View source for D3D Event Introduction

Build Yourself. Build Your World.

The Open Source Ecology 3D Printer Construction Set Workshop is an immersion experience where you can build your own 3D printer, in one day. You have the option to build a 3D printer - called D3D - to take home with you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tS2eBIc728

This 3D Printer Construction Set is a set of building blocks that allows you to build a 3D printer of any size – and also – if the parts are enlarged but the same design principles are used - to build other machines including a CNC Torch Table, a CNC Router, and a CNC Laser Cutter.

While there are many different 3D printers out there - and they are becoming low cost and accessible - we felt that they are still complex enough to be beyond the reach of the average builder. To lower the barriers to 3D printing - and to multiaxis CNC machines in general - we decided to design the simplest possible 3D Printer - in the world. '''We have gotten the unique parts count down to about 40 - which is about half that of an average printer.''' Moreover, we are using magnetic connectors to attach the axes, tool head, end stops, power supply, the controller, and even the cable chain - making this system like a Lego set for rapid building of different machines. Our construction set approach allows us to stack, multiply, scale, piggyback, and otherwise reconfigure component for maximum flexibility. Our steel frame is heavy duty, so our system is more than a toy. We are designing a system intended to be scaled for industrial applications - consistent with our work on the Global Village Construction Set.


In this workshop, you will have an option to build 3 different 3D printer sizes: 
*16" frame, 8"x8" print bed (shown in the video)
*12" frame, 8"x8" print bed
*8" frame, 5"x5" print bed

To create a Construction Set – we designed a small set of identical parts that can be reconfigured. The core part is the axis module – with the same axis module used in the x,y, and z directions – which is used to create the x-y-z motion system associated with an automated machine.

UNIVERSAL AXIS VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3xQtt5IZrw

In this workshop, we are using 8 mm rods for the universal axis (about 5/16″) – but the rods/sizes can be enlarged – such as 1″ rods or even 2" rods for heavier duty applications. The same axes as used above can be joined, lengthened, or stacked to build a much larger machine – such as this 4’x8’x1′ CNC Router:

4x8 Torch Table PIC

Note how the basic axis unit and its ability to connect to other axis units allows for a wide range of design variations, putting the ability to design CNC machines within the hands of ordinary people. Depending on the tool head that is used – the machine can have the functionality of the corresponding tool head – whether a 3D printer extruder, a router, a laser cutter, a cutting torch, or many others.

ROUTER PIC

Parts can in principlebe stacked in multiples, as in this 9-headed production 3D Printer shown printing more parts for the axis unit:

HYDRA9 PIC

The beauty lies in an absolute minimum number of parts that are used to build an infinite variety of CNC machines – depending on size, axis configuration, and tool heads. 

This workshop builds upon OSE’s Extreme Manufacturing approach of rapid building with multiple teams working in parallel on modular components. By simplifying the design and streamlining the build with digitally-fabricated, open source parts – people are now able to build a high quality 3D printer in record time at low cost.

We are also developing an open source enterprise model for how to run such workshops anywhere in the world. We are publishing our enterprise model openly, with all supporting information that helps people in a successful startup – without reinventing the wheel.

This workshop is intended for those people who don’t have the time to build a printer themselves – or who don’t think they have the skills to build one – but who are interested in an extremely streamlined and efficient process. The intended audience is also anyone who would consider running Extreme Manufacturing 3D printer workshops as part of their livelihood.

Participants will gain an appreciation for the productivity that happens when we break down the design into clear modules, such that multiple components can be assembled rapidly or in parallel based on clearly defined boundaries. This is an application of OSE’s radical modularity, just like we are applying to the heavy machines of the Global Village Construction Set:

TED TALK

In this one day workshop – the participants will walk away with a basic understanding of how to design and build their own 3D printer – as well as other machine variations – using the OSE 3D Printer Construction Set, including software setup. Individuals who buy the materials package walk out with their own 3D printer. We estimate that the entire build should take 4-8 hours with one person – without requiring technical savvy from the participant.