Re: Maybe OT, reprap build started

I had a young man who built one and wrote an article about it for my magazine. I also observed the machine at several shows over a period of a year. It had problems generated by A: a poor print head design and B: electronics very susceptible to emi/rfi.

Also, as an electronics technician, I can tell you that there isn't much thought put into the shielding and power supply of the kit machine. It was not designed to be a commercial product, it was, at least at the stage of development I've seen, a gee whiz folks, we can actually make a 3D printer you can play with for an affordable amount of money. Pretty much where microcomputers were in 1978 when I built my first one. It's a computer (or printer) but it doesn't do a lot of anything but train the builder.

Were I wanting a 3D printer, I'd probably buy a print head and install it on my CNC mill. Much more stable platform mechanically, well worked out electronics and then I could focus on making the head perform reliably. Or I'd buy a better head and use that.

The output I've seen from a RepRap is interesting, but not of the quality I've received from better 3D printers.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Kevin Martin <kpmartin@...> wrote:
>
> Do you have specific evidence to this effect, or are you just conjecturing?
>
> Our printer's temperment had nothing to do with the electronics.
>
> -Kevin Martin
> the Papertrail Handmade Paper & Book Arts
> New Dundee, Ontario
> 518-884-7123
> www.papertrail.ca
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike Rehmus
>
> The machines are very poorly design with regard to shielding for the
> electronics and filtering for the power supply. That is mostly what causes
> them to be temperamental. No surprise, really, everything sits out in the
> open.
>