On 2/27/2012 6:15 PM, Ian W. Wright wrote: > Hi Kent, > > No, on this one I'm using the stock Arduino electronics - it > was easier to set up and it works fine. I'm using the Marlin > firmware and Repetier host software on an Ubuntu 11.x box > (with Mono to allow the Repetier to work in the linux > environment). I'm also using Slic3r to post-process the STL > files. On the Arduino Mega 1280 I have a RAMPS 1.2 board > with Pololu drivers running the 5 motors and I'm using a > home-made heated bed and a cooling fan. So far I'm only > printing in PLA as that is all that is readily available in > the UK but its a good hard and robust plastic and is > relatively cheap to buy.
Thanks, Ian. My hardware chain is nearly the same and while I was looking at different software components, they are easy enough to mix-and-match until I get what I like. I figured PLA is best for the scouts both because of its cost and because it's easier to work with. > I started building the printer really just as an experiment > as I have been fascinated with 3d printing for several years > now - in fact, my 4-year old grandson helped build the frame > and is now quite adept at wielding a spanner and turning > nuts in the right direction!! However, I have been very > impressed with what the printer is capable of and I have > used it several times to make jigs and tools for odd jobs. > It sounds like my motivation is similar to yours. I'd been following the rapid prototyping developments for years. Since I knew a lot about 3D CAD, I was asked to kibitz with a group that was experimenting with 3D printing not long before I retired from NIST. Using a service bureau, they got some terrific sintered parts made for an experimental apparatus, based on their SolidWorks models. I was hooked when I saw the result. The cost of the first part was commensurate with the avoided cost of our machinist, the central shop, or an outside bureau turning out the same complicated part on lathes and mills, and the cost for follow-on parts was lower. (Our machinist, by the way, was hugely enthusiastic. He got to learn SolidWorks, got to see how the parts were made, and subsequently got to work with the CNC folks in the central shop. It was a big win for him.) Your experience with your grandson reinforces my opinion. My grandkids range in age from 7 to 11. They've done some simple woodworking with their parents but are still too young, I believe, for metal-cutting machine tools. I think they're ripe for RepRap. They can participate in building the machine, as your grandson has. They can design 3D thingies that the machine can make on its own (and without exceeding their attention span!). As they gain experience they can start thinking of things to make that they can actually use. I want to turn them into makers. Regards, Kent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keep Your Developer Skills Current with LearnDevNow! The most comprehensive online learning library for Microsoft developers is just $99.99! Visual Studio, SharePoint, SQL - plus HTML5, CSS3, MVC3, Metro Style Apps, more. Free future releases when you subscribe now! http://p.sf.net/sfu/learndevnow-d2d _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
