On Wednesday 10 January 2007 20:54, Mike snyder wrote: > On 1/10/07, Sebastien Bailard wrote: > > On Wednesday 10 January 2007 03:57, Alan B. Pearce wrote: > > > > http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn10922-desktop-fabricator-may-= ki > > > > > >ckstart-home-revolution.html > > > > > > > >>From the article: "The standard version of their Freeform fabricator > > > >> =96 > > > > > > Hmm, the "reprap" that they also link to seems interesting as well. > > > > I lurk on this list. Are you interested in building one? > > > > Regards, > > Sebastien Bailard > > RepRap.org - self-replicating 3D printer project. > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > > I am interested in building one also and any words of wisdom besides what > on the website would be appreciated :-) Well, first you'll need a PIC programmer... Here are the relevant links: http://reprap.org/ http://reprap.blogspot.com/ http://reprappers.blogspot.com/ http://objects.reprap.org There's about a half-dozen ways to build one; what follows is a cut-and-pas= te = from an email I sent to Ben Fry of processing.org last night (note that the= re = are two different machines, the RepRap and the RepStrap; the RepRap is the = 3D = printer-built machine that makes copies of itself or other objects, and the = RepStrap is the home-build 3D printer that can make a RepRap or other = objects.) "There are many pathways. It depends on your physical and financial = parameters. I would recommend that you buy a cnc-ready Taig benchtop mill = from http://www.cartertools.com/, = http://computersculpture.com/ or a cnc-converted mill from ebay or someone selling a used one on = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taigtools/ This is how I am doing it. You end up with a nice solid 3 axis positioner, = which you can also use for milling, which you might find useful. Total cost ~$USD1.5K, maybe $2K with tooling. This may be outside of your = budget, and you may not be interested in having a tool for CNC machining/PC= B = prototyping around afterwards. Other candidate mills: unimat, sherline, or clisby. These are all smaller = mills. (In the case of the clisby, much much smaller, and no one online = reported being really satisfied with them.) They're cheaper, but for all t= he = fuss, you might as well just get a taig. A taig is only a bit larger, but = it = has a lot more power. Another way: Buy a benchtop/tabletop CNC router, or a CNC router kit, and adapt it into = a = RepStrap. Make sure you have at least 3" of vertical clearance; vertical = clearance is equivalent to how tall an object you can print/machine. = http://cgi.ebay.com/CNC-Router-Engraver-Milling-machine_W0QQitemZ2600736152= 77QQihZ016QQcategoryZ57122QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I'm having trouble digging up a good recommendation for a particular model = here (EDIT: People seem to really like the cnc router plans at = http://solsylva.com/ ). Try cnczone.com and ebay. No one has used a cnc = router as a RepStrap this way, but it should be a good way to do it. Another way. Vik Olliver's machine is based on copper pipe. It costs ~$200-300? Forrest Higg's is made from wood using hand tools. Again, ~$200-300. There's also someone making his out of lego. ???" You guys will find the pcb side of things easy. To fabricate the extruder = head and the pcb board, if you have a mill or router, you can machine the = extruder head easily. Otherwise, you just have to find someone to print th= e = parts for you or borrow a loaner. Regards, Sebastien -- = http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist