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Wanted: suggestions for or comments about "personal factories" — Parallax Forums

Wanted: suggestions for or comments about "personal factories"

ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
edited 2011-02-28 17:30 in General Discussion
I recently learned about this company:

http://www.ponoko.com/make-and-sell/how-it-works

And I'm wondering how many other such "personal factories" might be out there and if any one here has any experience with using them. I'm not interested in selling any products, but I might be interested in getting a few plastic pieces made via laser cutting.

thanks,
:)

Comments

  • P!-RoP!-Ro Posts: 1,189
    edited 2010-11-25 20:35
    A guy I know has used Ponoko to cut pieces for the 3D printers he builds. I have never tried them out personally though and don't have much need since I'll be getting my own 3D printer soon. The cost for printers has now creeped down to $550 making little need to get parts made from outside factories.
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2010-11-26 05:43
    I've used Pololu (www.pololu.com) several times to laser cut acrylic. I've been very happy with the results.

    Here are some of the things I've made:
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=127218&highlight=carrier
  • P!-RoP!-Ro Posts: 1,189
    edited 2010-11-26 10:35
    Wow schill, that acrylic looks nice!
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-11-26 12:35
    For cutting acrylic, I'd use one of the forum members instead. I use Mountain King technologes... Chuck has done custom work for me and it's always perfect!

    For myself... I've already ordered a rapid prototyping machine and I'll be putting it to heavy use as soon as it arrives. (Christmas... Kid... Candy Store... I think you get the idea!)

    Bill
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2010-11-26 12:44
    Corey Doctorow wrote a novel called "Makers" where "personal factories" is central to the story. It's available for downloading under the Creative Commons License and you can buy it on paper as well (see here).
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2010-11-26 13:51
    wjsteele wrote: »
    For cutting acrylic, I'd use one of the forum members instead. I use Mountain King technologes...

    Sounds good to me. Is this the right guy?

    http://d1068410.mydomainwebhost.com/

    Do you happen to know if he does small orders, maybe 4 pieces at a time? It's not for project enclosures: it's for a syringe pump design.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2010-11-26 14:03
    Mike Green wrote: »
    Corey Doctorow wrote a novel called "Makers" where "personal factories" is central to the story....

    Interesting. One of the weirder real-life maker movements I've heard about is in biology, specifically genetics. There are people performing DIY genetics in their garages and garden shacks. Fascinating yet freaky, too. They seem to thrive on doing things on the cheap. My favorite example: instead of buying incubators, I've heard some have taped test tubes into their armpits to grow bacteria.

    http://www.livescience.com/health/future-synthetic-biology-research-garage-biology-100927.html
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2010-11-27 12:20
    @wjsteele- what brand / model machine did you order?
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-11-27 12:46
    ElectricAye wrote: »
    Is this the right guy? http://d1068410.mydomainwebhost.com/

    Yep. That's Chuck's site.

    Bill
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-11-27 13:10
    Don M wrote: »
    @wjsteele- what brand / model machine did you order?

    I ordered the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic. http://store.makerbot.com/makerbot-thing-o-matic.html

    Bill
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2010-12-20 13:05
    Bill,

    Inquiring minds want to know- did you get your toy yet and get it working? :)
  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2010-12-21 02:49
    Regarding these 3D printers like the thing-o-matic. What do you do on the software side to design objects and run the printer?
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-12-21 08:42
    I got my printer in Yesterday and stayed up until 1am building it. I've still got a little more to go so I'll fill you in when I get it all done.

    Doc, as for the software, I use Google Sketchup to draw the 3D object. Then you process that (as an SDL file) into layers with a tool called Skeinforge. That actually builds the tool paths layer by layer for your object. Once you've got that, you convert it to g-code (which is a standard CNC protocol) with a tool called ReplicatorG. This printer is entirely open sourced, so you can download the designs (including all the hardware, software and schematics) from Makerbot.com and build one yourself! Also, all the software is free.

    Bill
  • Don MDon M Posts: 1,653
    edited 2010-12-21 09:03
    Bill,

    What did think of the quality of the machine as you were assembling it?
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-12-21 12:02
    It's fantastic! The laser cut parts go together perfectly and the instructions are as simple as can be. It's currently alive and I'm working on the extruder right now. Should be printing within a couple of hours.

    Bill
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2010-12-24 11:09
    Well... ran into an issue the other day with my MakerBot. The main motherboard (which is actually a RepRap motherboard) was bad. They're cross shipping me a replacment. As soon as I get it, I'll update everybody on my first print!

    I'm just amazed at how easy this thing went together... everything was perfect and I haven't found a single flaw in the assembly process.

    Bill
  • mctriviamctrivia Posts: 3,772
    edited 2010-12-26 08:09
    I have a makerbot and use it to make large items that accuracy is not so important. It works great when working but is easy to break and parts take a long time to get to Canada.

    For dice and small intricate stuff I use shapeways.com
  • wjsteelewjsteele Posts: 697
    edited 2011-02-28 13:44
    Don M wrote: »
    Inquiring minds want to know- did you get your toy yet and get it working? :)

    Yes, here's evidence! :-)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWG61DE954A

    Bill
  • PliersPliers Posts: 280
    edited 2011-02-28 17:30
    Corey Doctorow wrote a novel called "Makers" where "personal factories" is central to the story.

    Hey Mike.
    Thanks for the link.
    It was a great read.
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