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Mobile Open-Source Solar-Powered 3-D Printers for Distributed Manufacturing in Off-Grid Communities

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Publication data
Type Paper
Title Mobile Open-Source Solar-Powered 3-D Printers for Distributed Manufacturing in Off-Grid Communities
Description
Authors
Year 2014
Language English (en)
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Cite as Debbie L. King, Adegboyega Babasola, Joseph Rozario, and Joshua M. Pearce, "Mobile Open-Source Solar-Powered 3-D Printers for Distributed Manufacturing in Off-Grid Communities," Challenges in Sustainability 2(1), 18-27 (2014). open access
Project data
Type
Authors Debbie L. King
Adegboyega Babasola
Joseph Rozario
Joshua M. Pearce
Location Michigan, USA
Status Designed
Prototyped
Years
OKH Manifest Download
▼Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology Lab
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Manufacturing in areas of the developing world that lack electricity severely restricts the technical sophistication of what is produced. More than a billion people with no access to electricity still have access to some imported higher-technologies; however, these often lack customization and often appropriateness for their community. Open source appropriate technology (OSAT) can over­come this challenge, but one of the key impediments to the more rapid development and distri­bution of OSAT is the lack of means of production beyond a specific technical complexity. This study designs and demonstrates the technical viability of two open-source mobile digital manufacturing facilities powered with solar photovoltaics, and capable of printing customizable OSAT in any com­munity with access to sunlight. The first, designed for com­munity use, such as in schools or maker­spaces, is semi-mobile and capable of nearly continuous 3-D printing using RepRap technology, while also powering multiple computers. The second design, which can be completely packed into a standard suitcase, allows for specialist travel from community to community to provide the ability to custom manufacture OSAT as needed, anywhere. These designs not only bring the possibility of complex manufacturing and replacement part fabrication to isolated rural communities lacking access to the electric grid, but they also offer the opportunity to leap-frog the entire conventional manufacturing supply chain, while radically reducing both the cost and the environmental impact of products for developing communities.

▼This page is part of an international project to use RepRap 3-D printing to make OSAT for sustainable developmentLearn more

Research: Open source 3-D printing of OSAT · RecycleBot · LCA of home recycling · Green Distributed Recycling · Ethical Filament · LCA of distributed manufacturing · RepRap LCA Energy and CO2 · Solar-powered RepRaps · solar powered recyclebot · Feasibility hub · Mechanical testing · RepRap printing protocol: MOST · Lessons learned · MOST RepRap Build · MOST Prusa Build · MOST HS RepRap build · RepRap Print Server

Make me: Want to build a MOST RepRap? · Delta Build Overview:MOST · Athena Build Overview · MOST metal 3-D printer · Humanitarian Crisis Response 3-D Printer

Build pages

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What could you print with it? See: 3D printable appropriate technology designs See Also: Applications of Open Source 3-D Printing on Small Farms

Presentation

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Other Versions of Solar Powered 3-D Printers

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See also

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In the News

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International

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Page data
Keywords Photovoltaics, Renewable energy, Solar energy, 3D printing, Distributed Manufacturing, Appropriate Technology
SDG
Authors
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations MOST, MTU
Language English (en)
Translations Chinese
Related 1 subpages, 155 pages link here
Views 1,620 page views (analytics)
Created October 2, 2014 by Joshua M. Pearce
Last edit February 19, 2026 by Irene Delgado
Cite as J.M.Pearce (2014–2026). "Mobile Open-Source Solar-Powered 3-D Printers for Distributed Manufacturing in Off-Grid Communities". Appropedia. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
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