Personal Microfactory

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Introduction

The basic version of a small, home-based microfactory. This is the initial version chosen so that anyone in the world can get involved in OSE development and prototyping - even in an apartment. The OSE Personal Microfactory includes:

1. 3D printer - D3D. A scalable, modular 3D printer, with interchangeable toolheads. It is retrofittable for a small laser cutter (4W) and a CNC circuit mill. As such, the D3D 3D printer is part of a construction set for fabrication machines.
2. CNC Circuit Mill - the D3D CNC Circuit Mill - which uses the same construction as the D3D 3D Printer, but is strengthened to accommodate the contact machining of circuit milling.
3. Laser Cutter - this is a small laser diode, 4W, mounted on the D3D platform, instead of the laser cutter head.
4. Filament Maker - this is a machine that produces virgin 3D printing filament from scrap plastic
5. Plastic Shredder - this is a machine that shreds plastic to recycle it for making 3D printing filament.

Products

The above set allows for the production of many useful products, in addition to making the machines themselves:

1. Cordless drill and other cordless tools - OSE HeroX to be started.
2. Digital cameras - Thermografree. Superposes thermal image on a real image.
3. Microscopes - Open Flexure Microscope. Seems to work.
4. Cell phones - Pi Zero based phone. Everyone has a phone. This could be the last phone you have to buy - as you can always upgrade and repair - saving you from throwing out 25 more cell phones in your lifetime, based on the 2 Year Life of a Phone.
5. Robotic arm - there are many to choose from - which is scalable to larger size?
6. Drone - for aerial photography. Drones are a hot topic - need to choose one.
7. Superefficient refrigerator kit - Superfridge

Revenue

The revenue model for the Personal Microfactory consists of 2 main streams: (1) immersion training in Extreme Manufacturing builds of the microfactory machines; (2) production of kits and other derivative products via an Open Source Print Cluster. There is also a 3rd revenue stream that may be developed - a marketing website for information products, swag, including kits such as those from Kit.com

The Personal Microfactory is intended to be a productive network. This can be done by creating an online 3D printing cluster. This way, individual producers can make parts, and can be used for sourcing of parts for new builds. From this, the idea of the Open Source Everything Store emerges - which can be a widespread collaboration on open source product development.

Related Links

Compare this to the Basic OSE Workshop - which is likewise relatively inexpensive to start - but requires workshop space or a garage.