the results of your first printing
w00t! Good work Chris! Can’t wait to see the results of your first printing
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Richard Allsebrook posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week, 1 day ago · View
A printable 3D scanning rig (just needs a laser and camera) http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/08/makerscanner_a_printable_3d_scannin.html
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Edward Saxton joined the group RepRap 1 week, 3 days ago · View
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John X Moseley posted an update in the group RepRap: 2 weeks, 1 day ago · updated 1 week, 5 days ago · View
Good News. I found the copies of Everyday Practical Electronics with the RapMan review. It also goes over the 3D design/making/printing process. So I hereby donate them to the group.
FYI the issues are: December 2009, January 2010 and February 2010. I tried to get my hands on PDF versions but drew a blank in some of the more dubious parts of the internet.
I wonder if it is worth scanning them. We probably couldn’t put them up here to download though for copyright reasons.
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Chris Warburton posted an update in the group RepRap: 1 week, 6 days ago · updated 1 week, 5 days ago · View
I love what this guy gets up to! Taken the cheap laser from his DIY laser sintering machine and built a (small) laser cutter using the laser-moving mechanisms from some CD drives as the X, Y & Z axes! http://builders.reprap.org/2010/08/selective-laser-sintering-part-8.html
Yes they are really cool, a tiny build area but very high resolution. They would be perhaps at their best used as part of a microscope setup. You could use it to image a larger slide area at highest magnification and stitch the images together. Using a cheap USB microscope.
I am not sure who would have a use for that (crystallographers or forgers perhaps). But could be fun to do anyway.
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Andy Kirby posted an update in the group RepRap: 2 weeks, 1 day ago · updated 1 week, 6 days ago · View
OK Guys If you want to see what we are heading towards take a look at this. Sound is really recommended.
I wish I could build machinery as fast as this guy. I could have 10 for the next meet <|:)
Saw these in the RepRap blog but didn’t download the videos until I saw this post. Very impressive indeed! Part of me wonders how many takes he really took to get it that seamless
Also, as a feature request, I would appreciate a 25000x speedup button on the next RepRap version 
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Andy Kirby posted an update in the group RepRap: 2 weeks, 2 days ago · View
Make a minimalist Atmega 644p/1284p Based Micro-Controller
If you want a fun way to start with Amforth, a DIY Sanguino, a DIY RepRap Controller or just an Arduino compatible with more welly this one is for you.
This project was inspired by the Arduino and the Sanguino but was primarily for use as a RepRap Controller and general purpose Amforth development board.
http://aka47.adsl24.co.uk/serendipity/index.php?/pages/min644p.html
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Andy Kirby created the link RazorLAB 2 weeks, 6 days ago · View
A UK Based Ponoko Hub, A Laser cutting Bureaux Service. Creating accounts direct with LazorLAB is reccomended over selecting through Ponoko. To Get UK Pricing and Delivery.
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David JM Emmett joined the group RepRap 2 months, 2 weeks ago · updated 3 weeks ago · View
hurro david
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Richard Rixham joined the group RepRap 2 months, 2 weeks ago · updated 3 weeks ago · View
hurro richard
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Beth McMillan joined the group RepRap 1 month, 1 week ago · updated 3 weeks ago · View
hurro beth
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Andy Kirby created the link Thingiverse – Digital Designs for Physical Objects 3 weeks ago · View
Thingiverse is a universe of things. Download our files and build them with your lasercutter, 3D printer, or CNC.
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Hannah York posted an update in the group RepRap: 4 weeks, 1 day ago · updated 3 weeks ago · View
As ever, shocking at checking this. Next event confirmed, just signed up at http://s1reprap2.eventbrite.com/
Chris, how’ve you been getting on with the nearly their machine?
The machine’s electronics, skeleton and movement is all working (except I snapped a bit off one of the runners, which I’ll probably jury-rig for long enough to print a replacement :S ). Not been able to test the extruder, heater, etc. yet since we’ve got no filament to drive through it. If it turns out to have no problems then excellent, if not then it’ll probably end up back in the state it was in when I took over…
Seems 40 quid per kilogram of 3mm filament seems to be about average. Was thinking of getting ABS since it appears to be more straighforward than, for example HDPE (which needs higher temperatures which can damage the extruder).
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This is causing a stir in the MakerBot world. Some interesting comments on the Make: Blog…..
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/09/commercial_3d_printers_will_one_day.html#comments
I want one.
To be honest I can’t think of a single process that hasn’t got cheaper once it’s become commercialised. I can imagine in 5 years that you’ll be able to buy a basic 3D printer from PC world for £99. It’s much easier to bring the price down once you get into mass production.
I still think there will be a place for makers/tinkerers even when you can buy them built for less than you can make one from scratch. Hasn’t done the home built PC marker any harm