Also seconding this proposal so we can have discussion about it. Still needs a third, I guess.
On Sunday, March 30, 2014 13:06:59 Omar Rassi wrote: > The Idea: > > The grant from the Knight Foundation was given to help advance our > charitable activities. The 3D printer has been available for public use > since we got it and there is much more that we can do to improve the > experience and enhance guest visits. > > What is needed? > > Currently there are some minor deficiencies with the Prusa as it is right > now. > > > - Lack of a stable fan. > - Can be resolved by printing an appropriate mount for the tiny fan > we have now and making it a permanent fixture. > - Lack of variable filament types. > - Easily resolved by asking our contacts from the last acquisition of > filament for different types of filament. > - A plastic portion of the nozzle assembly is cracked (I think its the > carriage assembly). > - Can be resolved by printing a new carriage assembly from stronger > filament material. > - The current software in use is not stable and the settings from the > Mac Mini that was in use before have not been imported. > - I will resolve this by the end April by exporting the settings from > the Mini, burning the file to CD and placing it at the 3D printer cart > (someone more familiar with repetier host can import those > settings, I am a > 3D printer n00b). > - I will also dual boot Windows and Fedora on the computer with a > shared exFat partition to store the 3D printer software > settings, this way > both OSes can share the same settings. > > What is wanted? > > I would like to add a grinder to and filament extruder so that bad prints > can get quickly recycled. I found the filastruder > kit<http://www.filastruder.com/products/filastruder-kit> $300 > and the filabot <http://www.filabot.com/> $900. The filabot is more > expensive but it comes completed and seems like it could be sturdier in the > long run. The filastruder is much less expensive but it is a DIY kit which > is not exactly a downside for us :) and looks more vulnerable to accidental > damage. > > The filament extruder takes pellets, not pieces, so bad prints need to be > ground up. I found a plastic grinder by > filabot<http://www.filabot.com/collections/filabot-core/filabot-reclaimer> > costing > $450. > > Lastly, adding a 3D scanner would allow people to bring in their own things > and make a 3D model of it. Then edits can made, it can be enlarged, shrunk, > altered, or just copied in plastic monocolor glory. Here is Makerbot's > digitizer <http://store.makerbot.com/digitizer> for $800. > > These additions to the 3D printer would cost between $1,550 to $2,150. That > is %10.3 to %14.3 of the grant. > > How does this benefit the space? > > Since we got the 3D printer, every day that I have spent more than a few > hours at Synhak during regular open hours, someone has come by saying, "I > heard you guys have a 3D printer." Its a very popular concept that is > making news everywhere that one is set up. Synhak's printer has become a > centerpiece to our space that gets a lot of attention whenever people > visit. Sort of a "come for the 3D printer, stay for all the other > possibilities" thing. By increasing its abilities, hackers can enjoy more > prototyping options, and will generate greater interest for Synhak and the > hacking community. The improvements will also stand as a small example of > what can be done with more grant funding. > > I invite discussion on this idea, please suggest changes, negatives, > positives, thoughts. I am only one person with limited time so if anyone > knows of other options or alternatives to what I listed, please suggest it! > > Thank you, > > Omar
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