http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/ Autoblog Comments for Desktop fabricator takes DIY to a new level http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/
Being a musician, it has been very exciting to experience the explosion of technology in the recording industry. When I went into my first digital studio in 1990, they had two 12 track machines that cost $12,000 a piece. Now you can buy professional device that has 24 tracks and the whole studio in one shot for $2,500.]]>Feb 2nd 2007 3:46PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/Feb 2nd 2007 5:34PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/Feb 2nd 2007 11:53PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/how-to-build-your-own-cnc-machine-part-1/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/04/how-to-build-your-own-cnc-machine-part-2/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/how-to-build-your-own-cnc-machine-part-3/

enjoy :)]]>Feb 3rd 2007 12:26AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://cnczone.com is a great place to find out about this sort of thing. I use them to machine parts for old cars I restore when the parts are either unavailable or too expensive. #2 is right, 3d printers have been around for a while, and you can even find 3d printers that will print a metal-like substance, but they cost $30k. Z-corp even makes color 3d printers, check out http://www.zcorp.com

If you want to be astounded, check out http://www.tarus.com/mill.htm and the 'styling' section [autoblog only allows 3 urls] and look at the videos. They make mills large enough to machine a car body out of one piece of material, even aluminum...

Chris.]]>Feb 3rd 2007 1:10AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/Feb 3rd 2007 6:05PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://cnczone.com/. There are also machines to be found online which emulate HP plotters. A lot of these are used for making circuit boards. The third group make machines which run Postscipt. They are invariably powered by servo motors, and are called flutterwumpuses.]]>Feb 3rd 2007 6:36PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/
It would be even more slick if you didn't do business with communist china. Use the free, independant, and democratic country of Taiwan instead! ( If you absolutely have to go overseas )]]>Feb 4th 2007 11:02AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/desktop-fabricator-takes-diy-to-a-new-level/
http://reprap.org

Their soon-to-be released machine is also open source, has a proper plastics extruder presently qualified for polycapralactone which can make usuable, hard objects. Whereas the fab@home machine costs $2,400 for parts, the RepRap Darwin is on track to cost no more than $400.

A spinoff of the RepRap project, Tommelise, is focussed on the American parts environment and uses somewhat different technology and a different control strategy. It's also an open source specification will let anybody with a few hand tools and primitive woodworking skills bootstrap themselves into 3D fabrication for about $150. Tommelise's extruder is qualified for polycapralactone and is presently being qualified as well for both high density polypropylene (HDPE, the stuff your plastic cutting board is made of) and polypropylene (HPP, the stuff your coffee maker and plastic electric kettle is made of). You can keep an eye on the Tommelise project at...

http://3dReplicators.com

Have fun!
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