New Reprapper

[Spencer Bliven]

Hello,

I'm currently trying to buy hardware for my first reprap, and found this group on the forum. It looks like a fun group of makers–I look forward to the next meeting!

I was wondering if anyone had advice on local dealers for hardware or electronics? I can always find things online, but sometimes it's nicer to buy things locally so you can see what you're getting. In particular, would anyone in the group be interested in selling a set of printed prusa parts? I'd rather deal with friendly face than a random ebay dealer, and maybe get some advice while I'm at it.

Cheers,
Spencer

[John Ecker]

You may be able to get parts from Jeremie Santos. I gave him parts and now he's printing wonderfully. You can make your own gen7 electronics. The nuts and bolts can be bought from Marshall's hardware in Miramar.

[Jeremie Santos]

Hi Spencer,
I can certain print you the parts for a Prusa.
Send me an email and we can talk business.
-Jeremie

[Spencer Bliven]

Thanks a lot! I currently have the electronics prototyped on a breadboard. I was thinking of making a Gen7 after I get the printer mostly working, but etching is a bit intimidating so I'm putting it off.

-Spencer

[Richard Rouse]

Hi Spencer,

I use ultimachine RAMPS and make mendelmax style repstraps ... but
design is customizable based on configuration.

If you are curious I run a biotech reprap lab (www.htsresources.com)
... its moved to sorrento valley. We build various modules for
scientific stuff.

The shop is at oneworldlab.com we mostly focus on selling small
antibody aliquots but play around (alot) with reprap to handle samples
at this small volume scale.

I kind of think prusa is not work making since there are so many other
configurations now.

Anyway if you want to see one in action you are welcome to stop by anytime.

regards,
Richard

--
Richard Rouse
HTS Resources, LLC.
6450 Lusk Blvd #E103
San Diego CA 92121
619-846-8291
rjdr...@htsresources.com
www.htsresources.com

[Spencer Bliven]

Richard,

Thanks for the offer! I may take you up on that someday when I can arrange for a car. It's always fun to see bio applications for repraps (I'm a bioinformatics grad at UCSD). Have you seen any of Russell Neches' thesis work? He uses custom-printed 96-well plates for metagenomic sequencing. He also has some really cool arduino and open-hardware hacks as part of his thesis. My second-favorite bioreprap is the Baricuda sugar extruder, which they used to engineer vascular networks in artificial tissues.

I'm surprised to hear a strong statement like "not worth making" applied to the prusa. What do you feel are the principle drawbacks to the prusa? Build volume? Accuracy? Does using aluminum extrusions instead of threaded rod really make such a big difference?

Cheers,
Spencer

[Richard Rouse]

Everyone is different. Prusa is great but you are limited by scaling
... you spend all this time making it then you have it and you're like
it would be cooler .. if so I had made a couple of prusas only to take
the apart to make something else. So aluminum extruders are the way to
go for me. But I need to be flexible for adapting to various customers
,etc .

It depends on what you want to do I guess.

Richard

[Spencer Bliven]

Taking it apart and making it cooler seems like the whole point of open hardware. But I don't have to print on a deadline for customers, so I guess that gives you a different perspective. For now I think I'll go with the best documented machine, which is the standard prusa.

-Spencer

[Richard Rouse]

well I guess you can think this way but if the design not as good then
... what good is the documentation.

anyway bukobot is opening a store later this month in la for 3d
printing that design is pretty nice:
http://deezmaker.com/

[Eric Y.]

I recently did a lot of research on the various machines out there and I have to agree with Richard that the design of the Prusa seems, IMHO, not as thought out as a number of the newer designs. Not that it's bad - it's just not as evolved. I'm new to RepRap so bear that in mind when evaluating my opinion, but I am a Mechinical Engineer who has been designing machines for 7 years now, so I have a fair sense the quality of a design if I look at it with some thoughtfulness. That's what I did when researching machines for myself, and in the end there were two that really stuck out to me. Keep in mind I don't know for sure that I covered all the machines out there in my searching. 

Tantillus: 

http://www.tantillus.org/Home.html 

http://forums.reprap.org/list.php?279 

B9 Creator: 

http://b9creator.com/ 

I was looking for high resolution at a low cost, and I ended up going with the Tantillus. So far it's just blown me away - much better than the $30,000 FDM machine I used to have at work, in terms of surface quality and tolerances. And the support from the designer (Brad aka Sublime) is just amazing - he is extremely knowledgeable about 3D printing and seems to truly care about creating a high quality open-source product.  

-Eric

[Eric Y.]

Haha almost forgot to answer your original question - I've already started printing a set of the printed parts for a Tantillus machine (I figured I'd either build another one for myself or sell the parts to someone who wanted them), so if you're interested let me know. 

I second Marshall's for hardware. I'm not much of an electronics guy, but the best place I know of for components is Avenue Electronics on University Ave. in the City Heights area. 

[Richard Rouse]

thanks eric for heads up about electronics store. I would like to see
that machine ...don't know if the group meets up at makerplace but
give a shout out if you ever intend to bring it I will try to stop by

Richard

[Eric Y.]

Richard - I really don't know much at all about this group and if/where it meets, but I'd be willing to meet up and talk shop sometime if you like. Your business sounds very interesting to me and I'd love to come by some day and bring the Tantillus along, if you like. 

Looking at your website made me think of this 'chemical printer' (for lack of a better term) and I figured it might be something that would interest you if you haven't seen it already: http://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/research.php?t=3D%20Printing

[Spencer Bliven]

Eric,

Whoa, I hadn't see the B9 before. Resin curing results in some amazing products! I deal with protein structures at work, and am always impressed when someone has one professionally printed using powder-based printers. I hadn't seen any DIY versions. I might be interested once they release the source files.

Have you felt restricted by the small build envelope of the Tantillus? 100^3 is smaller than even the huxley.

-Spencer

[Richard Rouse]

Eric,

Thanks for the link .. yes we do this stuff and its very much the
focal part of our business ... making various random science gadgets.

Please stop by anytime. We have 2 reprappers in the lab right now but
mostly just making testing and making again.

Normally we are there everyday 9to5. I can do later if you have a better time.

I guess San Diego is sort of less developed as a reprap community
compared to other places, but we had meetings for a while I thought
people would meet up at makerplace. Anyway if there is a shin dig at
makerplace (like on Saturdays wasnt that the day?), I am happy to
bring over a system.

Our lab is pretty fun, I still use the system that the this group
started building when we had a meeting at my lab when it was at UCSD
Hillcrest. That was great fun but when we tried to have the meeting
again ... no one showed up ... I guess they weren't into it, but this
was before makerplace thing started.

If there as a general interest on behalf the group ... then I would
prefer going to Makerplace. But you just want to talk shop compare
systems, then by all means stop by anytime. That would be awesome.

regards,
Richard

[Richard Rouse]

Spencer,

Are you talking about something like this:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:27794

Richard

[Eric Y.]

Yeah that B9 printer is just amazing (as is it's creator - Michael Joyce) and it came out of the work done by this yahoo group that's been around for a while:  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/diy_3d_printing_and_fabrication/

I don't know a whole lot about the powder printers, but there is this group of folks who buy old Zcorp powder machines off Ebay and make home brew powder recipes: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/zcorp402/

Another interesting SLA style machine that I know nothing about, but that seems very nice: http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Laser-3D-Printer-Stereolithography-at-Ho/

The Tantillus build volume is a definite limitation. The creator (Sublime) is currently working on a 100x200x100 version (I've actually helped with the CAD modeling for this larger version Tantillus and it seems not too far off from being ready, though there is one issue with the build platform constraints that still needs surmounting). Personally most of my parts fit within the 100^3 area and if I need something larger then creating a butt-joint or dovetail joint in the CAD model and then gluing multiple parts together seems to work very well as long the joints are properly designed with lots of surface area contact and can distribute any stresses adequately. If you don't need such high resolution it may not be the best choice for you. Also I have heard that there are people out there who have fine-tuned other RepRap printers to produce comparable resolution to the Tantillus - I just am under the impression that it's inherently more difficult to get them to that high-resolution point and to keep them in tune once they're there. I'm not very knowledgeable about this though so maybe someone else can chime in if I'm wrong.

[Eric Y.]

Okay well maybe people will pipe up in this thread if there's an interest in meeting at a Makerplace? You can count me in. Otherwise I'll drop by your lab some time. 

[John Ecker]

If I was just starting of I would go with either the rostock - delta printer or the RepRap pro mendel which has a lot of room for upgrades and is under $900

[Richard Rouse]

My shop offers 3 different kinds of dispensing techniques for powders:

1. Pneumatic (using a air tank/vacuum and different size nozzles)
2. Microcontact (PDMS or agarose stamps)
3. Piezoelectric using combined syringe pump

Of course they can be put on a repstrap system which we build or you
can build whatever.

Richard

[Richard Rouse]

I've already printed the rostock parts but bagged the project, if
anyone wants to try building it.



On Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 8:35 PM, Richard Rouse

[Rob]

I am sure thirsty for a cup of coffee and
to see some familiar faces. 
I will try to be at the coffee shop in Normal Heights
9:30 or 10:00 Sat morning on the chance  some of you will turn up. 
I have printed on the pro ABS printer at MakerPlace.
It is basically  push button  from  an STL file.
I  got good results at .010 layer resolution.
If anyone is interested I would be happy to discuss
trying their  designs there.    Cost is high  $6/cu in.
There is idol talk of their having a RepRap level machine
too.   And they could probably use a teacher for that.
Also of interest there is a CNC mill. 
There are just starting to get experience with it.

MakerPlace is expensive. I have been in Santa Fe and  I am currently
on leave.   But I have some things I need to do and
will be starting my membership again.  

Rob Fryer
858 775-4463
medi...@aol.com

[Dan Zatta]

Hi Guys,

I have been working on a Prusa off and on for a while now. I haven't
gotten it up and running yet though. I'm a mechanical engineer, but I
don't have much knowledge related to electronics and software. I
think it's a really interesting project and it would be great to meet
some people with similiar interests.

Would you mind telling me the address of the coffee shop?

Thanks,

Dan

[Rob]

Hi Dan, 

Place I have in mind is

Lestats coffee shop on Adams in the Normal Heights
near the sign.

I have no idea if anyone will show up, but the two of us.
Coffee is good tho. 

If you are a mechanical engineer, do not miss a chance
to see what Richard Rouse is up to.

Rob

[Eric Y.]

I've got somewhat tentative plans tomorrow morning and if they fall through I'll show up at Lestat's.

[Richard Rouse]

I can't do the coffee thing at Lestat's but if the show could move the
makerplace then I would go.

Alternatively, we hosting a talk using Algae to grow various types of
proteins later this month:
http://oneworldlab.com/about-one-world-lab/news/2012/09/27/algae-revolution-in-protein-therapeutics/

If anyone is interested please tell me if you are coming since there
is free lunch have sort of accounted for my many folks would show up.

And if there is interest I could arrange a type of monthly Reprap
meeting in Sorrento Valley.

Richard

[Dan Zatta]

I'm definitely interested in a monthly Reprap meeting. I work in
Sorrento Valley, so the location is great for me.

I am not a member at makerplace, can I still meet there? Either
location works for me though.

- Dan

[Richard Rouse]

I can prepare a sign up list ... if there are enough interested people
we can coordinate a time/space. If not then there's always the algae
meeting. Weekends are actually more difficult for me so I prefer
weekdays.

[Richard Rouse]

here is the meeting at sorrento valley.
http://www.facebook.com/events/276210775822239/


If interested please try to say that you are coming

Richard

On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 5:47 PM, Richard Rouse

[Rob]

Sat morning
Unless something better turns up
I expect to Coffee up at
Lesats Coffee Shop in Normal Heights   9:30 or 10:00. 
I hope to wear my green Lazy Lizard baseball hat
maybe a red shirt and look a little lost.
And then eventually cruise by MakerPlace
on Morena Blvd   to see what their status is.   Power was out there
and they were closed this Fri afternoon.
I have some MakerPlace printed parts to show. 
I have given most of them away but my sample flying ring
turned out very well. 
I would
be happy to hear how everyone else is doing. 

At MakerPlace,
I need to check on status of Dimension 1200 plastic printer,
their CNC mill and their promised MakerGear or equ  RepRap style
plastic printer. 
Their laser cutters and woodworking stuff looks first rate. 

MakerPlace is pretty mercenary so I may not get past the lobby
unless the people responsible for the machines I want are
available.   That would be Michael or Steve. 
Still it is worth seeing and  for some things they
have good equipment for less than you could buy or maintain. 

Anyone is welcome to tag along.

Rob

[Eric Y.]

I'm interested in your meetup Richard, though I may be out of town next weekend. What time are you planning? (the Facebook invite doesn't show a time)

[Richard Rouse]

This is the meeting link:
http://oneworldlab.com/about-one-world-lab/news/2012/09/27/algae-revolution-in-protein-therapeutics/

I can change it to another time if there is like more then 10 people
interested. That is why I need a head count.

If there is less then 10 ... which I expect then just piggy back on
this algae meeting.

Its a lunch time so get a free lunch :) why not?

Richard

[Dan Zatta]

I'll see you there.  I look forward to meeting you and anyone else in the group.

[Dan Zatta]

Hi Richard,

You can count me in. If there's not a large enough head count, then I'll come by to piggy back on the algae meeting.

Thanks,

Dan

[Richard Rouse]

Dan,

It would be good to tally up on that facebook page. At this point we
have one maybe ...:
http://www.facebook.com/events/276210775822239/

I called Makerplace today to ask if they would be interested in doing
a saturday shindig. The receptionist answered and said they are but
would have the founder guys call me. I am not sure if they will call
me back. Maybe its an issue of getting critical mass first before
going over there.

Richard

[John Ecker]

I was a member of Makerplace before I left for a while. Makerplace was
open to the idea of us using the conference room one Saturday a month
to meet and recruit new members. I, personally, like meeting at the
Lesat's Coffee House, it has a cool vibe and of course the coffee is
good. I'm away for now, but I am happy to see the activity in the
group.

If someone wants access to the Maker Space SD facebook page just let
me know through your current fb account and I can give you
permissions. Also, I think we still have a site. www.makerspacesd.org.
Gavan bought the url and it's ours to work on.

Last, I have the MSSD twitter account. I can turn that over to someone
if they want to use it to organize events.

Let me know guys, see you in 2013.

John

[Dan Zatta]

Hi Richard,

Unfortunately I am one of the few people that doesn't use Facebook. Makerplace sounds like the best place to meet up, if there's interest. Regardless, I'll meet up wherever it's most convenient. Thanks for taking the initiative to inquire at Makerplace.

- Dan

[Richard Rouse]

Dan,

Makerplace folks didnt get back. I think if someone who is paying
attention to this forum has an account with them maybe they could ask.

Makerplace is amazing but I am pretty busy with my own equipment to
justify getting an account,, presently. And that place is so busy that
they probably couldnt be bothered with this small group of non paying
customers.

I do agree though I would much prefer to hangout there.

If anyone is bored maybe they could call and ask ... if more then one
requests maybe they would oblige.

Richard

[Spencer Bliven]

Hey Richard,

I should be able to make the meeting. I'm looking forward to meeting you all. The algae talk sounds interesting, so piggy backing on that is fine. I'm a bit confused about the date. Facebook suggests next Sat (9/22), but the flyer says Thurs 9/27. Either should work for me. Should I RSVP to the one world lab email, or is it enough to RSVP to you?

-Spencer

[Richard Rouse]

Yes ... thanks Spencer its the 27th sorry about mix up.

Richard

[Eric Y.]

Oh nice, I'm glad you brought this up Spencer. I was thinking it was the 22nd and wasn't sure I could make that, but the 27th is perfect.

Any word on what type of printer you're going to go with? I was reading up a bit on the Rostock yesterday and it seems like a really killer machine, especially given the low price and large build area. 

[Jason Benesch]

Hey Guys,

I've had a membership to MakerPlace since it's inception and am fairly
friendly with the owners Mike and Brian. I know they would be open to
idea of us meeting in one of their conference rooms once a month (I
actually found this group because Mike mentioned it to me). They are
very friendly and approachable guys, I am just not sure how effective
they are at calling people back ;) Especially when the calling back
revolves around giving away free meeting space...

If we can come up with a good day/time that we would like to meet and
probably an agenda, I can drive down there and make sure we can get a
conference room.

On the other hand, coffee shops work just as well...

Thanks,
Jason

--
Thanks,
Jason

Have you checked out our Latest Portfolio on Pinterest?

[Spencer Bliven]

Hey,

Does MakerPlace offer advantages as a meeting place for non-members? Like, would it be easier to set up a printer there (they don't have their own, right) as opposed to, say, a meeting room at the library (assuming such are free). Obviously the maker atmosphere is a bonus, but anything else? I'm just curious, since MakerPlace seems to keep coming up in discussion.

I've decided to go with a prusa. It's not the sexiest machine out there, but it has a large community and its set-up is well documented. Debugging delta coordinate motions seems intimidating to me.

That said, I'm still hung up on the details. I keep debating between (1) building a completely vanilla prusa, then printing upgrades later, and (2) building the prusa I want right away (accessible extruder, herringbone gears, belt tensioners, etc). The first one seems pretty safe, although there will always be a bit of jury-rigging with DIY. The second approach has more possibilities for incompatible parts, poor designs, etc, but could give me better prints from the get-go and save time in the end. Which philosophy would you guys recommend?

-Spencer