Erik's Blog: Discussing IT, personal fabrication and a new and better world

Are you operating or building a 3D printer? (RepRap, Cupcake CNC, RapMan, etc.)

We still need some more responses for the data to be statistically significant. So if you have not done the survey, please do so! (If you have, thanks so much!!)

Why? I can understand that you don't have time for just any survey. But this one is REALLY IMPORTANT:

We're trying to learn how open source software development differs from open hardware. Also, I'm learning how the RepRap community innovates and how this is different from commercial development of physical products. If helping me graduate isn't enough reason: you will help the RepRap project (results are used by me and Adrian Bowyer) and the field of open source research (as I'm directly working with the most cited scholar on this subject, Eric von Hippel from MIT).

Your input is essential! Many others have already filled in the RepRapSurvey.org but we need several more respondents for statistical significance of the findings.

It takes people 15 minutes on average.

Thank you VERY much!

Erik

P.s. Everyone will be given access to what we learn from this study. If you have questions or remarks, don't hesitate to contact me.

From Erik's RepRap parts

For some, the fact that the mini-mendel isn't a finished product is a reason not to try it. For me, it's the opposite. I've now printed all parts for the mini-mendel. I've also found suppliers for (I think) all of the non-printed parts that are needed. I'm waiting on delivery from RS Components (nut's & bolts), Pololu (stepper motor drivers), Smalltec (smooth rods), Adtech (PTFE Bowden cable) and Active-robots (NEMA 14 stepper motors). If a miracle happens I will have all items within two weeks. In the meantime, as parts are coming in, I will see when I enough parts to finish one sub-assembly at a time. I'll keep you updated with the trouble I run into

This is the table with lists of parts. Interestingly, it seems possible to stay within 350 euro target in terms of expenses, for future Mini-mendel's, that is. I will probably be over this target because I won't get everything right (I already ordered some of the wrong rods, there goes 40 euro's):


The Bill of Materials:


This can also be found on the RepRap wiki.

Some answers to questions I got:
Q: Does it use the same timing belt as the regular Mendel?
A: Yes. Only shorter lengths. Hopefully, my BOM shows the right lenghts that you need to order.

Q: How much time did it take to print it?
A: About 15 hours in total, I estimate. I didn't keep track of it. I just turn on a batch and work on other things. I printed it in about 8 sheets because my build platform is warped. I can only use a 20x10 space of it. So it's still pretty labour intensive to print a batch.

Q: How much material is used to print it?
A: All the parts I printed (everything minus 3 pulleys minus a couple of grams) weigh just under 300 g. I'm using 30% infill.