Columbus
Release status: unknown
| Description | Documentation of Columbus R&D
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Columbus is a 3D printing device that is being developed to answer the inspiring challenges of the Kartik M. Gada Personal Manufacturing Prize. The current stage of development is: preliminary design. In this stage brainstorming sessions are combined with due diligence to narrow down goals and define objectives. Various materials are extruded by Columbus via a Cartesian arrangement which consists of a belt driven gantry for positioning in the X/Y axis and a print bed that is raised and lowered by a linkage for positioning along the Z axis.
Contents
Overview
//Under construction, more coming soon!
"This web-page, therefore, is about making a useful virus that is as big as a fridge." -Adrian Bowyer, Wealth Without Money, 24 Feb 2006
//More on that concept to come.
The main requirements of the Gada Prize are:
- Print at least three different materials, including one that is usefully electrically conductive.
- Demonstrate the ability to print electronic circuit boards.
- Any print beds must be of a material which may be reused with minimal refurbishment for at least 20 print cycles.
- Maintain a total materials and parts cost under $200.
- 90% of the volume of the device's components shall be printed.
- Demonstrate a build volume greater than 300mm[11.81in] x 300mm[11.81in] x 100mm[3.94in].
- The capacity to print a full set of components for a complete replica of itself within 10 days unattended save for clearing no more than one printer head jam.
- The ability to print autonomously without a PC attached.
- Uses no more than 60 watts of electrical power.
Columbus Specifications
The table below outlines the specifications of the machine.
| Metric[Imperial] | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Anyone |
| Model | Columbus |
| Technology | FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)/Thermoplastic extrusion |
| Price of all materials | TBD |
| Annual Service Cost | TBD |
| Size | 400mm[15.75in] x 400mm[15.75in] x TBDmm[TBDin] |
| Weight | TBDkg[TBDlbs] |
| Build Envelope | 300mm[11.81in] x 300mm[11.81in] x TBDmm[TBDin] |
| Materials | TBD |
| Material Cost | TBD |
| Speed | TBD |
| Accuracy | TBD |
| Finish | TBD |
| Volume of printed parts to replicate | TBD |
Design Philosophy
//Under construction, more coming soon!
"Truth and beauty...are almost like the ideal conjoined twins that a scientist would want to date." -David Bolinsky, David Bolinsky Animates a Cell, Mar 2007
//More on that concept to come:)
- Required reading:
- Wealth Without Money, Adrian Bowyer
- The Self-replicating Rapid Prototyper ─ Manufacturing for the Masses, Adrian Bowyer
- The Emergence of Open Design and Open Manufacturing, Michel Bauwens
- Required viewing:
- David Bolinsky Animates a Cell, David Bolinsky
- Ross Lovegrove Shares Organic Designs, Ross Lovegrove
Design Tree
- Preliminary Design
- Prototype One
- Redesign One
- Prototype Two
- Redesign Two
Nomenclature
Due to the nature and scale of this project it is expected that hundreds – if not thousands – of files will be created to properly document and exploit the various conceptual designs, prototypes, and official releases. Because one can only name a file just so many things before language is exhausted, the following nomenclature will be used for naming all Columbus files:
- COL-XXX-XXX-XXX-X
- All files begin with the first three letters of the Team name, in this case COL.
- The second set of three digits represent the project the component is in.
- If a file is purely experimental then it may be noted as such by substituting the project name with "TEST". Example: COL-TEST-150-...
- The third set of three digits represent the assembly within the project.
- The fourth set of three digits represents the part number within the assembly.
- The last placeholder represents the release status: an uppercase letter for released revisions (A,B,C...) or a number for unreleased revisions (1,2,3...)
- For released revisions the letters I (as in iceberg) and O (as in orange) are skipped due to their similar appearance to 1 and 0 respectively.
- Example: COL-125-010-007-B. This is read as: Columbus, project 125, assembly 10, part 7, revision B.
Key Concepts
Progressive Construction
It is expected that those who assemble Columbus will be in one of two main categories: those that have an existing 3D printer (i.e. Darwin, Mendel, MakerBot, RapMan) and those that do not. While it will be difficult to achieve the $200 price range with an existing 3D printer, it will be nearly impossible to reach that goal without such a device. In an effort to increase the number of potential users Columbus is being designed with a "progressive construction" in mind. In this scheme the user will first assemble a RepStrap which contains many of the components of the full size Columbus (i.e. stepper motors, electronics, straight rods). This device will then print the remaining structural components. Finally, the initial device is dismantled and it's components are combined with the parts it printed to form the compete Columbus printer. It is hoped that this routine will not only save the first time user money, but will also familiarize the user with the components and construction ideas they need before assembling the complete unit.
Structure
Print Bed
Control Systems
workbook located here: Columbus/workbook
