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* [https://localmotors.com/blog/post/solar-powered-3d-printers-bring-sustainable-development-to-impoverished-communities/1972/ Solar-powered 3D printers bring sustainable development to impoverished communities] - Local Motors
* [https://localmotors.com/blog/post/solar-powered-3d-printers-bring-sustainable-development-to-impoverished-communities/1972/ Solar-powered 3D printers bring sustainable development to impoverished communities] - Local Motors
* [http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-revolution-will-be-customized-and-recycled-and-solar-powered/ The Revolution Will Be Customized (and Recycled and Solar-Powered)] - MIT-Sloan Management Review  
* [http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-revolution-will-be-customized-and-recycled-and-solar-powered/ The Revolution Will Be Customized (and Recycled and Solar-Powered)] - MIT-Sloan Management Review  
* [http://www.surfolks.com/interesting-facts-about-solar-powered-printers/ INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SOLAR-POWERED PRINTERS] - Surfolks


[[Category:MOST completed projects and publications]]
[[Category:MOST completed projects and publications]]

Revision as of 11:49, 27 February 2017

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Source

What could you print with it?


Abstract

Pvreprap2.png

The release of the open source 3-D printer known as the RepRap (a self-Replicating Rapid prototyper) resulted in the potential for distributed manufacturing of products for significantly lower costs than conventional manufacturing. This development, coupled with open source-appropriate technology (OSAT), has enabled the opportunity for 3-D printers to be used for sustainable development. In this context, OSAT provides the opportunity to modify and improve the physical designs of their printers and desired digitally-shared objects. However, these 3-D printers require electricity while more than a billion people still lack electricity. To enable the utilization of RepRaps in off-grid communities, solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered mobile systems have been developed, but recent improvements in novel delta-style 3-D printer designs allows for reduced costs and improved performance. This study builds on these innovations to develop and experimentally validate a mobile solar-PV-powered delta 3-D printer system. It is designed to run the RepRap 3-D printer regardless of solar flux. The electrical system design is tested outdoors for operating conditions: (1) PV charging battery and running 3-D printer; (2) printing under low insolation; (3) battery powering the 3-D printer alone; (4) PV charging the battery only; and (5) battery fully charged with PV-powered 3-D printing. The results show the system performed as required under all conditions providing feasibility for adoption in off-grid rural communities. 3-D printers powered by affordable mobile PV solar systems have a great potential to reduce poverty through employment creation, as well as ensuring a constant supply of scarce products for isolated communities.

Keywords

Appropriate Technology; Distributed Manufacturing; Open Source Hardware; Photovoltaic; Solar Energy; 3D Printing; OSAT; off grid

Presentation

Other Versions of Solar Powered 3-D Printers

See Also

In the News

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