User:Lex Berezhny/Microfactory

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The microfactory is a set of tools and machines that can be reasonably acquired or built from abundant materials with the goal of enabling humanity to transcend scarcity and poverty.

A factory has inputs and outputs. The decision of which tools and machines comprise the microfactory is a function of the available inputs and the expected outputs, including the requirement of self-replication.

Inputs

Criteria for selecting inputs for the microfactory:

  • abundant: it should be easy to acquire useful amounts of the material for free or at insignificant cost
  • safe: acquiring, handling and processing the material should not be inherently dangerous; common mistakes should be reasonably forgiving
  • appropriate: see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appropriate_technology

The following common materials do not match the criteria and require the full Factory:

  • Steel due to high temperatures involved.

The following materials do meet the Microfactory criteria:

Wood

  • renewable material that is abundant and free if harvested from your own property
  • wood has been used by humans for thousands of years and can be safely worked with primitive tools
  • many existing methods, tools and knowledge on working this material

Plants

  • hemp / cotton for clothes
  • corn for plastics

Animals

  • food
  • wool
  • glue from collagen

Plastic

  • PET soda bottles and HDPE milk jugs are everywhere
  • used for storing food, is expected to be safe
  • it's only in the last decade that this material has become appropriate for a home based microfactory. methods, tools and knowledge is still at early stages

Aluminum

  • soda cans are everywhere, aluminum scraps are also abundant
  • much lower melting temperature than steel, home made foundries for aluminum are popular
  • requires access to Factory to create steel tools strong enough to manipulate aluminum

Tin

  • makes lead-free solder for electronics

Glass

  • glass is found everywhere
  • can be worked with limited tools


Methods, Machines & Tools

Aluminum Forge


Aluminum Extruder


Rolling Mill

Basic Shop Tools

Drill Press

Lathe

CNC Additive System (3-Axis)

OSE Universal Axis system with various attachments:

Hot Filament Extruder

  • Prusa i3 MK3 design

Circuit Maker

  • 3d print board with groves for wire and leave wholes for components to be placed
  • place aluminum wire into grooves: http://reprap.org/wiki/SpoolHead
  • A) reflow method:
    • apply solder paste (paste extruder head)
    • pick'n'place components (suction / gripper head)
    • melt solder in oven (manual / robot arm)
  • B) solder method:
    • pick'n'place components (suction / gripper head)
    • solder in place (soldering iron head)

Laser

  • cutting cardboard
  • engraving


CNC Subtractive System (5-Axis)


LCD


Glass Blowing

Cotton Gin

Outputs

Self-Replication

Using the Microfactory and with some access to a Factory or to a marketplace where steel components can be purchased it should be possible to produce another duplicate Microfactory.

Electronics

  • laptop, tablet, phone, etc

Robot

  • robot arm for automating small / repetitive tasks
  • humanoid robot for helping with all chores on homestead

Clothes

Sewing Machine

Washing Machine

Dryer

  • traditional tumble drying
  • automated hang drier

Folding Machine

Kitchen

Refrigerator

Dish Washer

Toaster w/ Steam cooker for breakfast sandwiches

Oven

Range

Sink / Faucet

Utensils

Glassware

Aluminum Fasteners

  • screws, nuts+bolts, nails


Other

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