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This page is part of an international project to use RepRap 3-D printing to make OSAT for sustainable development. Learn 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? - Start here! • Delta Build Overview:MOST • Athena Build Overview • MOST metal 3-D printer • Humanitarian Crisis Response 3-D Printer


Winner of a the Gigabot social good contest

Open source 3-D printing of OSAT is gaining traction as groups like Re:3D (makers of the Gigabot) have sponsored contests to encourage designers to think about using 3D printers for social good, Michigan Tech sponsored the 3D printers for peace contest, the Plastic Bank, Techfortrade and the Ethical Filament Foundation are developing a new social economy for recycled 3D printer filament and Tekla Lab sponsored a contest to make open source lab equipment.

Do you have a great idea for a open-source appropriate technology that could be 3-D printed? First check out all the existing designs here. If you can not find it then click the "edit" below and post your idea. If you have an Appropedia account you can tag it with your signature --~~~~

In the Fall every year MTU will be offering a class in open-source 3-D printing. One of the assignments will be to design and prototype OSAT. 50 students use this page for ideas.

Designers if you see a request for an item you would like to work on - you can tag it with your signature --~~~~ as well and leave a message for the requester or collaborators.


To see past results go here

Requests[edit | edit source]

First check out all the existing designs here and on http://www.yeggi.com/.

OSAT needed[edit | edit source]

jchamilt (talk) 10:51, 4 December 2019 (EST)

cost over $10,000. This puts these devices out of reach for smallholder farmers with less than a hundred acres. Our goal is to drive these costs under $1,000 in successive iterations through open source designs and 3D printing. FireAnt will eventually be a 3D printable small-scale multipurpose robotic system to which one could add a variety of accessories for doing tasks around the farm. The first step is to create a rolling chassis and body to house the electronic hardware and power supplies and provide structure for the four wheels that will be driven by electric motors. It is essentially an inner box within an outer box. The outer box provides a way to attach the wheel/electric motor assembly, and store a Li-ion traction battery pack and a microcontroller that takes input from a GPS, gyroscope, and accelerometer and controls the wheel assembly motors. On top of the outer box would be a mounting plate and a mounting pattern that allows other devices such as cameras, LIDAR, robotic arms, etc. to be mounted with openings for the cables that connect these devices to its internal PC. The inner box would house a PC power supply and an internal PC (e.g. Mini-ITX PC) and other electronic equipment that the user may add. The dimensions of the outer box would be 13" W x 20" L x 10" H with a clearance of 2.5" from the ground. A wheel with tire is about 2" W x 8" H. The user should be able to easily remove the inner box to access the contents of the outer box. More details and examples will be provided on request.

  • Latrine/toilet sits or squads for children that can be used in emergency response on top of a latrine pit
  • Water testing kit parts – for example pieces found in the Delagua or Wagtech water testing kit
  • Innovative designs for a new type of Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) bracelet -see: 3-D printing open-source click-MUAC bands for identification of malnutrition -bracelet/band that measures children and classifies them as malnourished which then Action Against Hunger does treatment and prevention work for. The traditional MUAC [9] is graduated and needs to be placed at the exact middle of the left upper arm of the child. The tension of the band is adjusted by the person collecting the data. Often errors with too tight or too loose tape measurements are observed. What we are hoping to develop is a MUAC bracelet that has a standard circumference of 115 mm (the threshold for acute malnutrition in young children). The bracelet would fit on an arm with a circumference of 115 mm or less and would fasten together via a clasp mechanism (to be determined). We are looking at designs that can be produced cheaply, so the less component parts the better. Akhenry (talk) 17:48, 17 November 2015 (PST)

Tools[edit | edit source]

Food processing[edit | edit source]

KIJENZI / HESE PRODUCT LIST[edit | edit source]

For more information contact Dr. Gershenson at hese@psu.edu

Requesting Department: Pharmacy Description: Pharmacists have a large variety of bottles and pill containers and it is not uncommon for them to lose the tops/caps/lids to them. They need a design for standard a cap that is either completely parameterized (and can be easily adjusted before printing) or some sort of novel design that can close any container within a certain range of mouth diameters. Most caps are threaded, but not all.

  • Item: Pill Counter (+ optional spatula) User:BlakePeters 21:06, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

Requesting Department: Pharmacy Description: Small tray that is used by the pharmacist to be able to sort and count pills before dispensing them to a smaller container for the patient to take home. We have already made a design with some positive reviews, however it is not sufficiently durable and is not able to be printed without supports.

Requesting Department: Orthopedics Description: Need a design for a durable, comfortable, and parameterized model for a splint that is able to immobilize a broken/sprained elbow. If the final design requires thermoforming, that is ok, as doctors are familiar with similar processes.

Requesting Department: Orthopedics Description: Need a design for a durable, comfortable, and parameterized model for a splint that is able to immobilize a broken/sprained ankle. If the final design requires thermoforming, that is ok, as doctors are familiar with similar processes. Photos: None

Requesting Department: Orthopedics Description: Need a design for a durable, comfortable, and parameterized model for a splint that is able to immobilize a broken/sprained thumb. If the final design requires thermoforming, that is ok, as doctors are familiar with similar processes.

  • Item: Syrup Pump/dispenser

Requesting Department: Pharmacy Description: Many drugs for children are purchased in large, several gallon containers. In order to dispense drugs into smaller containers for patients to take home, pharmacists currently must carefully pour the medicinal syrups from these containers and often spill. There needs to be a better solution to this, and many doctors have requested a dispenser like those common on hand soaps.

Requesting Department: Orthopedics Description: There is a common request for a temporary device that can be used immobilizing a patient’s neck (after a traffic accident) as they are transported from one facility to another. This is not necessarily the same thing as a neck brace, which is designed for a patient to wear 24/7. NOTE: Due to safety reasons, this device will not see use by Kijenzi anytime soon. However, it is a highly requested Item, and with proper testing/certification, could be extremely useful.

Requesting Department: Laboratory and Pharmacy Descriptions: There is a need for an easy to use mass balance/weighing scales for use in the laboratory and pharmacy. Measurements should be in grams and the measurements be as precise as is possible (we will take as good as we can get). Zeroing feature would also be a bonus.

  • Item: Take-home Pill Dispenser for patients SammyKeller (talk) 20:48, 8 November 2019 (UTC)

Requesting Department: Pharmacy Description: There is a need for a low-cost and quick-to-print container that can be sent home with patients. This container should be able to somehow hold daily pill or pills for up to two weeks at a time.

Requesting Department: Laboratory Description: Need for an easy-to-use, compact, and discreet kit for collecting small fecal samples for laboratory testing. Needless to say, this would be a one-time use product.

  • Item: Speculum Nsplahn (talk) 03:53, 17 November 2019 (UTC)

Requesting Department: Maternal and Reproductive Health Description: This is another highly requested Item by all hospitals. They want a cheap and disposable version of a vaginal speculum, that could be quickly printed. We have one design that we have found online, but it needs to be redone. NOTE: This would be a good project for a predominantly women-led team. While this is an invasive device, and thus won’t be implemented by Kijenzi anytime soon, we have found that, for perhaps obvious reasons, all of the female doctors we have spoken with have a much more nuanced understanding of how the device needs to be improved as compared to male doctors.

Requesting Department: Clinical Description: Classic medical device used for testing reflexes (Typically on the knees). Durability is important.

  • Item: Pipette accessories Smwurst (talk) 22:30, 25 November 2019 (UTC)

Requesting Department: Laboratory Description: Need for pipette tips and holders that can fit with a variety of pipette sizes. The tips commonly crack, in part because they are not properly stored. As tips will be exposed to different chemicals, being conscientious about material selection is also important.

  • Item: One-way valve for blood pressure cuff.

Requesting Department: Clinical Description: Need a one-way valve that allows for air to be pumped into a blood pressure cuff. Required a small (often threaded) release valve so that the medical practitioners can slowly release the air.

Requesting Department: Occupational therapy Description: There is a need for a fully 3D printable Item that allows patients in physical therapy to be able to slowly work on their hand strength. Ideally allows for a resistance against each finger. If resistance is adjustable, that is even better.

  • Item: Mucus Extractor

Requesting Department: Pediatrics Description: This Items will need to be designed for flexible materials. Typical designs are a flexible bulb with a tube that allows for the removal of mucus through suction when compressing the bulb. Needless to say, this Item should also be easy to clean.

Requesting Department: Occupational Therapy Description: This is a commonly requested toy used for patients to begin building their dexterity while in physical therapy. It consists of a set of pins that can be placed into a block or board and /or stacked on top of each other.

  • Item: Goniometer houcke (talk) 10:03, 2 December 2019 (UTC)

Requesting Department: Occupational Therapy Description: Used to measure the angular range of motion of a limb. This includes large limbs (shoulders) and small limbs (fingers). Ideally should be, durable, easy to read, and able to measure a full 360 degrees. We do have some designs for this product, but they need improvement.

Requesting Department: Occupational Therapy Description: Open ended class of several Items that consist of various textures used in physical therapy after nerve damage. Patients need to be able to feel and distinguish different textures without being in pain. Ideally this device should be both low cost, allow for multiple types of use, and quick to print to that it may be taken home by patients.

Requesting Department: Pediatrics Description: This is another device that we have made attempts at, but will ultimately require a new design. There is a need for a consistent and easy way to measure the height of children and infants. It is okay if this device requires components that are not 3D printed, but they should be things that are widely available.

Requesting Department: Operating Theatre Description: There is a need for disposable, strong, and lightweight forceps that can lock shut. Ideally this design can print quickly, and allow for multiple different types of end-grip shapes and textures.

Bicycle parts[edit | edit source]

existing bike hacks

cost of bicycle parts

Reindeer Husbandry Applications[edit | edit source]

* ear-tags for reindeers

  • electric fence components (e.g. insulators)
  • lasso accessory: figure eight pattern or perforated plate called also kielasta in Finnish. The accessory is used to create a noose which is set to be tightened around reindeer antler Joshua (talk) 18:13, 22 October 2015 (PDT)

Education[edit | edit source]

  • Jump rope handles User:aaron.cranford
  • Shape Sorter Set as part of UNICEF Early CHildhood Development Kit Natstormm (talk) 21:10, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
  • Construction blocks as part of UNICEF Early Childhood Development Kit HJFarson (talk) 20:42, 13 November 2019 (UTC)
  • Dominoes as part of the UNICEF Early Childhood Development Kit Griff_car 15:41, 4 November 2019 (CST)

Agriculture/Anthropology[edit | edit source]

Health and Safety[edit | edit source]

Field Ready[edit | edit source]

Labs[edit | edit source]

Other[edit | edit source]

Page data
Authors Svetlana Obydenkova, Joshua M. Pearce
License CC-BY-SA-4.0
What links here 151 pages
Impact Number of visits to this page and its redirects. 3,511
Suggestions Suggestions to improve this page. Click on each one to read more. No main image
Created July 21, 2014 by Joshua M. Pearce
Modified March 2, 2022 by Page script
Cite as Svetlana Obydenkova, Joshua M. Pearce (2014–2022). "Requests for 3-D printable open source appropriate technology". Appropedia. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://www.appropedia.org/w/index.php?title=Requests_for_3-D_printable_open_source_appropriate_technology&oldid=602954"
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