Multicolor RepRap Printing Progresses

After the initial thrill of 3D printing wears off, one begins to look for possible improvements. One of the most sought-after improvements is the ability to print color objects. We don't mean "a" color, we mean "many" colors. Since plastic filament comes in only one color (except for that elusive Tartan filament we were looking for the other day), color printing is kinda difficult. 

 

But there is hope! RepRap team members have been experimenting with methods of mixing differently colored together to create extrusions with unique pigments. 

 

So far they've learned that they need a "stirrer" embedded within the extrusion to ensure a consistent color. Experimentation continues, but eventually they'll nail the process. After that, we suspect color printing will quickly emerge among the 3D printer kit manufacturers. 

 

Via RepRap

The Galileo 3D Printer

There is no shortage of 3D printer kits recently, as it seems everyone is now jumping on the RepRap model to develop improvements of one kind or another. We noticed yet another one today: The Galileo 3D Printer, featured on Instructables and designed by the KentStrapper team. 

 

While the Galileo is essentially a RepRap Prusa model, the improvements focus on "substantial changes" to the XYZ axes that permit both a larger print area and lowered implementation cost. Full instructions and parts lists are available at the Instructables link. 

 

There's more: on their website, the designers say (in Italian) they're now starting yet another 3D printer project called "Project Vertigo".  

 

Via Instructables and KentStrapper

Slic3r Instead of Skeinforge?

You own a RepRap 3D printer and you're preparing a 3D model for printing with Skeinforge, the time-tested, defacto standard for slicing 3D models into printable GCode. All you need to do is wait for the slicing operation to complete.

 

And you're still waiting. 

 

That's the problem with Skeinforge - while it has many features (perhaps too many) and generally produces usable GCode, it just takes forever to run. Hours or even days are required, depending on the complexity of your 3D model and the type of hardware you're running Skeinforge on. 

 

But there's an alternative: Slic3r, software that can accept STL 3D models and rip them into GCode at warp speed, said to be around 100x faster than the now-pokey Skeinforge. Here are some features we found interesting:

 

• Open source software free for use; source code available on GitHub
• Simple operation with easy-to-understand GUI panel
• Multiplatform, Mac/Windows/Linux
• Ongoing development with new releases frequently
• Variety of customizable options

 

Reports say the generated GCode is quite good, although it's such a complicated situation that there are always enhancements necessary (true even with Skeinforge). If you're stuck twiddling your thumbs waiting for Skeinforge to finish, perhaps you should give Slic3r a try. 

 

Via Slic3r and GitHub

The Prusa Air

The standard RepRap 3D printer designs are made to be changed and many inventors have developed modifications to improve them in various ways. One such design is Mecano's Prusa Air, a modification of the standard Mendel design. The otherwise unrelated Prusa design provided the inspiration for the new Prusa Air through its radical efficiencies, hence its mention in the name of this new design. The Air's goals include simplification of making and assembling the parts; reducing costs and making it pretty, all of which are accomplished.

 

The Prusa Air version 2 has some unique features:

 

• Most of the frame is acrylic pieces, simplifying assembly and manufacture as well as opening up the build area significantly
• Slightly increased build volume, exceeding 190x190x100mm depending on the extruder used
• Improved placement of electronics and fasteners

 

While the Prusa has become a very popular design for RepRap makers, we'll see how many pick up the Prusa Air design. 

 

Via 3Ders and Thingiverse

The SUMPOD 3D Printer And Router

Time to look at another inexpensive 3D printer kit seeking funding. This one is called the SUMPOD and it's not just a 3D printer - it's a router as well. 

 

Designed by Richard Sum of the United Kingdom, the project now appears on IndieGoGo looking for USD$5,000 from sponsors until the close date of February 12. As is typical in this type of funding, sponsors can select from several levels ranging from a straight donation of USD$1 to a complete, fully assembled and painted (red, green, blue and white) SUMPOD for USD$1,000. 

 

What makes the SUMPOD unique? Here's what we noticed:

 

• The machine's case is made of MDF, much stronger than typical wood or acrylic
• Linear bearings and steel belts ensure smooth, reliable operation
• An LCD panel displays useful statistics such as current temperature
• A Dremel attachment permits "light routing"

 

We think this approach typifies what's needed going forward on IndieGoGo and Kickstarter: make your project very unique, otherwise it likely won't meet funding goals. Just putting together a basic 3D printer kit isn't going to cut it anymore. 

 

Via IndieGoGo and Sumpod

The RepRap Food

Among the numerous successful and unsuccessful 3D printer kits seeking funding on IndieGoGo and Kickstarter is a rather unusual project: The RepRap Food Printer. 

 

The project goals are to develop a rudimentary food printer based on the trusted RepRap platform. While many food printing experiments have taken place on previous RepRaps and you can even purchase a food extruder attachment from MakerBot, this project will "create a 3D printer which is solely to create edibles." This is unprecedented, as far as we know. 

 

What will make this device a dedicated food printer? How about these features:

 

• Agitator for stirring the print media
• Heated bed for "basic cooking functions"
• Ability to extrude food substances

 

We're hoping project leader Jordan Fry will include some food safe features as well, not the least of which is cleanability. He's seeking USD$2300 to develop the design by February 2nd. For a USD$199 contribution you'll be able to purchase the parts for the food printer at cost when the project completes. 

 

We're also hoping this project survives, since the single most asked question about 3D printing we encounter is "can I print food". Let's make it happen!

 

Via IndieGoGo

Think You Have A Big 3D Printer?

We were contacted by Kalispell, Montana-based The Future Is 3-D after our recent post on build sizes. The post discussed the ultimately not useful statistic of cost per build size. Nevertheless, this small company has been making RepRap Mendel-based 3D printers for over a year and specializes in large build sizes. They're not kidding, either, as these are the largest build envelopes we've seen on anything you could actually buy. 

 

But how big exactly are the build envelopes on The Future Is 3-D's machines? According to  TFI3D chief Jeff Christiana: 

 

We specialize in very large build areas. We have printers shipping that can print an object up to 16 x 16 x 11.5 for a fraction of the price that others are selling. We believe that we are the largest 3D printer with the largest build area available. Our Platforms are all heated, and can print very large parts.

 

For metric readers, that is equivalent to an astonishing 406mm x 406mm x 292mm. Apparently they've been requested to build a 4x4 FOOT (gasp!) build envelope 3D printer as a custom build. 

 

Of course, you may be thinking, the prints must take forever because when you double the axis size, the print volume goes up by a factor of eight. We asked Christiana: 

 

Most of the items are 8+hrs.. It does take time. I have not had a failure of a slip. Right now we are just using standard stepper motors. We might move to servos so they always know where they are in a 3-dimensional space during the print.

 

As we suspected, they recommend printing in PLA to not only avoid warping at that scale, but also because PLA is a lot more eco-friendly.

 

Giant 3D printers, available now for pretty decent prices: a 16x16x11.5 inch model with heated platform, 5 pounds of PLA and a possibly industry unique one-year warranty for only USD$2100! And it's fully assembled! 

 

There's only one problem: they have an 8-10 week lead time due to the stream of orders. But we suspect it might be worth the wait. 

 

Via The Future Is 3-D

RepRap Price Points

Neil Underwood posted a great summary of pricing options for getting your own RepRap 3D printer. His analysis shows three different price levels, ranging from a full-on everything-you'd-possibly-want version for USD$850 to a very basic, just-enough-to-say-you-did-it USD$350 version. There's also a more practical level at USD$550 for a "realistically cheap prusa model". 

 

Be sure to watch the 10 minute video in which Underwood takes us on a detailed tour of each model, showing the compromises, decisions and interesting points along the way. 

 

And of course, if you're not up to building a RepRap yourself, you could consider buying an assembled version, perhaps from BotMill. But it'll cost you more. 

 

Via RepRap