The continuous activity on this mailing list is very exciting to me
and I love how the website keeps evolving. I'm wondering what the
near future plans for reprap are? What immediate steps could someone
like me take?
It seems that if we are to build this so that it can produce copies of
all the parts that it needs, then we should start creating 3d models
of all the necessary parts so that researchers across the world can
replicate those parts. If we use the standard RP file format, it
should be possible to get those parts fabbed at a commercial RP place,
then use those parts to bootstrap the first reprap.
Really, this project is very similar to an open source project. You
can imagine that the RP unit as nothing more than a real world 3
dimensional compiler, then you can also imagine how the parts the make
it up are nothing more than files to be compiled and linked up. In
this case, the reprap would be our compiler. It takes the object
files, and prints them out in 3d.
Since everything is a file, we can start work on the project right
now, over the internet. We just need a CAD program that is good
enough and can handle the file types we'll need to give to commercial
RP to bootstrap. Once we find one that is good enough we can improve
it to suit our specific needs.
Once we get a good CAD program we can start to design the system.
There will definitely have to be a well defined feature set for each
release. Since this is a physical machine, this will be just as
important, perhaps even moreso than in software development. It
should be decided exactly what needs to be in each release (what
materials it will use, the method of operation, etc.) Keep it simple
at first, and add features once the previous features are proven to
work. Once that has been decided then a Todo list can be setup and
those who want to pitch in have an easy place to start.
I propose that you set up a CVS system for all aspects of the system.
That way all the files are available. I am pretty sure that I have
access to a RP facility close to where I live, and I would love to be
able to download a copy of this and play around and contribute back.
So I guess i'll wrap up with a summary of what I would love to happen
in the near future:
1. Settle on a 3d CAD system that meets our basic needs
2. Define the first phase requirements - as barebones as possible.
3. Start creating cad files to create #2
4. test, improve, test, improve
5. watch as we change the world.
~Hoeken
PS. Keep up the great work!
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