Design choices in RepRap, Goals of RepRap [08/14/2010]

[The early 2010’s were a wild time for 3D printing.  It felt like there were two separate tracks of printers.  There were the RepRap enthusiasts, the true innovators, building and inventing things to push hobbyist 3D printing to new heights.  Then there were the companies making 3D printer kits and robots like MakerBot and Ultimaker (and a few others).  At this time I was basically wondering… what will future RepRaps look like?  Will they look more like a pile of aluminum extrusion and 3D printed parts?  Lasercut panels?  In the 16 years since this post, the answer is… there doesn’t seem to be one single RepRap that’s leading the field and there are a pile of different RepRaps that have all kinds of different shapes.  Perhaps this is for the best.  There are so many functional 3D printers available that range from very DIY to point and click that there isn’t nearly as much innovation in the open source RepRap movement.  I suppose, this is a kind of success for the RepRap dream.  Some excellent fully featured printers are available today for as less than $500 that would have left crowds stunned in 2010.  And all of these machines can easily produce the parts necessary to build the various RepRap models out there.  Gone are the days of resin cast copies of 3D printed parts.  If companies stopped producing 3D printers (perhaps because of some new bullshit misguided legislation…), people could turn to building RepRaps again.]

After looking at the Ultimaker, I have to wonder if the ideal of RepRap for a purely printed machine is non-optimal.

Actually, come to think of it – I wonder if it might not start to push RepRap in a slightly new direction.

1. The Lost Blog Posts
2. Plastruder! [Draft 12/25/2009]
3. UNTITLED [Draft 12/25/2009]
4. Preparing to print [Draft 12/27/2009]
5. More prints [Draft 01/04/2010]
6. Prototype Pricing [Draft 01/19/2010]
7. MakerBot tuning [Draft 01/20/2010]
8. Plastic Screw Anchor [Draft 02/02/2010]
9. Magic [Draft 02/03/2010]
10. How are you printing with PLA? [Draft 02/16/2010]
11. Rebuilding my extruder [Draft 02/16/2010]
12. MY robot [Draft 02/18/2010]
13. more things i learned [Draft 02/20/2010]
14. First commissioned piece! [Draft 02/22/2010]
15. MakerBot: Toy or Tool? [02/25/2010]
16. Idea for Skeinforge settings… [Draft 03/27/2010]
17. RepRap and MakerBot alternatives [Draft 04/05/2010]
18. RepRap Parts for Sale [Draft 04/07/2010]
19. Where is the Othercutter? [Draft 06/08/2015]
20. Mendel Parts – Printed, Cast, CNC’d, Lasercut or Injection Molded? [Draft 04/12/2010]
21. MakerBot Operator’s Manual [06/04/20210]
22. MakerBot on CBS! [07/07/2010]
23. New Print: Soft-Pawed Albino Stoat of South Wales Cookie Cutter [07/07/2010]
24. House calls [07/11/2010]
25. Digital assistant? [08/05/2010]
26. MakerBot + Junk = Stuff! [08/06/2010]
27. Design choices in RepRap, Goals of RepRap [08/14/2010]
28. Upgrades and obsolescence [08/25/2010]
29. Dear Anonymous [08/25/2010]
30. The ultimate in customer service [08/26/2010]
31. Open Source Makes You Smarter [08/27/2010]