History of Computers - Reprap Project
Gdavies 20:05, 23 August 2011 (CDT)
The RepRap Project is a continuous project based at the University of Bath and around the world, to develop a 3D printer that can print the maximum number of parts for itself as possible for self replication[1][2]. RepRap stands for REPlicating RApid Prototyper.
Contents
Overview
The RepRap Project was started at the University of Bath in 2005 by Dr. Adrian Bowyer, a professor of mechanical engineering. It started as a blog about printing parts for other 3D Printers, where the open source design for RepRap 1.0 named "Darwin" due to the hope of printer evolution. by 2008 more that 100 known copies had been made around the world, and the first child machines started to appear. In 2009 the Rep Rap 2.0 was produced, named "Mendel" continuing the trend of 19th Century Biologist Names. It differed from the Darwin in that it had changeable printer heads, so it could print circuit boards with solder[3]. All RepRaps are designed to print from 3D computer models that you can make on programs like Blender.
Significance
The Significance of the The RepRap Project is that it attempts to cheaply diminish the amount that we rely on factory production for simple goods, just as the printer has given everyone an in home printing press and photography lab. The in house RepRap would be able to make more parts for itself if it broke, woule be able to make useful items, including simple electronic ones, and be able to make more of itself for others[4]. Any 3D printer has the ability to make parts for the RepRap, but that would mean that the non-RepRap 3D printers could not pass one generation, since if they could make more of themselves, then by definition they too would be RepRaps. The fact that the design for the RepRap is open-source means that every printer has only the value of the plastic you use to build it, and the small amount of other metal parts you need that cannot be printed. The cost of a commercial 3D printer is about 20,000 dollars, but a RepRap would cost only 500 dollars to produce, allowing anyone around the world to easily produce their own goods[5]. Because you can make the 3D models that the RepRap uses on your computer, only the size of object that you can print limits your imagination. There are also websites where you can download many interesting printable objects.
References
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project
- ↑ http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RepRap_Project
- ↑ http://vimeo.com/5202148
- ↑ http://vimeo.com/5202148
