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Type Paper
Cite as Citation reference for the source document. 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
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Authors Debbie L. King
Adegboyega Babasola
Joseph Rozario
Joshua M. Pearce
Location Michigan, USA
Status Designed
Prototyped
OKH Manifest Download

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.

Build pages[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Other Versions of Solar Powered 3-D Printers[edit | edit source]

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Keywords photovoltaics, renewable energy, solar energy, 3d printing, distributed manufacturing, appropriate technology
Authors Joshua M. Pearce
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations MOST, MTU
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 152 pages link here
Impact 2,145 page views
Created October 2, 2014 by Joshua M. Pearce
Modified February 28, 2024 by Felipe Schenone
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