Friday, February 15, 2008
Software Outside The Box (Updated)
One of the frustrating things about developing the RepRap is the need to focus on making it actually replicate. I've had a few great ideas about RepRap pass me by for this reason, so I thought I'd better document them.
1. Make it print braille. In theory, easy. In practice, it needs someone to convert braille into STL (mistakenly called SVG earlier by torpid author).
2. A spooling device driver for the RepRap GUI. If we can produce pre-processed files, a much simpler production program is needed. This would allow RepRap to be driven by primitive controllers, PDAs and the OLPC.
3. A Logo turtle driver for RepRap. Logo is well understood in the educational sector, and runs on the OLPC. It would enable novel fabrication techniques to be developed by the young and inquisitive.
Pick it up and run with it, folks.
Vik :v)
1. Make it print braille. In theory, easy. In practice, it needs someone to convert braille into STL (mistakenly called SVG earlier by torpid author).
2. A spooling device driver for the RepRap GUI. If we can produce pre-processed files, a much simpler production program is needed. This would allow RepRap to be driven by primitive controllers, PDAs and the OLPC.
3. A Logo turtle driver for RepRap. Logo is well understood in the educational sector, and runs on the OLPC. It would enable novel fabrication techniques to be developed by the young and inquisitive.
Pick it up and run with it, folks.
Vik :v)
Labels: braille, logo, reprap, stl, turtle
Friday, February 08, 2008
Back from Mel8ourne
Being allowed to present RepRap at LinuxConf 2008 was wonderful, and thanks to all for the encouragement I got that really belongs with the RepRap team. So many new ideas, and very little time spent on repairs all considering.
One that stood out was the idea of using RepRap to print braille, and to make relief maps with textured surfaces to assist the blind.
I contacted the OLPC project to see if they would cooperate on ensuring an OLPC can drive the RepRap. Currently our software won't fit, and the OLPC is essentially python-driven so a re-write or novel way of printing the CAD files might well be necessary as things stand.
Finally, I've been porting Toby Borland's plywood RepRap files to Ponoko's upload format and I think I've got something that should print. Whether one can actually assemble what comes out remains to be seen. The parts cost for RP'd parts, gears & base is in the region of USD$350 and you can download the source. I say again, it's not quite perfected yet.
My Darwin has been chugging along while I work, having a little difficulty with the Z axis after its return from Oz. Perhaps I was just lucky before, but now the Z axis rubs on parts of the base. Being me, I've bashed holes to allow clearance for the nuts.
Here are three Y bearing housings, recently printed. One is marked with a break and is dud, the other two were printed after Adrian's recent accidental sqrt() bugfix. I now have 3 of them, and have manufactured bearings. Bearings look a little short on infill - OK, very short - but seem functional. I've just done another corner bracket (3 to go) and the next part is: Replacement Y axis flag.
Vik :v)
One that stood out was the idea of using RepRap to print braille, and to make relief maps with textured surfaces to assist the blind.
I contacted the OLPC project to see if they would cooperate on ensuring an OLPC can drive the RepRap. Currently our software won't fit, and the OLPC is essentially python-driven so a re-write or novel way of printing the CAD files might well be necessary as things stand.
Finally, I've been porting Toby Borland's plywood RepRap files to Ponoko's upload format and I think I've got something that should print. Whether one can actually assemble what comes out remains to be seen. The parts cost for RP'd parts, gears & base is in the region of USD$350 and you can download the source. I say again, it's not quite perfected yet.
My Darwin has been chugging along while I work, having a little difficulty with the Z axis after its return from Oz. Perhaps I was just lucky before, but now the Z axis rubs on parts of the base. Being me, I've bashed holes to allow clearance for the nuts.Here are three Y bearing housings, recently printed. One is marked with a break and is dud, the other two were printed after Adrian's recent accidental sqrt() bugfix. I now have 3 of them, and have manufactured bearings. Bearings look a little short on infill - OK, very short - but seem functional. I've just done another corner bracket (3 to go) and the next part is: Replacement Y axis flag.
Vik :v)
Labels: braille, lca, linuxconf, olpc, ponoko, reprap
