tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122232832024-03-18T20:03:26.015+00:00RepRap: BlogBlog for the RepRap project at <a href="http://www.reprap.org">www.reprap.org</a> - a project to create an open-source self-copying 3D printer. To get all the early posts on this blog with all the images as a single PDF <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/File:A_History_of_RepRap_Development.pdf">visit this page</a>.Adrian Bowyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595509188999219420noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-65575248163513877592024-03-18T20:02:00.002+00:002024-03-18T20:02:23.189+00:00Unwanted adventures in inverse kinematics<p>Given up on Marlin. I've installed straight GRBL on the RAMPS assembly and have written an amateur inverse kinematics routine in python to drive GRBL X, Y & Z as the delta towers C, B, A (which seems to be engineering convention, C being on the X axis). Once I get a bit of help, it's probably best to peel the control functions out of OpenFlexure, but their codebase is somewhat impenetrable. Suggestions welcome.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Ubuntu Mono;"># Function to Calculate Tower Joint Positions:<br /># - calculate_tower_joint_positions calculates the positions of the tower joints based on the given TCP location.<br /># - It utilizes inverse kinematics to determine the heights of the tower joints above the XY plane.<br /># - The function takes a TCP location tuple (x, y, z) as input and returns a list of tower joint heights.<br />def calculate_tower_joint_positions(tcp_location):<br /> link_length = 75 # units<br /> radius = 35 # units<br /> <br /> # Calculate the distance from the TCP to each tower base<br /> tower_distances = [math.sqrt((tcp_location[0] - radius * math.cos(theta))**2 + (tcp_location[1] - radius * math.sin(theta))**2) for theta in [0, 2*math.pi/3, -2*math.pi/3]]<br /> <br /> # Calculate tower joint heights above the XY plane<br /> tower_joint_heights = [tcp_location[2] + math.sqrt(link_length**2 - dist**2) for dist in tower_distances]<br /> <br /> return tower_joint_heights<br /><br /># Test cases<br />test_locations = [(0, 0, 0), (-1, 1, 0), (0, 0, 10), (0, 20, 0), (5, 0, 0), (15, 0, 10)]<br /><br />for location in test_locations:<br /> tower_joint_heights = calculate_tower_joint_positions(location)<br /> print("TCP Location:", location)<br /> print("Tower Joint Heights:", tower_joint_heights)<br /> print()</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"></span></div><p><br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-63491066964908823782024-03-17T01:03:00.004+00:002024-03-17T01:03:54.543+00:00<p>The dodgy Marlin Delta configuration took off on one tower, drove it through the bottom of the stage, and snapped the anti-backlash 'O'-ring. That's going to be a beggar to replace. I thought I'd reset the axes position to current location with an G92 command, but it looks like the delta firmware may be ignoring that. More experimentation needed with the delta towers disconnected...<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-62994468064725355402024-03-16T20:48:00.003+00:002024-03-16T20:57:45.943+00:00<p>I'm starting to get some form of workbench set up here. Wide angle view of the slide, narrow angle view down the microscope (3μm/pixel), and a control panel for the Delta Stage. Still fighting the delta software and for reasons unknown the wide angle mounts the wrong way up. Will have to print a new stand for it.</p><p>Maybe I should get two and rig them to a VR headset?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthoz4rvMNgUz7YmmFa6cqv7aUEEfGNSz1NosaHg40-FOUfWpFuC3LbiVex8xs91B7Tq6IaljsCt0j_pu0Apc593qVm9rUHiMZpXDHTjuGBJnDhpa57w6O1Vyabrgq1228GAL7ndd7TNjgl8HEYtvVn1seTMzYiS1c5Zvscz_yjCgv4n8V-OTpyF7p1AI0MQ/s1915/Visual_workbench_2024-03-17_09-42-56.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1915" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthoz4rvMNgUz7YmmFa6cqv7aUEEfGNSz1NosaHg40-FOUfWpFuC3LbiVex8xs91B7Tq6IaljsCt0j_pu0Apc593qVm9rUHiMZpXDHTjuGBJnDhpa57w6O1Vyabrgq1228GAL7ndd7TNjgl8HEYtvVn1seTMzYiS1c5Zvscz_yjCgv4n8V-OTpyF7p1AI0MQ/s320/Visual_workbench_2024-03-17_09-42-56.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-30157113617180773312024-03-16T04:42:00.004+00:002024-03-16T07:24:08.573+00:00<p>And just when I had enough to do, it turns out that running 2 USB video cameras (microscopes) at the same time is ... a challenge.</p><p>[update] ENOBACON suggested using vlc, and that runs multiple copies and cameras, yay!<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-55100254741823185012024-03-15T23:43:00.000+00:002024-03-15T23:43:13.579+00:00<p><br /> The probe arm now has 3 supports for proper rigidity. I've turned the acceleration of the motors down a bit and we'll see how much less wobble there is during movement.</p><p>You can see my crude attachment system for the hypodermic needle that allows me to change angles and swap tips. I will be mounting the micron tips inside hypodermic needles for support, and to allow me to bend them at angles.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9RAR1fxKN3_NUvXM3bL9faeSxZsUPAv40CJicG1vyCigzdaI0ZSvoZsSrSfsBhaajL18l7KFXN-6ajVxTryya2FpmkgpjtcSTh9G9c1WVqUJxzz2dMalbGWSseIQmGYsL-R0Kze7ouPAdzy42Hfel8dlbVMYjA00A0TC3uJ-HTjizN0py0d-mQAkLvBJCw/s4608/IMG_20240316_123427_379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9RAR1fxKN3_NUvXM3bL9faeSxZsUPAv40CJicG1vyCigzdaI0ZSvoZsSrSfsBhaajL18l7KFXN-6ajVxTryya2FpmkgpjtcSTh9G9c1WVqUJxzz2dMalbGWSseIQmGYsL-R0Kze7ouPAdzy42Hfel8dlbVMYjA00A0TC3uJ-HTjizN0py0d-mQAkLvBJCw/s320/IMG_20240316_123427_379.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Once I've got the delta software sufficiently smoothed I might try putting Sharpie on a slide and tracing a few tracks in it to see what we get. That might help with calibration later too.<p></p><p>Yes, all this stuff is not good for accuracy. I know. However it is damned convenient for development. A "proper" prototype won't have all the bendy wirey bits. <br /></p><p><br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-20599257513974519642024-03-15T20:03:00.003+00:002024-03-15T20:03:45.322+00:00<p>One of the press-fit small gears on the NEMA17 motors broke loose, so I've remodelled the gear to take an M3 nut and set screw. The STL is here: <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/797699">https://www.printables.com/model/797699</a></p><p>There is no convenient program I've found that just allows one to noodle around directing the axis movement for a gcode device on a serial port without having to download umpteen packages. So I've written one in python that should be portable. Ugly as sin at the moment and I'll share it when it looks passable.<br /></p><p>Next up is adding a third brace to the probe arm made from 12ga wire. This should dampen vibration in all axes. Delta firmware tweaks continue, trying to get sufficient accuracy with enough range on the Delta Stage.</p><p>One annoying problem is that my USB serial connection to the RAMPS board keeps dropping out. I suspect this is due to a noisy 12V power supply, so I'll swap that out.</p><p>The shadow of the probe on the slide is proving to be so useful in guidance that I'm thinking of adding an LED on the probe arm just to cast a coloured shadow. <br /></p><p>That'll keep me busy for a while.<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-63201335934662073302024-03-14T22:46:00.003+00:002024-03-14T22:46:46.291+00:00<p>I've got the Delta Stage moving vaguely coherently by swiping a lot of Marlin Configuration from the Kossel printer configuration. Quite a bit of tweaking to do, but it moves in different directions.</p><p>The main problem is visibility. The depth of focus is poor, and the ink is not sufficiently opaque. I'll work on all that. Also I'm going to need a proper microscope calibration slide.<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-24340237996207256442024-03-12T21:27:00.001+00:002024-03-12T21:31:40.720+00:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvueOf9KEw9PyF60Ic5U3QQm2aQ4EpTga_SmVh2XQcoWcohNE2_KYRetYBpHL7ZqqQEqB_YkC0Q0pCGfSYg67zZ4kwfNqfMJiWYhZijuuRsjE33hOkJKSfzwAgTZ2dHBQ8d_KhdToDgwxeztwPWpa-P1aGoivtngrbsPE9_tNMN0T6Cnp-LrubBay6kSePrg/s4608/IMG_20240313_101129_485.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvueOf9KEw9PyF60Ic5U3QQm2aQ4EpTga_SmVh2XQcoWcohNE2_KYRetYBpHL7ZqqQEqB_YkC0Q0pCGfSYg67zZ4kwfNqfMJiWYhZijuuRsjE33hOkJKSfzwAgTZ2dHBQ8d_KhdToDgwxeztwPWpa-P1aGoivtngrbsPE9_tNMN0T6Cnp-LrubBay6kSePrg/s320/IMG_20240313_101129_485.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />While I'm waiting for help on the Marlin Delta driver, I've soldered a 12ga wire brace to the probe arm and shortened it to 85mm. This reduces twang a *lot*. I've mounted a 22ga hypodermic on a croc clip, which clips to the probe arm so I can swap tips. The current tip is bent at 60 degrees so I can sneak it all through the lens turret on the microscope and get closer to vertical contact with the slide.</p><p>I've mixed up some machine oil with soot, which approximates the consistency of photosensitive resin. I keep it in a little dish made by wrapping an M8 nut in foil and dishing one side.</p><p>A small drop on the microscope slide serves as a reservoir, and contact with the drop gives me good feedback on the probe position (may be useful later, as is seeing the probe shadow). I'm manually tracking the probe until the driver software is sorted. Anyway, this lets me dip the 40μm probe tip then move it elsewhere and touch the slide. Bear in mind the tip is elongated on a hypodermic. This dipped tip gets me several consistent dots, about 30μm in size. Here's one viewed through the microscope:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aAnMTy9rvKRQZR0rpgmsHMnPFWVdftc5blQXrqTN2G2NPd8Df0fnrSkQAmKKuTh-Bm6yzDXnyBLdwyiTVAhGz2AVxOK2L1pUi9CaH0_HnLIwKU4zieixZwyndw9TyYwe8pioagDJBbLAyZ1EwYqEgKMOg_JHhFTMv1-efLlKuSJf9QjpBkQXbz8iLUWmxg/s640/2024-03-13-084007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aAnMTy9rvKRQZR0rpgmsHMnPFWVdftc5blQXrqTN2G2NPd8Df0fnrSkQAmKKuTh-Bm6yzDXnyBLdwyiTVAhGz2AVxOK2L1pUi9CaH0_HnLIwKU4zieixZwyndw9TyYwe8pioagDJBbLAyZ1EwYqEgKMOg_JHhFTMv1-efLlKuSJf9QjpBkQXbz8iLUWmxg/w281-h210/2024-03-13-084007.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6njGDV9-Ur2R0BN_r6F_lhmHY97we4i_UObLbJcsDpDTu2LASIMAHE58w8gapBuPA9v6Hpy36htZIEwbpE0cDN30Zr4-49IY8H1hEab9VBV9zYswCguYtmSTj0iT9w5Nt3k5oh4RO-YfO7b964eZgs2LzMyYDugimIJcC2UohlKndKvE2NUJgo_9r6WgtZw/s640/2024-03-13-084007_annotated.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6njGDV9-Ur2R0BN_r6F_lhmHY97we4i_UObLbJcsDpDTu2LASIMAHE58w8gapBuPA9v6Hpy36htZIEwbpE0cDN30Zr4-49IY8H1hEab9VBV9zYswCguYtmSTj0iT9w5Nt3k5oh4RO-YfO7b964eZgs2LzMyYDugimIJcC2UohlKndKvE2NUJgo_9r6WgtZw/w284-h213/2024-03-13-084007_annotated.jpg" width="284" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-15053554529356619792024-03-11T07:04:00.001+00:002024-03-11T07:08:53.363+00:00<p>Forgot to mention the attaching the OpenFlexure Delta stage gears to a NEMA17 round shaft. Basically I warmed up the stepper shaft with a mini blowtorch and pushed the gears on. I try-fitted the motor to the Delta Stage Adaptor, added a drop of ordinary superglue, and pushed the gear into the right position. It drags the glue into the join and holds well enough for now. Probably should render something with proper inset nuts and retaining screws.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRwHNbf2rwcLRYSEgc5bTciyUmq5Rk7Tg9-9GorePLEY2c14d38qSDXM0fzsDmoaTNs8YJouPw3qPrTG8zJwO_SR6kebPemC7Y0ifN215dEUeTGM6CeY8upSMQhghzWh31xFocVuMYDNqNko60gSjLDzH53AlKM-IRv-Y8esRg8v1ypAbLiYUpugMH5KVIw/s4608/IMG_20240311_195931_098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRwHNbf2rwcLRYSEgc5bTciyUmq5Rk7Tg9-9GorePLEY2c14d38qSDXM0fzsDmoaTNs8YJouPw3qPrTG8zJwO_SR6kebPemC7Y0ifN215dEUeTGM6CeY8upSMQhghzWh31xFocVuMYDNqNko60gSjLDzH53AlKM-IRv-Y8esRg8v1ypAbLiYUpugMH5KVIw/s320/IMG_20240311_195931_098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Speaking of dodgy fixings, the Delta Stage is currently on a thick piece of MDF with the microscope to isolate it from the bench bending when I lean on it (yes, that causes micron-sized movement). The microscope has a decent base, but the Delta Stage feet are slick PLA so after knocking the first one onto the floor I put some double-sided sticky tape under them. Very Heath Robinson/Rube Goldberg, but seems to work quite well.<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-67314528747860129012024-03-11T06:45:00.001+00:002024-03-11T06:45:21.033+00:00<p>Well there's a surprise. The μRepRap just got a mention on Hackaday <a href="https://hackaday.com/2024/03/10/%ce%bcreprap-taking-reprap-down-to-micrometer-level-manufacturing/">https://hackaday.com/2024/03/10/%ce%bcreprap-taking-reprap-down-to-micrometer-level-manufacturing/</a> - if you're not familiar with it, it's an awesome site for hackers and makers so do visit. If you're from there and visiting here, please join in the fun.<br /></p><p>The house is without reliable power at the moment though, and the place is pulled apart for rewiring putting the brakes on dev work. 9kW of solar panels going in, so not complaining.</p><p>Still having problems getting Marlin to drive the Delta configuration at all. Might revert back to driving XYZ and get on with stiffening up the probe's arm. For initial testing I'll just be using a hypodermic point until I have a reliable Delta driver that won't try to drive one of my sub-micron probe tips through the glass slide!<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-7250702293229852062024-03-10T20:06:00.002+00:002024-03-10T20:06:59.573+00:00<p> A word or three on microscopes: You need one to work on the micron scale obviously, but which one? Well, you don't want a one-piece USB microscope. These frankly lie about magnification. A factor of "300x" compares the view of the object unaided to the view through the eyepiece. Problem: USB microscopes have no eyepiece. So the magnification they quote is totally dependent on the size of your screen, and how much you zoom the app. There is a limit, of course, on the number of pixels in the microscope camera.<br /></p><p>What you want to know is how many microns there are to a pixel on your screen. Manufacturers are reluctant to give that information. So try to get one that gives an image of a calibration slide or other known object. Knowing the resolution (typically it's a 5MP camera with about 2500 pixels across) you can calculate how many pixels go across a millimetre. To do micron scale work, you need 1,000 pixels per millimetre. This is not often found on one-piece USB microscopes.</p><p>This doesn't mean they are useless - a wider field of view is useful, they are easily positioned, and development work at 10 microns is a good starting point. However, for the fine stuff you'll probably need a "real" microscope. These can be fitted with a USB camera, but use the magnification optics of the actual microscope. I use one that has a real magnification of 500x and that lets me view microns.</p><p>Note that you will get a far better view looking through the eyepiece than you will using a USB camera on the microscope. Your retina has a much higher resolution than affordable image sensors.<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-76930702858200226272024-03-08T20:04:00.002+00:002024-03-08T20:04:36.815+00:00<p>Annoying start to μRepRap - I swept the thing off the bench and smashed it. Had to print a new Delta Stage. So I took the opportunity to reinforce the motor attachment points on the stage so that they can better hold the weight of a NEMA17 stepper motor.</p><p>Original Delta Stage here <a href="https://build.openflexure.org/openflexure-delta-stage/v1.2.2/">https://build.openflexure.org/openflexure-delta-stage/v1.2.2/</a>, my hack to it to fit NEMA17 motors here <a href="https://www.printables.com/model/797699-openflexure-delta-microscope-mods-to-fit-nema17-st">https://www.printables.com/model/797699-openflexure-delta-microscope-mods-to-fit-nema17-st</a></p><p>I am experiencing difficulties getting Marlin to drive the delta stage. Any help appreciated.<br /></p><p>On the side, I'm also assembling a new Prusa Mk4 printer which I can dedicate to this work.<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-37856036216766038342024-03-07T04:37:00.000+00:002024-03-07T04:37:05.993+00:00<p> Hello RepRappers!</p><p>It's been a while. However, there is a new RepRap project: <a href="https://reprap.org/wiki/RepRapMicron">https://reprap.org/wiki/RepRapMicron</a></p><p>The aim is to produce a RepRap capable of manufacturing things with an accuracy of better than one micron (1/1000th of a millimetre). This will use existing RepRap components, 3D printed components, and things that the average person can get hold of and afford.</p><p>Can we do it? One way to find out...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNtP-37vZddUXuoBlCMXGugKDt_BZScBYAM2Le1mx995khvZR6Ny3qUmbEGo1F6VlGAVGN-p9A561usdbIhCJPc9LZXjf7BrENl9YlYjIsaOwWL22O0sWzHWsVUB1RH9ZzgQUMsdXkrqAzRKRYWnO0N1pb-eox4lYEK8r40AFaaeqFUbdynQj54MwsidNmw/s2048/IMG_20240307_171314_855s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNtP-37vZddUXuoBlCMXGugKDt_BZScBYAM2Le1mx995khvZR6Ny3qUmbEGo1F6VlGAVGN-p9A561usdbIhCJPc9LZXjf7BrENl9YlYjIsaOwWL22O0sWzHWsVUB1RH9ZzgQUMsdXkrqAzRKRYWnO0N1pb-eox4lYEK8r40AFaaeqFUbdynQj54MwsidNmw/s320/IMG_20240307_171314_855s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Vik :v)<br /></p>vik-olliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574212494833831824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-27699378770353651002014-04-27T20:43:00.000+01:002014-04-27T20:43:36.357+01:00Open call for AMRI 2014 Summer Fellowships<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are thrilled to announce an open call for Summer 2014 Fellowships at Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute (AMRI), hosted at Rice University in the department of Bioengineering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This year there is an open call for applications for the following projects:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Project 1: e-NABLE 3D Printed Prosthetic Devices</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In collaboration with the </span><a href="http://enablingthefuture.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">worldwide e-NABLE group</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/en/Locations/houston/our-staff" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gloria Gogola, M.D.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at </span><a href="http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/Locations/houston" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shriners Hospital for Children</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Fellows will aid in the design, 3D printing, testing, and refinement of open-source prosthetic hand and finger designs. This unique fellowship will bring 3D printing into the clinical setting, working closely with Dr. Gogola and her patients in need.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-f1d8e3de-a4b4-b641-974f-785f9e83a21e" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Project 2: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fellows will augment and refine the </span><a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/OpenSLS" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">open SLS design</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pioneered by </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE5KRSlO9rA" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andreas Bastian last year</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. SLS machines typically cost $50k or more, we built ours for under $15k. This year we will focus on powder manufacturing and powder handling, as well as characterization of SLS parts via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Project 3: OLED 3D Photolithography of Living Tissues</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related to </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Gt_oRdd5c" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anderson Ta’s exciting digital light projection (DLP) photolithography</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last year, Fellows will investigate and program organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens as a light source for 3D photolithographic printing of living tissues. Chemical functionalization of glass surfaces will also be investigated to passivate the screen surface and aid in detachment and 3D printing from the light source surface.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out all the details, and be sure to apply by May 15th:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amrinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://amrinstitute.org</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Questions can be directed to <a href="mailto:amri@rice.edu?subject=Summer%202014%20Fellowships" target="_blank">amri@rice.edu</a>.</div>
jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-56900812326421287592014-04-08T16:43:00.002+01:002014-04-08T16:45:33.547+01:00Custom G-code Generation with MecodeIf you've ever wanted to hard-code gcode but still retain some scripting flexibility (for art, science, or engineering), Jack Minardi just posted a custom g-code generation package he's been working on... it looks great.<br />
<br />
Checkout <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/Mecode">the RepRap wiki entry</a>
and<br />
also <a href="https://github.com/jminardi/mecode">the github repo with instructions</a><br />
<br />
This could be a big win for 3d printing sacrificial inks like <a href="http://blog.reprap.org/2012/07/on-challenge-of-3d-printing-sugar-for.html">sugars</a> and <a href="http://www.3ders.org/articles/20140220-harvard-scientists-3d-bioprint-layered-tissue-with-blood-vessels.html">pluronics</a> where each extruded filament position needs to be placed with precise (x,y,z) coordinates.
And for arcs and meanders, there are built-in functions too! Very exciting.
From the Github README:
<br />
<blockquote>
To use, simply instantiate the G object and use its methods to trace your desired tool path.</blockquote>
<code>
from mecode import G <br />
g = G() <br />
g.move(10, 10) # move 10mm in x and 10mm in y <br />
g.arc(x=10, y=5, radius=20, direction='CCW') # counterclockwise arc with a radius of 5 <br />
g.meander(5, 10, spacing=1) # trace a rectangle meander with 1mm spacing between passes <br />
g.abs_move(x=1, y=1) # move the tool head to position (1, 1) <br />
g.home() # move the tool head to the origin (0, 0) <br />
</code>
<br />
<br />
We got a chance to meet Jack at <a href="http://blog.reprap.org/2014/02/join-us-at-2014-midwest-reprap-festival.html">MRRF</a> and everyone had a great time. <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jackminardi">Jack Minardi</a> is currently a Research Fellow at <a href="http://lewisgroup.seas.harvard.edu/">Lewis Lab at Harvard</a>.jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-85689949596628185692014-02-14T00:38:00.004+00:002014-02-14T00:41:09.608+00:00Join us at 2014 Midwest RepRap Festival (MRRF), Goshen, Indiana, USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://midwestreprapfest.org" target="_blank" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcueTP8iVbVpDsQzHuzxd0Vu7eraIsdWknENuQmBDaht1_CcczNyWlHGMjBXA8VbtAytpNoilXQ7Ig7Oycjkwx7blVdFybwxqiRRdNePgPBlwO6DYDtRR6NP9pkidInAUSchJ/s1600/header2.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to this!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://midwestreprapfest.org">http://midwestreprapfest.org</a><br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
The 2014 Midwest RepRap Festival in Elkhart County Indiana is the place to be March 14-16th. This event is totally FREE to come and attend, there are no tickets, no entry fees, just come hang out all weekend and hang out with other 3D printer guys and gals, but please fill out the RSVP form by following the link above so we know how many people to expect. This event will feature build-events, guest speakers and more!</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="p2">
<b>Highlights of the event:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<span class="s1">STATE OF REPRAP</span> Come hear Josef Prusa speak on the state of Reprap.</div>
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<span class="s1">TEST AND TUNE</span> Experts will be on hand to help you troubleshoot issues or take your prints to the next level! The event is FULL of people who want to see everyone become an expert. Whether it’s a simple question about a software setting, a new mechanical design, recommendations on where to go to get into reprap or more, don’t hesitate to ask anyone at the event.</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">MEET THE MAKERS</span> Meet some of the big names in RepRap, like MaxBots (Mendel MAX dev), Josef Prusa (Prusa Mendel/i3 and more), Logxen (Smoothieboard Dev) and many more</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">CRAZY NEW REPRAPS</span> Nicolas Seward (RepRap WALLY, SIMPSON, LISA) will be showing off his newest reprap creations, and talking about the unique features of his designs</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">BUILD EVENTS</span> More to come soon on Build events ….</div>
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<span class="s1">3D PRINTING CHALLENGES</span> See some of the most difficult prints take shape over the course of the weekend, and some fun printing challenges too, like the hand-fed extruder print challenge</div>
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<div class="p1">
<br /></div>jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-20601076384285241182013-12-02T15:05:00.003+00:002014-01-01T14:56:55.096+00:00RS Components distributing RepRaps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJdl9kTDKAciIIDle5XUBoN6c5eUCBo-j085Czslza4dHHIGdkAQQCgxsiTfTYm29hJlCr9NP6Aw2PsoxMGNrz_MNrP29tYLJqzHsfy70boYQtmgn6Odadp7VvLJ89lkiUUvDOQ/s1600/rs-ormerod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJdl9kTDKAciIIDle5XUBoN6c5eUCBo-j085Czslza4dHHIGdkAQQCgxsiTfTYm29hJlCr9NP6Aw2PsoxMGNrz_MNrP29tYLJqzHsfy70boYQtmgn6Odadp7VvLJ89lkiUUvDOQ/s320/rs-ormerod.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_812563628">This blog is for the RepRap Project, and so I do not normally post information here about the activities of our company, <a href="http://reprappro.com/">RepRapPro Ltd</a>. See <a href="http://www.reprappro.com/blog/">our company blog </a>for that sort of thing.</span><br />
<br />
No. The reason for this post is that from today a seriously major international company - <a href="http://www.rs-components.com/index.html">RS Components</a><span id="goog_501029129"></span><span id="goog_501029130"></span>, the world’s largest distributor of electronics and<br />
maintenance products - will be stocking and selling completely open-source RepRap kits. And in the future they hope to be selling components for RepRaps. In particular they want to sell vitamins-only kits so that people can print their own RepRaps.<br />
<br />
For more details see <a href="http://www.designspark.com/eng/nodes/view/type:knowledge-item/slug:reprappro-ormerod-3d-printer-kit/">RS's blog post here</a>, and, of course, <a href="http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/3d-printers/7952333/">their catalogue here</a>.Adrian Bowyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595509188999219420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-58986548786861740032013-09-18T11:02:00.002+01:002013-09-18T11:02:55.927+01:00Heated Piezo for Jetting Wax (and other stuff)I'd just like to draw everyone's attention to this really nice RepRap heated (ink)jet head by Mike Alden, shown here printing wax.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mpI3IONpxorpV39bQXFie04ge0REbP4eTeiXbITltQolYo9gnCGNCJi1HPlK79RLloTHCF8wSSm5citjhD9wFj_1h-bb95N_Kouvkuv6AvztSlzbid-k_DPaQJNdlqbYQryyoQ/s1600/320px-Drops_On_Page_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mpI3IONpxorpV39bQXFie04ge0REbP4eTeiXbITltQolYo9gnCGNCJi1HPlK79RLloTHCF8wSSm5citjhD9wFj_1h-bb95N_Kouvkuv6AvztSlzbid-k_DPaQJNdlqbYQryyoQ/s1600/320px-Drops_On_Page_01.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/Heated_Piezo_for_Jetting_Wax">Details are on the RepRap Wiki here.</a><br />
Adrian Bowyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595509188999219420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-41718021561140046252013-09-04T20:24:00.003+01:002013-09-04T20:51:06.119+01:002013 AMRI Fellowships Wrap-Up and Final PresentationsThanks to all our supporters near and far, <a href="http://blog.reprap.org/2013/08/announcing-amri-advanced-manufacturing.html" target="_blank">AMRI 2013 summer Fellowships</a> were a tremendous success!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amrinstitute.org/" target="_blank">We have launched the new AMRI website at AMRInstitute.org</a> and will be populating it with documentation and more formal write-ups of each Fellow over the next month or so.<br />
<div>
<br />
Read More about <a href="http://news.rice.edu/2013/09/03/rice-brc-hosts-advanced-manufacturing-research-institute-2/" target="_blank">AMRI at Rice University here</a>.<br />
Rice also did a great video about what we've been up to:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VrXRk96VhNQ" width="480"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
You can also watch the 2013 AMRI Fellows final presentations via this youtube playlist:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VebpbbZVL28?list=PL_jA9pfXtdcJRlV_Di1ft4Ncxmc9sqSDT" width="640"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<br />
HUGE thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters (especially all those in the #reprap IRC channel)!! We couldn't have done it without you!</div>
<div class="Body">
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://www.ultimachine.com/" title="http://www.ultimachine.com/">Ultimachine</a></div>
<div class="Body">
</div>
<a href="http://bioe.rice.edu/" title="http://bioe.rice.edu/">Rice University</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://bioe.rice.edu/" title="http://bioe.rice.edu/">Department of Bioengineering</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://brc.rice.edu/" title="http://brc.rice.edu/">Bioscience Research Collaborative</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://www.mica.edu/Academic_Services_and_Libraries/Fabrication_Studios/Digital_Fabrication_Studio.html" title="http://www.mica.edu/Academic_Services_and_Libraries/Fabrication_Studios/Digital_Fabrication_Studio.html">Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ultimaker.com/" title="http://www.ultimaker.com/">Ultimaker</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.makergear.com/" title="http://www.makergear.com/">MakerGear</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.seemecnc.com/" title="http://www.seemecnc.com/">SeeMeCNC</a><br />
<a href="http://www.reprapdiscount.com/" target="_blank">RepRapDiscount</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://makerjuice.com/" title="http://makerjuice.com/">Maker Juice</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/JohnYang.com" title="JohnYang.com">JohnYang.com</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://www.misumiusa.com/" title="www.misumiusa.com">Misumi</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://www.makergear.com/" title="http://www.makergear.com/">MakerGear</a></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="http://reprap.org/" title="http://reprap.org/">RepRap.org</a><br />
<br />
We look forward to continuing the conversation about what AMRI is and what it should become. Let us know your thoughts!</div>
jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-71425487788141411812013-08-08T04:24:00.001+01:002013-08-23T21:49:10.341+01:00Announcing AMRI: Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9PJcedmld8iBFgl_JSSC51XibMPK1JB5RreaQ0dr3ZvOxt0uAVCqvPx_T3enHv9otMqfLicOjeM73ILo8khE8E-z7l6FuLMt3xXgj89hvJNEsfJvLsg2Sh0oNj_MUm5wlQ-s/s1600/AMRI-BuildTheFuture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9PJcedmld8iBFgl_JSSC51XibMPK1JB5RreaQ0dr3ZvOxt0uAVCqvPx_T3enHv9otMqfLicOjeM73ILo8khE8E-z7l6FuLMt3xXgj89hvJNEsfJvLsg2Sh0oNj_MUm5wlQ-s/s400/AMRI-BuildTheFuture.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>UPDATE: AMRI FINAL PRESENTATIONS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN! FRIDAY AUGUST 23rd, 4 pm central time USA -- <a href="http://ustre.am/13UpB" target="_blank">UStream link is HERE: http://ustre.am/13UpB</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>We will also take questions via #reprap IRC channel.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
We are starting an experiment.<br />
<br />
Will it succeed? If we knew ahead of time, it wouldn't be an experiment, now would it? :D<br />
<br />
For a while now, several of us have been thinking of a way to positively and constructively reinforce the unbelievable talent in the <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/IRC">#reprap community</a>, focus thinking, structure projects, and landscape a general framework in which progress can be made.<br />
<br />
So today I'm pleased to announce the launch of AMRI: Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute.<br />
<br />
Inspired by <a href="https://developers.google.com/open-source/soc/">Google Summer of Code</a> and work going on at <a href="http://www.blender.org/blenderorg/">Blender Foundation</a>, AMRI seeks a return to some of the ideals behind the <a href="http://blog.reprap.org/2007/05/announcing-reprap-research-foundation_23.html">RepRap Research Foundation</a>. The goal is to provide breakthrough mentorship, infrastructure, and research funding for promising young <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maker_culture" target="_blank">makers</a></b> to pursue their interests using the scientific method.<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
The summer fellowship program currently has two components:</div>
<div class="p1">
1) engineering design challenge</div>
<div class="p1">
optionally followed by:</div>
<div class="p1">
2) fundamental scientific investigation (pending the success of the engineering design challenge)</div>
<br />
The end goal is unreservedly profit, if by "profit" you mean: gaining knowledge. Financial gains can be important, though they are secondary considerations at AMRI.<br />
<br />
Here, we are taking a concerted effort to apply <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method" target="_blank">the scientific method</a> to challenges in advanced manufacturing.<br />
<br />
<div class="p1">
We have four outstanding fellows and amazing research projects about to get underway here at <a href="http://bioe.rice.edu/" target="_blank">Rice University</a>:</div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://andreasbastian.com/" target="_blank">Andreas Bastian</a> - <a href="http://opensls.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">"3D Printing via laser-sintering of thermoplastic powders"</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="https://github.com/sjkelly/AMRI-Rice-201308-sjkelly" target="_blank">Steve Kelly</a> - <a href="https://github.com/sjkelly/AMRI-Rice-201308-sjkelly">"Ink-jet printing of genetically modified living bacteria"</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://open3dlp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anderson Ta</a> - <a href="http://open3dlp.blogspot.com/">"Digital light projection (DLP) photolithography of plastics and hydrogels"</a></div>
<div class="p1">
<a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:109040" target="_blank">Ravi Sheth</a> - <a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:109040">"Bacterial cellstruder for synthetic biology studies"</a></div>
<br />
This year, AMRI runs from August 1st-August 31st. We have already started. This fellowship program is is an experiment. A soft-launch. We have some makers that were personally invited to take part in our experiment, sketch out research projects critical to Science, and make progress.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>AMRI FAQ</b>
<br />
<blockquote>
<b><i>Cool, so who's paying for this?</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
We have secured sponsorship so far from <a href="http://bioe.rice.edu/" target="_blank">Rice University</a>, <a href="http://www.mica.edu/Academic_Services_and_Libraries/Fabrication_Studios/Digital_Fabrication_Studio.html" target="_blank">Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)</a>, <a href="http://www.ultimachine.com/" target="_blank">Ultimachine</a>, <a href="http://www.ultimaker.com/" target="_blank">Ultimaker</a>, <a href="http://www.makergear.com/" target="_blank">MakerGear</a>, and <a href="http://www.seemecnc.com/" target="_blank">SeeMeCNC</a>. <b>Thank you all!</b> We are open to additional sponsorship... <a href="mailto:amri@rice.edu">Contact us!</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<a href="http://jmil.web.rice.edu/" target="_blank">We are taking tax-deductible donations of any amount through Rice University's 501(c)3 here.</a> The charge to your account will read "RICE-IT WEB SRVC"
<br />
Donations will be used to help support the current projects, and any excess funds then organized to launch AMRI publicly and openly for Summer 2014 projects. We are currently running AMRI strictly through donations.</blockquote>
<b>READ MORE</b> after the jump...<br />
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<blockquote>
<b><i>When specifically does the August project begin, and how long will it run for?</i></b>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The program this year is officially from August 1st - 31st. We will have formal presentations on Friday August 23rd in Houston, TX. We hope to livestream the presentations and also upload them online afterwards via the RepRap blog.
I will note that all of the fellows are so amped for this event that many of them have working prototypes already done.
If successful this year we hope to extend AMRI fellowships to run the entire summer in future years.
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<b><i>Will the initial program consist of the fellows, or are there others students involved that the fellows work with?
</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
The four fellows this year will draw inspiration and advice from many sources <a href="http://opd.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=774" target="_blank">in our state-of-the-art research facility at Rice University</a>. There will be undergraduate and graduate students around that will inform many of their research directions. Most of the fellows have little-to-no recent training in Biology but have a lot of know-how on the "Maker" side. So the vision is to get them together interacting with experts in the field to help focus their goals on fundamental research questions that they and our resident scientists are after. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
On the flip-side, many of our best bioengineering students have little to no exposure or experience with what is commonly done in the Maker-movement. So I expect there to be great interactions within our labs. I have noticed this potential synergy extensively by bouncing back and forth between makerspaces and research labs. Each side has a phenomenal amount they can learn from each other. We aim to formally bring them together with AMRI.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<a href="http://www.hoektronics.com/" target="_blank">Zach "Hoeken" Smith</a>, co-founder of <a href="http://www.makerbot.com/" target="_blank">MakerBot</a> and a RepRap Core Developer, has agreed to serve on the advisory board. <a href="http://prusaresearch.com/" target="_blank">Josef Prusa</a>, another RepRap Core Developer, will also be available in person towards the end of August to help provide additional guidance. We are still framing things. Things are in flux. This is a good thing. We are open to constructive criticism.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As part of the mission of AMRI Rice, the Fellows will also take part in a 4-day Advances in Tissue Engineering Short Course where they will receive a 32-hr crash-course in all the very latest in tissue engineering research from thought leaders from around the world. <a href="http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~mikosgrp/pages/ATE/2013/course_features.htm" target="_blank">This ATE short course is described here</a>.</blockquote>
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<b>Within their research project, do AMRI Fellows have specific goals they're trying to achieve within that timeframe?</b> </blockquote>
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The initial framework is as follows, to be developed jointly by the Mentor and the Fellow: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
1) Each project has an engineering design phase with three components: </blockquote>
<blockquote>
A) Define, Design and Develop -- accurately depicting the design criteria, assessing different designs that fit within budget constraints, and developing a plan of attack to make the equipment </blockquote>
<blockquote>
B) Quantify and Qualify -- What are the equipment specifications? Under what conditions can it operate? With what materials? What are the relevant tolerances that can be expected? Next -- measure them. Were they accurately predicted? How closely did they match up? Are we still on budget target? A redesign may be required depending on how far out of specification the equipment has become. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
C) Document and Deploy -- A key component of any project, and one that too often gets overlooked, is the documentation for that equipment and sufficient details and instruction for others to deploy or repurpose the equipment completely independent. Documentation and deployment will be key components throughout all of AMRI. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
2) If engineering design phase is completed and a working prototype has been made, the remaining time can be used to explore a specific scientific question. For Laser-sintering the focus is on 3D printed carbohydrate glass for vascularized living engineered tissues. For DLP photolithography we will be encapsulating living mammalian cells and assessing their viability. For the bacterial ink-jet printer and the bacterial cell-struder we will be looking at cell-cell interactions and tuning complex multicellular behaviors. Scientific findings take much longer to investigate and verify because of the complexity of working with living cells, but we may get a glimpse of some exciting future directions with the work of these outstanding fellows.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>Will they be given a research lab? What type of equipment will they have access to? </b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
AMRI fellows have access to nearly 1000 sq. ft. in our state of the art BRC research facility at Rice that will be setup for AMRI fellows for August. The fellows will have access to whatever equipment and mentors they need. 3D Printers, electronics and soldering workstations, laser cutters, milling machines, and most importantly, a healthy research budget.</blockquote>
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<b>How can I get involved?</b><br />
<br />
<b>JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION: </b><a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/amririce" target="_blank">Join the mailing list.</a> You can see how some of the projects are shaping up, vet this idea with us, provide feedback.<br />
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<b>DONATE: </b><a href="http://jmil.web.rice.edu/" target="_blank">You can donate tax-deductible funds directly to AMRI through Rice University's 501c3 here.</a> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>STAY TUNED:</b> AMRI final presentations (5 min each) will commence on Friday August 23rd. We hope to broadcast them live and take questions via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" target="_blank">the Internet</a>.</blockquote>
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<br />jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-86640956062815755172013-08-02T12:35:00.000+01:002013-08-02T12:35:28.959+01:00New open source slicer: CuraEngine!<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;">Cura</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"> is the name of a divine figure whose name means "Care" or "Concern""</span></i></blockquote>
Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cura">Wikipedia</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.190340042114258px;"><br /></span>
Ever heard of Cura? Besides a divine figure, it's a 3D printing solution that is meant to be useful and usable to both beginning <i>and</i> advanced 3D printer users. David Braam is full-time developer of Cura, at Ultimaker. We recently released version 13.06, which was a major update. Compared to the previous version it looked... well ...exactly the same. But on the back-end, the engine that generates the toolpath from the mesh-surface model (e.g. the STL or AMF) was replaced by a new engine, written entirely from scratch.<br />
<br />
The short summary is for this initial release:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Faster slicing</b> <br />What took hours now takes seconds. Also, this enabled us to create the following two features.</li>
<li><b>On-the-fly model preparation</b><br />There is no slicing button anymore because it starts processing right-away.</li>
<li><b>Live tweaking of slicing parameters</b><br />Because you see toolpaths re-appear whenever you change a setting, you can quicky find the optimal settings for your print job.</li>
<li><b>Model fixing</b><br />The engine can fix major problem in a model.</li>
<li><b>Multiple materials</b><br />The engine was built from the start with multi-head printing in mind.</li>
<li><b>Cross-platform</b><br />The Engine is written in C++ and released for Linux, Windows & Mac. Compilation on these and other platform should be trivial.</li>
<li><b>Open source</b><br />The license is Affero GPLv3.</li>
</ul>
The main goals for this new engine were to be able to implement innovative features that improve the quality of 3D printed objects, and to create a code structure that encourages further development. An intermediate goal was to release it with the baseline feature set that is common in slicing engines, including the ability to robustly handle many kinds of (problematic) models and generate support structures.<br />
<br />
A nice side effect of the new slicer is that it turns out to be fast, really fast. We decided to do something unconventional: removing the "Prepare for printing" button from Cura's interface entirely. It will just start slice the model in the background (with a low-priority). If you change the layer height or any other setting, it will just restart. If you don't change settings, it may already have finished before you're thinking to save the resulting G-Code to an SD card or print directly through USB. An extra, pretty useful, side-effect is that you can inspect the generated toolpath, change the settings and see the new toolpath preview appear automatically and quickly, without pushing a button.<br />
<br />
Because Cura is developed to work with the Ultimaker and most other RepRap-based designs, we'd like to ask you what you think of the new engine. Also, because, like <a href="http://blog.ultimaker.com/cura-user-manual/">Cura</a> (<a href="https://github.com/daid/Cura">source</a>), the Engine is <a href="https://github.com/Ultimaker/CuraEngine">released</a> under the <a href="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html">Affero GPL version 3</a>, we'd love to see anyone benefit from this new solution and possibly help us improve it further.<br />
<br />
Below is a 45-minute presentation on the Cura release, focusing mostly on the new Cura Engine.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/68961154?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" width="500"></iframe>
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<br />
Below is the interview with David by Andrew of 3DHacker.com:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yMAIsGV-OuA" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />Erik de Bruijnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09433438819279256757noreply@blogger.com9Geldermalsen, The Netherlands51.87945821879827 5.268630981445312551.840251718798271 5.1879499814453123 51.918664718798269 5.3493119814453127tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-81317976675754223242013-07-25T17:04:00.000+01:002013-07-25T17:04:19.107+01:00ShopBot Desktop as a 3D Printer for Sugar GlassHi,
So for Bioengineering research I've been looking for a way to improve precision and reproducibility of each print with a bit less consideration on cost (this is for working with human cells eventually, safety and sterility are more important than cost). The main constraint is I need it to be able to print sugar glass and use my <a href="https://github.com/jmil/BariCUDA">BariCUDA extruder</a>, which means the extruder mount needs to support a few pounds without having any problems.<br />
<br />
Kliment in #reprap suggested I modify a <a href="http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/desktop.htm">ShopBot Desktop</a>, and so that's exactly what we did.
With awesome help from Gordon at ShopBot and Johnny at Ultimachine, we were able to get things going. Also, MAJOR props to Erik Zalm who maintains Marlin firmware for helping us get everything going. NOTE: BARICUDA is now a #define in Marlin so you can turn on/off sugar printing functionality on your RAMBo with a simple switch. Thanks again Erik!<br />
<br />
We took out the brains of the <a href="http://www.shopbottools.com/">ShopBot</a>, left the gecko stepper drivers, replaced the brains with a <a href="https://ultimachine.com/rambo">RAMBo board from Ultimachine</a>. We used the motor ext pins on the RAMBo board that we then sent the step and direction pulses to, and fed them directly into the stepper drivers using a modified 37 pin connector.
My modified Marlin Firmware is available here:
<a href="https://github.com/jmil/Marlin">https://github.com/jmil/Marlin</a>
Here's the setup and some more details in the first video:
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<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JncDHD0WovA?list=UUZWnO__2IFnY5TqZyLIY5GQ" width="560"></iframe>
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The ShopBot is all acme rod for movement, and it can drive the motors very fast because the large motors (NEMA 34?) are held at 48 V. So you don't lose steps. It's still open loop motion control, but it has been awesome.
This RepStrap has been fantastic for sugar printing and it is being used every day in the lab at UPenn.<br />
<br />
Now that I am setting up a new lab at <a href="http://bioengineering.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=4294967635">Rice University in Houston TX</a>, I am very excited to get another one!
Forward SCIENCE!
Did I mention you should contact me if you want to come do a Sabbatical? We need more specialized repraps for Bioengineering. More on that next month. :D<br />
<br />
Here's the final video printing sugar glass on a ShopBot Desktop:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DXTBOyLF95g" width="560"></iframe>jmilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928925747036467102noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-84951834770355369462013-07-24T17:32:00.004+01:002013-07-24T17:35:47.671+01:003D printers shown to emit potentially harmful nanosized particles<br/>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am reposting this out of physorg.com. It appears that we have might have a problem not so much with the outgassing from our printers but from nanoparticles produced by our extruders during the printing process. Those of us who aren't already making arrangements for ventilation should possibly consider doing so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://phys.org/news/2013-07-3d-printers-shown-emit-potentially.html">3D printers shown to emit potentially harmful nanosized particles</a></span></div>
Forrest Higgshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208965471464716174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-86502335850646263872013-07-08T22:53:00.000+01:002013-07-08T22:56:17.141+01:00Your 3D print in the London Science Museum<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="320" id="irc_mi" src="http://viewgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Science-Museum.jpg" style="margin-top: 120px;" width="600" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
The Science Museum in London is producing an exhibition on 3D printing.<br />
<br />
It is intended to feature as part of it's introduction a wall of 3D printed items, of all shapes, sizes, colours and materials.<br />
<br />
To
highlight the open and social aspect of 3D printing the Museum's Rohan Mehra would like to
invite members of the RepRap community to donate an object to this
introductory display.<br />
<br />
Your name would be added to a panel thanking all contributors.<br />
<br />
If you have created a physical 3D printed object you can freely send in, please e-mail Rohan:<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:rohan.mehra@sciencemuseum.org.uk">rohan.mehra@sciencemuseum.org.uk</a><br />
<br />
Rohan Mehra<br />
Exhibition Content Developer<br />
Science Museum<br />
London SW7Adrian Bowyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595509188999219420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12223283.post-63194620432928758572013-07-04T21:19:00.002+01:002013-07-04T21:19:26.489+01:00RepRap Morgan by Quentin Harley wins the Gada Prize!<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="File:DSC0382-682x1024.jpg" border="0" height="599" src="http://reprap.org/mediawiki/images/thumb/f/f9/DSC0382-682x1024.jpg/399px-DSC0382-682x1024.jpg" width="399" /></div>
<br />
I'm delighted to announce that Quentin Harley's <a href="http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap_Morgan">RepRap Morgan</a> design has won the <a href="http://kprize.wordpress.com/prize-specifications/">Uplift Interim Personal Manufacturing Prize</a>, the funding for which was most generously provided by Kartik Gada.<br />
<br />
In Second Place was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDDBavOeqqg">'Simpson' by Nicholas Seward </a>and in Third
Place was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lfONhUdHPo">'3DPrintMi' by Chris Lau</a>.Adrian Bowyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17595509188999219420noreply@blogger.com2