We'll be documenting, tweeting (under #uclpifp) and hopefully, ustreaming the build as we go!
Follow Steven (@frogo), Graham (@gklyne), Ben (@benosteen) and Dave (@dfflanders) for more information as it happens. (Richard Jones will be there too, but he hates twitter ;))
You'll find the contact details, parts list and other information here.
(If, for whatever reason, they are unable to complete their machine, they should send the pieces on to someone else.)
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by successive layers of material. 3D printers are generally faster, more affordable and easier to use than other additive manufacturing technologies. 3D printers offer product developers the ability to print parts and assemblies made of several materials with different mechanical and physical properties in a single build process. Advanced 3D printing technologies yield models that closely emulate the look, feel and functionality of product prototypes.
In recent years 3D printers have become financially accessible to small and medium sized business, thereby taking prototyping out of the heavy industry and into the office environment. It is now also possible to simultaneously deposit different types of materials.
While rapid prototyping dominates current uses, 3D printers offer tremendous potential for production applications as well. The technology also finds use in the jewellery, footwear, industrial design, architecture, automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries.
Just take a look at the things you can make with 3D printing on the Thingiverse!
3D printers such as the RepRap machine are not too expensive but there is a supply problem; they require bespoke plastic parts and the know-how to build and run one.
It's a bit like the chicken and egg problem - to make the plastic parts for a RepRap, you currently need a RepRap-like machine. And to make a RepRap machine, you need the plastic parts. Not much help if you want to get started!
You could buy the parts from someone who can make them, but there are few people at the moment doing this and there are machines that you can buy which are called RepStrap machines - machines that can print the parts for a RepRap machine, but aren't one themselves.
