Distributed Production Engineering for the 3D Printer
OSE's goal as of 2019 remains that a home workshop can produce 12 quality controlled kits of the OSE 3D printer, in 8 hours of work.
This scenario allows for efficient productivity on a distributed scale: consistent with funding many OSE developers in doing OSE work. This is consistent with OSE's goal of mass creation of right livelihood via open source economic development.
This works with OSE's 2018 revenue model for the small 3D printer - which is designed for an Extreme Manufacturing build with 12 printers completed up to perfect print quality in a one day workshop. This also means that the modular quantity is 12 - so multiples of this can also be done in a conference-scale event of up to 100-200 people (Dunbar's Number) building 100 3D printers in one day. This is also relevent to building Village Campuses on demand in many locations around the world.
The production engineering must be designed such that:
- It is doable comfortable in a single work day. This requires an uncomfortable amount of learning, as each step must be optimized.
- Common tools and equipment is used in production, such that the entry barriers to setting up such production are low. The cost should be $250 or so - to secure a vise, abrasive metal cutoff saw, cordless drill, hack saw, drill bits, grinder, and other tools. Once we can make Open Source Tools, the barriers to entry will be even lower, probably 1/2 the cost even of the tools found at Harbor Freight - or those tools that are Made in China.
- 2 Sigma or 3 Sigma quality control can be achieved on a small scale for complex products. Meaning that for 2 sigma, about 95 of 100 3D printers work perfectly out of the box as received by the customer. Or for 3 sigma, that about 999 work perfectly out of the box.
- Producers contribute to quality control measures, such that the sigma level increases with time.
- Common, off-the-shelf materials are used as much as possible
- Minimum of fabrication is required to produce a working product
- Minimum level of human dexterity is required to produce the product - aiming towards anyone being able to build the product.
- A learning and feedback mechanism is implemented for communication and learning, such as the OSE Forum.
