Fun Facts About Me

I am passionate about development and appropriate design of technology for it's purpose. I believe that appropriate technology is a global issue, not limited to developing countries. Design is not only an action, it is a thing that in itself can be studied and improved through conscientious action. Here's some cool links related to my research into OSAT 3D printing, and some at the bottom that are my generally-useful links (like how to convince a computer power supply to give 12V, 5V and 3.3V).

General 3D Printing Links

Blogs and Interesting Articles, Websites

Pelrun's blog
Forrest Higgs blog on RapMan'ed objects
RepRap blog
Pilot RapMan in schools project
blog with collection of parts deals
Open 3D Printing blog
Mendel construction blog
RapMan construction blog
Pleasant 3D and Mendel blog
Aprons (extra bits around the edge) to reduce warping of big pieces; and plastic power grinders for hoppers; and other good ideas
RepRap Aggregator
borrowing candyfab and combining it with reprap to make a power-sintering machine

CAD Programs (for model generation)

How to Use OpenSCAD to extrude a 2D image into a 3D model
OpenScad tutorial
OpenSCAD teardrop tut
List of programs for CAD/CAM
List of sources for 3D modeling
List of 3D modeling software
Forum post about generating blueprints with dimensions
Forum post - dimensioning
Art of Illusion tutorial
Forum post - CAD programs on linux

Skeinforge and GCODE generation

G-code listing
Skeinforge wiki
Calibrating Skeinforge print settings with tested values for head speed and extruder rate
Script to generate a one-wall object in G-code
Skeinforge fill tips

Cool Print Things (*.STL)

Mechanum Wheels thingi
Whistle with pea inside
Hand
Wind turbine STL for education
Cathedral put-together set
[1]

Useful RapMan Links

Appropedia RapMan Pages

  1. RapMan
  2. Rapman protocol
  3. 3D_Model_to_G-Code_File_for_Rapman

Excellent place to start when you first get your kit
Recovering from a RapMan print crash
Analyzing initial RapMan prints problems (forum)
User submitted RapMan manual notes
Some STL test parts from BFB and dimensions (distance between parallel sides in hexagonal hole are 13mm, 7mm, 6.5mm, round hole diameter's are 8mm, 4mm and 3mm)
Guide to first Rapman steps and settings

"... Then manually extrude about half a meter of filament at the temperature you set in the G-code file. See if the plastic flows as planned, i.e. 5mm/second ... Always extrude at least 30 cm of plastic at high temperature (e.g. 248 for color ABS) before running the file. When we started printing from a "cold" situation without extruding some plastic before hand, no plastic came out at start and then the nozzle would get stuck in some mess... If you plan to print a larger object, e.g. 12cm long, then make the raft temperature higher than 235 or 238 (my standard setting). The plastic will warp more and therefor attempt to rip it off. I don't have any setting yet, but I'd go for a temperature of 240 or higher and a yet fatter raft, e.g. set M108 to S600.0. But don't blame me if you can't get it off the print bed. Play it incrementally :) ..."


Extruder setup instructions

"... Take care with the heater and thermistor wires to ensure they do not touch and that they remain insulated from the support structure. ... The result of not doing this [including insulation ring] would be very difficult starting, the plastic goes soft a long way up the PTFE. This will work the first time but after it has cooled the extended melt zone takes a long time to soften again. If you run the extruder like this it will most likely cause a mechanical failure. ... If its impossible to get a flow by hand feeding, increase your temperature in 5 degC steps until you can. ..."

Wiki troubleshooting page
Printing with overhangs
Post about overhang ability
How to videos for classroom on the file management

Skeinforge

Post about beginning Skeinforge

"now, with regards to printing ... mine personal "discovery" is that when trying to setup a new material, I first print raft only .. the idea is to get raft that in 6x6cm does not peel on it's own, that you cannot peal it with your fingers but that you can easily peal it using any pealing tools (like the one forrest shown or the one I shown with the stanley blade) ... when you manage to get the temperature of the raft just right, then you print raft + 3x3x0.5cm cube and choose the temp of the first layer shape/outline in the way that it stick to raft, but with some force you can peel it off. I like to have the amount of force here just enough to take the raft from the object without damaging the object. ... then you need to figure out the temperature for the rest of the object .. this is "feeling" ... after some time you can tell by looking at it that it is too hot or too cold ... also, different objects, different structure, different size ... there's not "one size fill all" here ... there is cool plugin that can help here but let's save that for the advanced course "

Post about skeinforge beta frontend for rapman
Tony's blog with some skeinforge calibration comments
Detailed discussion of SkeinForge for RapMan
list of Skeinforge Tutorials

Parts

Kapton tape extruder head
Supplier for BFB hotend thermistor, Semitec 204GT-1
Guide to Thermistors
Forum post about fire cement and alternatives
Fire cement mix
Replacement 200k ohm 300C thermistor, HoneyWell 135-204QAG-J01
Short rapman maintenance guide
Alundum cement info

Calibrating

PLA print settings for RapMan
ABS print settings for RapMan
RapMan print settings
Brief notes on calibration
Tony's blog post on calibrating
Script to generate G-Code for a 1-wall object
thingiverse calibration objects
Post on fixing blocked hotends
Post on calibration settings affecting blockages
Post on making skeinforge generate objects with a thick and joined wall
Post about next steps after build

Print bed

Warping; Forum - put a washer under it, thicker bed
Warping; Forum - more screws, washer under it
Heated beds and print chambers

Mendel Links

Appropedia Mendel Links

  1. Reprap Build and Test at Queen's University

Mendel build manual
Toronto RepRap users group
Makerbot tips and tricks
list of needed Mendel projects

RP Parts

Individual Mendel print files
Block/combined Mendel print files
One-sheet mendel file
Mendel parts on google sketchup
Mendel drive pulley replacement by nophead

Electronics

RepRap's beginners guide to electronics
Reprap wiring forum post
CupCake wiring guide
Mendel wiring guide
Mendel cupcake motherboard guide
Forum post about using ethernet cables vs removing them
Forum post about power supply
trouble shooting makerbot electronics
Testing electronics guide
Thermistor info
Post looking for thermistor table help
Temp sensor info

Advanced/DEV

http://reprap.org/wiki/ExtruderIO

Wikis and Forums

BitsFromBytes (RapMan) Wiki member
BitsFromBytes (RapMan) Forum member
RepRap Wiki member
RepRap Forum member
Thingiverse member

Electronics

General knowledge of electronics connectors
AWG current rating chart
How to connect an ATX power supply
Squidbee open source networking hardware/software
GPS module for Squidbee
All about serial protocols, and a bit about benefits of twisted cable
MIT FabLabs hardware description and code

Software and Code Tools

unfold 3D objects to 2D planes using SketchUp
Using blender to join multiple STL files

Development

Database of development projects
Practical Action
Online library

Wiki Creation and Adminning... is admin a verb? :)

tutorial on adding another wiki to a present MediaWiki install
info on adding another wiki to a present MediaWiki install
info on setting up a wikifamily
Tutorial on how to start a wiki

Other

Forum post about OS
Microsoft screenshot legal permissions
APA reference style guide
solar hours and sunlight (no weather)
QAS_tasks#Christine

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