OSE Proposal Product Ecology

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see Product Ecologies

IV. PRODUCT ECOLOGY

How do the above 16 technologies contribute to a Global Village? They all contribute to the infrastructure and an economic base, while utilizing as many local resources as possible. The productive capacity of the 16 technologies, implied in Fig. 1, is extensive.

Figure 3 shows some of the main proposed physical production relationships and their relationships to natural resources for Factor E Farm in particular. Items in green are generative goods, and items in blue are prosumer goods. Note that the arrow loops indicate self-replicating components: Flex Fab, nursery for generating fruit trees, and self-regenerating sustainable forestry practice.

Figure 3. Generative relationship of select technologies from the 16-technology set, and their relationship to the land of Factor E Farm.

Product ecology is measured in the Ecological Design aspect in Fig. 2. In order to discuss how the 16 technologies fit together, it is useful to return to the previously suggested iconic pattern language for open source technology development, and to update the language for present work. The pattern language icons are shown in Fig. 4.

a. PRODUCT ECOLOGY: OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY PATTERN LANGUAGE

The technological components of interest in the Global Village Construction Set constitute basic building blocks of economies. More complex products and devices may be represented by a collection of icons. We remind the reader that the proposed set is not complete, but sufficient- applicable in a broad range of applications. Other technologies may and should be used where appropriate.

It should be underscored that any community interested in its own self-determination should: (1), have production capacity of the essential components as part of its own infrastructure, or, (2), should have external relations established for providing these technologies without incurring geopolitical compromises. We are talking of basic needs here- and the basics must be provided internally to secure stable society by design.

Figure 4. Iconic pattern language for open source technology development.

Note that not all of the 16 technologies of interest are represented in Fig. 4. This is because some of the 16 are represented by combinations of the above icons. The last 5 icons in Fig. 4 represent the major parts of a flexible fabrication facility.

The difference between the past work and Fig. 3 lies in a few updates that arise from experience gathered since the former report was published. There are 4 main differences.

The first difference is that the new set eliminates the former pulley and the power transmission icons, as well as the electric wheel motor and electric motor (see last footnote) and replaces them with the wheel motor shown in Fig. 4.

Wheel motors are high power, low speed electric motors that may be coupled directly to wheels, or other rotors, for powering vehicles or other electromechanical devices without the need of power transmission. They have no internal power transmission, either - as they are inherently suited to many direct-drive applications by design. The subtlety here is the proposition - known well in progressive vehicle design (such as Hypercars) - that the availability of such wheel motors produces a great simplification in vehicle design. Pulleys, gears, and other power transmission devices - including drive shafts, differentials, clutches, and transmissions - not to mention grease and oil pans - are eliminated for gross simplification in the overall complexity of cars and other electromechanical devices. Moreover, the former electric wheel motor - which was a standard, high speed motor that included gearing in the icon set from 2006 - is eliminated for the same reason, ie, that power transmission has been designed out of the technology set.

The key to this elimination is that advanced electric motor controllers, combined with the new wheel motors (high power, low speed) are able in themselves to produce the necessary dynamic range of speed and power that was formerly achievable only with various forms of mechanical transmission - typically gears and pulleys. Advances in electronics have made the former option obsolete - though the new choice is presently rarely used, due to industry inertia.

The second difference is the elimination of the electrical generator icon, because electrical generators are contained in wheel motors. Wheel motors are electrical motors, and electrical motors operated in reverse (ie., spun externally instead of spun by electricity) function as electrical generators. To eliminate this redundancy, we are eliminating the separate electrical generator icon and replacing it with the wheel motor. This simplifies the set of OS technology icons.

The third difference is the elimination of the 6 hp stationary diesel engine, the 23 hp mobile diesel engines, as well as the steam engine, and replacing them with the boundary layer turbine. Our present research indicates that the boundary layer turbine is a robust, lightweight, efficient, stationary or mobile engine that has the fuel flexibility and application flexibility that makes the former options obsolete. Diesel engines and steam engines are much more complicated to build than the boundary layer turbine, which consists mainly of a shaft with a dozen or so closely-spaced, flat disks acting as propellers for transforming the energy of a working fluid into rotary motion. Since we have verified performance data in the literature, and identified a prototyping firm capable of delivering a working turbine, we decided to pursue it as a short-term feasible item. Steam engines still appear attractive, and are simpler to fabricate than diesel engines, but their low efficiency (approximately 1-8% overall efficiency for a basic system) makes them appear to be an inferior option. Modern gas or diesel engines and standard bladed turbines are avoided due to high complexity.

The fourth difference is the addition of the following icons, which are also components from the 16-technology set: boundary layer turbine, solar concentrators, flash steam generator, plus the tools used in flexible fabrication: CNC Multimachine, XYZ table, metal casting, plastic extrusion, and electronics fabrication.

There are a few minor changes as well. The heat generator now will be made explicit as the Babington burner or other type of fluid fuel burner, and is distinct from the solar concentrators due to the different nature of these two heat sources. One is solar thermonuclear energy, and the other is chemical combustion energy. The heat generator may in principle also be an electric heating element, but it should not include man-made thermonuclear power, for ecological reasons.

Also, the former motor controller icon was renamed as power electronics, which includes the motor controller, and more specifically: battery chargers, DC-AC inverters, DC-DC converters, AC-AC transformers, solar charge controllers, PWM DC motor controllers, and multipole motor controllers. This set of power electronics covers off-grid energy and vehicle propulsion infrastructures.

Last, he fuel icon shall include both fuel alcohol and compressed gas.

b. PRODUCT ECOLOGY: SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION FOR THE 16 TECHNOLOGIES

To simplify the discussion, it is first instructive to represent the 16 technologies with icons. We have already shown the icons for the boundary layer turbine, solar concentrators, Babington burner, flash steam generator, wheel motor, generator (same as wheel motor), plastic extruder, CNC Multimachine, XYZ table, metal casting, and electronics fabrication. Fuel alcohol and compressed wood gas may be shown by the fuel icon. Only the CEB and Sawmill haven't been shown. The simplified CEB icon set, when the machine is powered by an external power source such as hydraulic takeoff from an agricultural tractor - is:

Figure 4a. Icon for a compressed earth block press.

We basically have a structure, with two linear motors (hydraulic cylinders), which move the compression cylinder and hopper, respectively. Compare this to the actual picture of the machine:

The sawmill is:

Figure 4b. Icon for a sawmill.

The sawmill consists of a wheel motor connected to the cutting blade on a rotor. There is also a structural frame, to support the blade, and to hold the log that is being cut. An electric motor controller controls the cutting speed. The propulsion system (engine) of the sawmill has not been shown for clarity. Our present implementation of a sawmill is:

Figure 4c. Present bandsaw mill prototype.

This leaves aluminum extraction from clay. This is too difficult to break down to an icon, as it is a multi-step process.

c. PRODUCT ECOLOGY: INTERACTION OF THE 16 TECHNOLOGIES WITH A LAND-BASED GLOBAL VILLAGE AND WITH THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

The 16 technologies are building blocks for an integrated infrastructure and productive capacity, as implied by Fig. 3. In this process, local resources are used whenever possible. The 5 last technologies - the Fab Lab for the means of fabrication - may be used to fabricate all the other technologies from scratch - including the means of fabrication themselves. This is what is meant by the closed arrow loop in Fig. 3 for Flexible and Digital Fabrication. The Fab Lab is responsible for technological self-replication. The nursery is responsible for plant self-replication - namely fruit trees. Animals are also self-replicating in a land-based facility, and they are a contribution to an integrated ecology. In this sense, the whole package is self-replicating. Combined with the low cost of the various components, and the documentation and training that Factor E Farm aims to generate, the whole package is meant to constitute a highly-replicable instance of a Global Village.

Food and habitat, a working environment, mobility, and energy are all based on the 16 technological building blocks. This was shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, these building blocks are the foundation for a wide range of possible enterprises:

1. Solar turbine CHP systems 2. Turnkey greenhouse systems: This includes glazing extrusion and fabrication of modular greenhouse panels using dimensional lumber and extruded glazing. SolaRoof insulated greenhouse panels are of particular interest. 3. Hybrid car fabrication - turnkey product, kits, and weekend workshops- come and build for yourself in an extended weekend workshop 4. Hybrid electric tractors - turnkey products, kits and weekend workshops 5. Skid loaders 6. Green building design-build operations - including Living Machines and attached greenspaces. Focus is on shell houses, adaptable living space, and potentially non-greenhouse dynamic liquid insulation. 7. Global Village development companies 8. General custom fabrication and prototyping 9. Flexible and digital fabrication facility construction 10. CEB machine production, brick sales 11. Sawmill production, custom sawmilling 12. Fuel gas and fuel alcohol facility development; mobile rental units 13. Rotor fabrication - pumps, vacuum pumps, compressors, boundary layer turbines, wheel motors, generators, others 14. Remote electric power systems 15. Biodiesel production equipment rental 16. Flooded lead acid battery building

Secondary enterprises requiring know-how more than hardware:

17. Orchard, nursery, greenhouse, dried fruit, plant products, freeze-dried fruit powders, and edible landscaping operations 18. Computing - computer building, software installation, networking, data acquisition, machine control

It should be pointed out that a particularly exciting enterprise opportunity arises from automation of fabrication, such as arises from computer numerical control. For example, the sawmill and CEB discussed above are made largely of DfD, bolt-together steel. This lends itself to a fabrication procedure where a CNC XYZ table could cut out all the metal, including bolt holes, for the entire device, in a fraction of the time that it would take by hand. As such, complete sawmill or CEB kits may be fabricated and collected, ready for assembly, on the turn-around time scale of days. If one were to sell such kits, that leaves room for large profit margins while selling the machines at a competitive price. This is indeed a fundraising model that we're considering for funding further open source development.

The digital fabrication production model may be equivalent in production rates to that of any large-scale, high-tech firms. Moreover, by keeping overhead down via open source design, production can occur essentially at the cost of materials. Digital fabrication product may be able to compete with globalization in terms of price itself, for many technological items. Consider mass production slave goods from China. It is foreseeable that digital fabrication has great potential in transcending the negative effects of globalization - such as returning manufacturing jobs from China to the united States. This type of localization program merits serious consideration.

We do not foresee competition from large firms on goods like sawmills or CEBs, simply because we can compete in price. Digital fabrication may prove so effective that we can be cost-competitive even in the face of slave labor, as practiced commonly in global supply chains. Not only can the price be competitive, but the local service, lifetime design, easy maintenance, and open source documentation simply cannot be matched. Localization has the potential to beat globalization in many areas, but it must be said that brave pioneers are required to lead this movement. It is required that the open source flexible and digital fabrication technology is open-sourced and optimized, and breakthrough economic patterns will emerge. Indeed, reduction of slave labor may occur, as such practice may prove uneconomical in the face of localization.

i. SAMPLE PRODUCT ECOLOGY 1: ENERGY - SOLAR TURBINE COMBINED HEAT AND POWER (CHP) SYSTEM

We now turn to particular examples of product systems that arise as a combination of the 16 technologies of interest. One product is a solar turbine CHP system for our facility:

Figure 4d. Solar turbine CHP system ecology shown using the technology pattern language.

The heart of this system is a boundary layer turbine electrical generator (blue part in picture). This is the heat engine that converts a source of heat into electricity. Heat is used to generate steam in a heat exchanger. This steam spins the turbine. The turbine is connected to an electrical generator, and power electronics deliver the electricity for storage in batteries or utilization in a grid. Three sources of heat that we are considering are solar energy (solar concentrator icon), the Babington burner (green part in picture), or heat storage (heat generator icon).

The solar concentrator is the heat source of choice whenever the sun is shining. When surplus thermal energy is generated, that energy may be utilize to heat a storage medium, such as oil or a salt solution, stored in a leak-proof, insulated CEB cistern of about 2,500 gallons in size (cube of ~2 meter per side). Such storage is sufficient to serve as a heat generator for producing 1 kW of electricity and 10 kW heat continuously for approximately 24 hours. When the sun does not shine for extended periods, the Babington oil burner is engaged as the heat source.

If one verifies the last calculation and understands its significance, then one cannot help but be shocked at the ramifications. Consider this practical application of the conclusion that a 2.1 meter, or 7 foot, cube of heat storage medium can power an average American house for 24 hours as discussed in the last footnote. We cannot speak for others whether they are interested in this proposition taking them off the electrical grid. As for us at Factor e Farm, the conclusion is clear. We could either purchase a 20 kWhr flooded lead acid battery bank for $5k, of build the proposed storage cistern for probably 1/4 to 1/2 the cost using our CEB machine. After careful consideration, it appears that this option is much more attractive than pursuing battery bank additions. The only caveat is that the heat storage medium option requires an integrated, stationary CHP approach. If the storage cistern proves to be practical, that's a resounding success for ecological living.

The solar turbine ecology constitutes a combined heat and power system because the heat generated by the sun, burner, or extracted from heat storage may be used in other thermal applications. These include facility space heating; hot oil cooking; industrial process heat, such as preheating, drying, or food dehydration; steam generation for steam cleaning or sterilization; and other heat-based applications.

The Lister diesel engine is the backup power in this system. A charge controller, battery storage, and power inverter complete the system, for the facility electrical grid or for electricity sales to the grid wherever favorable.

At present, the Lister-generator-charger-battery-inverter system is our core energy system. We provide space heating with stoves. We are aiming to complete the solar turbine CHP system, with solar concentrators and possibly heat storage, by year-end 2008. Presently, we are working on the Babington burner-turbine-generator system. The turbine design has evolved to a simple, scaleable, DfD design, with the only machining requirement being lathing of the disks from steel, shown in Fig. 5. The disks are treated after fabrication for corrosion resistance.

Figure 5. Simplified boundary layer turbine design. Note the entry and exhaust nozzles for the working steam. Drawings care of Dan Granett.

ii. SOLAR CONCENTRATORS

Special attention needs to be given to solar thermal concentrators due to their potential for cost reduction of solar electric power systems. Of particular interest are linear collectors with flat but inclined Fresnel-type collector surfaces composed of mirrors.46 Linear collectors are utilized for the sake of scaleability: the power can be increased by increasing the length of the collector. Scaleability is not feasible in dish concentrator systems, where an individual dish cannot be enlarged easily. Moreover, linear collectors are easily mounted on the ground. Furthermore, if their horizontal length is much greater than their vertical height, they do not need a daily solar tracking device. The only solar tracking requirement would be seasonal solar declination adjustments. For a discussion of concentrating collector types, see Chapter 9 of Power from the Sun.47

Flat, inclined concentrators are proposed instead of parabolic ones for the simple reason of design simplicity. A parabolic surface is not as easily engineered or glazed as a flat surface. Nontheless, many groups interested in low cost solar collectors are using parabolic collectors, such as the MIT solar turbine in Lesotho.48

Optimization of linear Fresnel-type solar collectors indicates that total cost is <$20049 for 3000 Watts of solar collection area, or approximately an 8x4 foot sheet50. This indicates 2000 Watts of usable steam power delivered if we assume a conversion efficiency of ~70% from solar income to usable heat (such as steam).51 This translates to 10 cents per watt of energy collected. Integration with a boundary layer turbine of 25% efficiency52 indicates overall ~18% efficiency. This implies a cost of under 50 cents per watt based on predicted efficiencies, assuming that a large turbine, such as 10 kW, at a cost of ~$50053, is utilized with a matched solar concentrator array. This is even lower than the breakthrough utility-scale solar panels that recently hit the headlines, at $1/watt54.

To understand the simplicity of possible design, consider the concentrator arrays from HD Solar:55

Figure 5a. Simple flat-mounting solar concentrator design with inclined mirrors and a raised collector tube.

This design helps the reader to visualize that the proposed $200/2kWthermal figure is realistic. This constitutes breakthrough price reduction that would bring solar thermal energy into the realm of practicality. For sufficient concentration to be achieved, we will need to use more than the 6 reflector slats as shown in Fig. 5a.

Parabolic solar concentrators have been commercialized in large-scale installations56 in desert areas. If the installed cost of the open source solar turbine with flat collectors is 50 cents/Watt, then areas with half the solar income of the desert are still relevant for solar concentrator electric power. This area of feasibility of neo-commercialization57 is all of North America.58

iii. TRANSPORTATION: CARS, TRACTORS, AND OTHER SELF-PROPELLED DEVICES

Figure 6 shows the technology pattern language for a car.

Figure 6. Open source technology pattern language description for a car or other self-propelled devices.

The central part of a car is its propulsion system. Fig. 6 shows a fuel source feeding a heat generator, which heats a flash steam generator heat exchanger, which drives a boundary layer turbine, which drives a wheel motor operating as an electrical generator. The electricity that is generated may either be fed into battery storage, or controlled by power electronics to drive 4 separate wheel motors. This constitutes a hybrid electric vehicle59, with 4 wheel drive in this particular implementation.

This hybrid electric vehicle is one of intermediate technology design that may be fabricated in a small-scale, flexible workshop. The point is that a complicated power delivery system (clutch-transmission-drive shaft-differential) has been replaced by four electrical wires going to the wheel electrical motors. This simplification results in high localization potential of car manufacturing.

The first step in the development of open source, Hypercar-like vehicles is the propulsion system, for which the boundary layer turbine hybrid system is a candidate. Our second step will be structural optimization for lightweight car design. The present mainstream trend is that advanced composites may capture the vehicle body market.60

It should be noted that an identical icon may stand for a tractor, dump truck, or another self-propelled vehicle. If rotors, hydraulic motors, and linear motors (such as hydraulic cylinders) are added, the vehicle may become a rototiller, a front-end loader, bulldozer, backhoe, tree chipper, agricultural combine, agricultural spader, and many other instances of small or heavy machinery. The pattern language helps one to understand how a small number of components gives birth to a large number of devices. It should also be noted that the 8 distinct icons within the car are also embodied in the solar turbine CHP system. The pattern language helps to explain how a small, generative set of components is combined to form a wide range of devices.

iv. SKID LOADER

A special case of an extremely useful utility device is a skid loader type of device similar to standard skid loaders and CadTrac.61 We are proposing our own version, OSTrac, driven by a boundary layer turbine coupled to a hydraulic pump. OSTrac is a utility vehicle, like CadTrac, with a front-end loader or a grapple. A backhoe and other implements may likewise be added. The device is hydraulically-driven, with hydraulic motors on all 4 wheels.

Several features of OSTrac are noteworthy. First, if the Babington-turbine system is developed, then it requires only a hydraulic pump and 4 hydraulic motors to have a complete drive system. Second, the frame could be xyz-box beam construction, which is absolutely simple. In terms of structural integration, OSTrac could be scaled by linking two machines in line. Third, if open source hydraulic pumps and motors are developed, then we are talking of complete localization of key component fabrication. Fourth, OSTrac may have a multitude of applications. It can be used in ground preparation for building, or earth digging for CEB work. If it has a rototiller, it can be used for pulverizing the soil for CEB building. If it has a grapple, it can be used in log handling in forestry. It is a versatile device because of its small footprint. It can also be battery driven, either with battery-electric62 or battery-electric-hydraulic drive trains. The heavy weight of batteries is an advantage for traction.

v. SAWMILL ECOLOGY

A sawmill is an essential part of a localized economy. With abundant trees at Factor e Farm, we can engage in sustainable forestry by doing selective cutting that improves the quality of the forest over the long term. At the same time, we would be producing dimensional lumber for roofs, wood floors, door and window framing, raised growing beds, fences, and other household trim. 4 by 4 inch dimensional lumber is particularly useful in XYZ contstruction63, and especially in the types of adaptable, modular housing units proposed by the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.64 This combines with other roundwood utilization, such as turning bowls on a lathe, making tool handles, growing bamboo for stakes, Osage orange fenceposts, LPSA65 construction, and others.

vi. Biofuels: Fuel Alcohol, Compressed Wood Gas, and Biodiesel

We are considering fuel alcohol and compressed wood gas as our medium term (after 2008) fuel provision strategy. We are considering both fuel alcohol and compressed wood gas for vehicles, and wood gas for cooking. Our immediate fuel production strategy (for 2008) is to build a dedicated biodiesel production facility. Our long-term goals are to produce algae66 for combustion in hybrid steam-electric turbine vehicles. All of this is in addition to our immediate (2008) strategy for fueling all non-solar electrical power generation and vehicles with the Babington-steam-turbine-electric system. Our biofuel strategy is summarized here:

Note that all biofuel sources come directly from our facility or from the waste stream. Waste vegetable oil is still widely available for free in the united States of America. Sustainable forestry trees from our facility, or woodchips, trim, and sawdust from external sources - may be utilized in compressed wood gas production. Fuel alcohol will be derived from waste fruit, as part of our perennial orchard strategy. Ponds will be utilized for algal production.

Waste vegetable oil (WVO) is a noteworthy fuel because it is energy-rich and free. To date, we have been running our Lister engine successfully on waste vegetable oil (WVO) after purification. We have not seen any detrimental effects on the engine after 2 years of operation. Carbon buildup that we removed during yearly servicing may or may not have been due to the vegetable oil. We start and stop the engine on diesel in order to purge fuel lines of oil.

Our next step with WVO is to utilize the Babington burner as a clean and simple way to combust the fuel. We aim to determine the practical feasibility of Babington-fired boundary layer turbines for electricity generation. We aim to utilize the Babington in the same areas where gas would otherwise be used: cooking, metal casting, bakery, pottery kiln, sauna, space heating, hydronic heating, and hot water.

We have also produced a 10 gallon sample batch of biodiesel. We are ready to set up a dedicated facility for biodiesel production as part of the 2008 building program. We will create a dedicated space for a mobile, 300 gallon fuel production plant. The mobility is desirable for education, demonstration, and leasing purposes.

We are focusing on proven technologies for our program. Fuel alcohol is one of them. We will start with a Babington-fired distiller and move into solar heating assist. A solar alcohol distiller prototype has already been demonstrated for Missouri via a SARE grant by Dan West67. We are collaborating with Dan, who is using waste orchard fruit, and is building a waste fruit picker and juicer under a continuing grant.

Another proven technology is wood gasification. We are interested in compressing wood gas and storing it in gas bottles under medium pressure of about 500 psi. This is a technically feasible proposition, and we are aiming to produce our own cooking gas by utilizing small-scale, mobile equipment. Once again, we'll be producing a mobile plant for education and demonstration purposes.

vii. Solar Power

The biofuel program should be placed into perspective with our solar power program:

The key point in the diagram is the solar turbine electric power, which has already been shown in Fig. 4 as the heat source of choice on clear, sunny days. Energy produced by the solar turbine may be used to charge electric vehicles. When surplus solar heat is available, that heat may be stored in thermal storage cisterns. This storage may be tapped on demand to cook food, or to generate power with the turbine by using a heat exchanger to boil water using the stored heat. Heat exchangers may be used for other thermal applications, such as solar drying or distillation of fuel alcohol.

d. FLEXIBLE FABRICATION: HOW ALL THE GENERATIVE

COMPONENTS ARE CREATED

Now we turn to the 5-item flexible fabrication subset as the most distinct and important part of the 16 components. This subset is the most important because all the other components, including this subset itself, are generated by using flexible fabrication.

Flexible fabrication refers to a production facility where a small set of non-specialized, general-function machines (the 5 items mentioned) is capable of producing a wide range of products if those machines are operated by skilled labor. It is the opposite of mass production, where unskilled labor and specialized machinery produce large quantities of the same item (see section II, Economic Base). When one adds digital fabrication to the flexible fabrication mix - then the skill level on part of the operator is reduced, and the rate of production is increased.

Digital fabrication68 is the use of computer-controlled fabrication, as instructed by data files that generate tool motions for fabrication operations. Digital fabrication is an emerging byproduct of the computer age. It is becoming more accessible for small scale production, especially as the influence of open source philosophy is releasing much of the know-how into non-proprietary hands. For example, the Multimachine69 is an open source mill-drill-lathe by itself, but combined with computer numerical control (CNC) of the workpiece table70, it becomes a digital fabrication device.

It should be noted that open access to digital design - perhaps in the form a global repository of shared open source designs - introduces a unique contribution to human prosperity. This contribution is the possibility that data at one location in the world can be translated immediately to a product in any other location. This means anyone equipped with flexible fabrication capacity can be a producer of just about any manufactured object. The ramifications for localization of economies are profound, and leave the access to raw material feedstocks as the only natural constraint to human prosperity. 71

What is this flexible fabrication subset? It is essentially the 5 items, shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7. The open source technology pattern language icons for the 5 components of flexible fabrication.

1. CNC MULTIMACHINE

The first icon is the CNC Multimachine.72 It is a high precision mill-drill-lathe, with other possible functions, where the precision is obtained by virtue of building the machine with discarded engine blocks. It is noteworthy that a high-quality, high precision machine may be made with discarded materials at a much reduced cost compared to the competition.73 The Multimachine is an open source project. You can find out more about uses and construction in the downloadable, 100 page manual,74 and our webpage has just a few more notes about it.75

The central feature of the Multimachine is the concept that either the tool or the workpiece rotates when any machining operation is performed. As such, a heavy-duty, precision spindle (rotor) is the heart of the Multimachine - for milling, drilling and lathing applications. The precision arises from the fact that the spindle is secured within the absolutely precise bore holes of an engine block, so precision is guaranteed simply by beginning with an engine block.

If one combines the Multimachine with a CNC XY or XYZ movable working platform - similar to ones being developed by the Iceland Fab Lab team76, RepRap77, CandyFab 400078 team, and others - then a CNC mill-drill-lathe is the result. At least Factor 10 reduction in price is then available compared to the competition. The mill-drill-lathe capacity allows for the subtractive fabrication of any allowable shape, rotor, or cylindrically-symmetric object. Thus, the CNC Multimachine can be an effective cornerstone of high precision digital fabrication - down to 2 thousandths of an inch.

Interesting features of the Multimachine are that the machines can be scaled from small ones weighing a total of ~1500 lb to large ones weighing several tons, to entire factories based on the Multimachine system. The CNC XY(Z) tables can also be scaled according to the need, if attention to this point is considered in development. The whole machine is designed for disassembly. Moreover, other rotating tool attachments can be added, such as circular saw blades and grinding wheels. The overarm included in the basic design is used for metal forming operations.

Thus, the Multimachine is an example of appropriate technology, where the user is in full control of machine building, operation, and maintenance. Such appropriate technology is conducive to successful small enterprise for local community development, via its low capitalization requirement, ease of maintenance, scaleability and adaptability, and wide range of products that can be produced. This is relevant both in the developing world and in industrialized countries.

2. XYZ TABLE

The XYZ table79 is a computer numerically controlled (CNC) platform for holding tools or workpieces, and for moving them in the X, Y, and Z directions. When we are discussing the XYZ table, we are interested in two types of applications. One is a large-scale surface, such as 4 by 8 feet, where the XYZ platform moves a tool, such as an acetylene torch for cutting metal or a router for doing cutouts in other materials. The second one is a small platform used in holding the workpiece, such as a piece of metal in a milling operation.

The notable feature of the CNC XYZ table is that a number of groups worldwide80 is developing an open source implementation of the XYZ table hardware and the controlling software for toolpath generation81. This implies that drastic cost reduction is forthcoming in the area of XYZ table equipment.

The concept of a CNC XYZ table is powerful. It allows one to prepare all the metal, such as that for a CEB press or the boundary layer turbine, with the touch of a button if a design file for the toolpath is available. This indicates on-demand fabrication capacity, at production rates similar to that of the most highly-capitalized industries. With modern technology, this is doable at low cost. With access to low-cost computer power, electronics, and open source blueprints, the capital needed for producing a personal XYZ table is reduced merely to structural steel and a few other components: it's a project that requires perhaps $1000 to complete.

For example, with an XYZ table and the toolpath files for the CEB, and an acetylene torch tool head, the fabrication process is simplified in a major way. One has to load all the steel on the table in designated locations, and then the torch is put to work while one can do other tasks. Then one returns to examine and unload the steel. If this process is refined, it is foreseeable that all the steel may be prepared in one shot, including bolt holes for the current CEB design. Attention to the Z axis must be given according to the reality of metal geometry, if one is not working with flat metal.

3. PLASTIC EXTRUDER

The plastic extruder82 (fourth icon in Fig. 7) is a device for extruding objects from molten plastic, just like a pasta maker extrudes spaghetti from dough. We are interested primarily in long sheets, for purposes of greenhouse glazing. Other applications may include thicker sheets of appropriate materials for wear plates, electrical insulators, and safety shields. If the extruder dye is selected accordingly, pipe and tubining may be extruded for water conduits and other purposes. Composite feedstocks, such as plastic and sawdust, may be used for making plastic lumber. If the extruder is used with an injection mold, then three-dimensional objects may be produced for countless applications.

An ecological feature of the extruder is its compatibility with various feedstocks. Recycled resins from the waste stream may be utilized, such as local recycling center plastics. Mixed resins may be used for plastic lumber. Once we develop bio-plastic technology at OSE, we will use bioplastic from our own site, such as cellophane83 greenhouse glazing from trees.

The noteworthy feature of the extruder is its ability to produce high-tech glazing at an affordable cost in a localized facility. We thus may be able to address the prohibitive cost issue for durable glazing systems. If the feedstock is a resin such as polycarbonate, then we can produce long-lifetime (20 years), high-performance, UV-stabilized glazing. If the extruder is an open source design, in the $1000 price range, then we are talking of producing single wall, 2 mm thick glazing at a material cost of 10 cents per square foot.84 For comparison, the industry standard, double-wall polycarbonate Thermaclear85 is about $2 per square foot delivered.86 This price difference opens many enterprise opportunities for local economic development.

It is especially interesting, from the localization perspective, that access to such low-cost glazing systems is a significant contribution to enabling the production of turnkey SolaRoof87 building systems. In particular, structural insulated SolaRoof panels may be constructued. These consist of a sandwich of two sheets of glazing with dynamic liquid insulation between the two sheets. These panels could utilize lumber, milled on-site, for the frames of these panels. If these panels have an interlocking mechanism, they can constitute a turnkey, SolaRoof greenhouse building system.

The SolaRoof system may be combined with CEB stem walls and CEB water reservoirs. This constitutes a super-insulated, high tech, affordable, and ecological greenhouse and living space building system. The materials cost is under $1 per square foot for engineered88 structure shells. This is possible due to utilization of onsite natural89 and external recycled resources - if the enabling CEB, extruder, and sawmill technology is available for fabricating the engineered building materials. Ramifications for localized food production and for affordable house construction are profound.

For purposes of education, demonstration, and leasing - the extruder may be built as a mobile demonstration unit. Potential earnings may arise from the rental of such units to builders, family farmers, and others. We are considering building a mobile unit at Factor E Farm as part of our education and earning models.

iv. METAL CASTING

Metal casting is an important component of flexible fabrication. For example, low melting point aluminum-nickel alloys may be cast to generate low-cost parts for the Multimachine. Metal stocks for casting may be extracted from the waste stream, so they contribute both to low cost and resource reutilization.

A small metal-casting furnace may be made cheaply, for under $50 for melting 10 pounds of metal. The Babington burner may be utilized to provide the heat.

If casting molds can be produced readily from casting sand, or from open source blueprints by utilizing XYZ machining, then production of 3D forms can be shared readily across the globe. This is interesting from the standpoint of decentralized manufacturing and localization.

Thus, it is of prime importance to open-source a robust furnace design, burner system, and all the techniques and insights of casting in various metals. It is also important to generate a repository of designs that can be produced on emerging open source 3D printers90, which can be used in mold-making for the casting process.

v. CIRCUIT FABRICATION

Circuit fabrication is important because electronic devices are a critical part of a technologically-advanced society. Electronic circuits of interest to us include wireless equipment,91 power electronics, and circuits utilized in CNC controls. Power electronics include motor controls for cars, battery chargers, power inverters, grid-intertie inverters, AC-AC converters (solid-state transformers), DC-DC converters, and any other ancillary uses for mobile and stationary electric systems. Sensors, data acquisition modules, timers, and monitoring equipment are among other circuits of interest.

To fabricate these circuits, a basic infrastructure for chemical etching or mechanical routing has to be engaged to produce circuit paths on a circuit board. To test these circuits, a multimeter and oscilloscope is useful. A soldering iron and micro drill are also desirable.

For producing circuits on demand, one may start with a circuit layout image, and proceed to etching. Then component holes are drilled on the circuit, and components are soldered to the board.

State-of-art circuit fabrication can occur by using integrated circuit (IC) chips and other advanced components that are simply soldered onto a circuit board. The beauty of this is that one does not need to understand what is in the black box of an integrated circuit: only the resulting function is important, and the resulting function is typically comprehensible.

Open source design is the key enabling feature. If a repository of scaleable circuit designs were available, then one could produce all types of circuits - for example for power inverters. If multifunction IC chips were available, then one could put together all kinds of devices readily. This is essentially the state of modern technology - but most people don't participate in circuit making. This is because there are still many technical details to understand, and much of the information is still hidden or proprietary.

We propose the open-sourcing of circuit designs and components, such that people could plug-and-play with advanced electronics. This is already doable with computers - one can build a computer from scratch today. If enabling information were available, this would be feasible with a large array of useful equipment.

Such useful equipment includes the motor controllers, grid intertie inverters, and chargers. These are still rather expensive today, and add thousands to the price of electric cars and off-grid power systems. These electronics should be available essentially at the price of components, and it's our goal to develop such items in the open source context.

Imagine if you could build or buy a solar turbine and grid-intertie inverter at essentially the cost of parts. Then you can start selling power to the grid, not to mention that you wouldn't have to pay any more electric bills. If you can't do it yourself, get together with some friends and do it in a group. That's the kind of possibility that emerges if the enabling know-how is made available to everyone.