FTIStrap

This page describes the "FTIStrap", a RepStrap which is almost completely built from FischerTechnik parts.

(please note: because of relatively strict time limits, I plan to document the FTIStrap piece by piece finishing around midth of november)

Stepper motors are used as actuators, the interior of a hot-melt gun forms the extruder and a (removable) glass plate acts as the base to print on. A FischerTechnik "Robo Interface" together with an extension module (both running in "online mode") controls the steppers and scans the end stops - they can be connected to an IBM-compatible PC running Windows or Linux or a Apple Macintosh running MacOS X. The FTIStrap is completely "host-controlled" - a small application running on the host can be used to either manually operate the machine or load and interpret a file containing the "G codes" for a RepStrap.

The FTIStrap's main "advantages" are

- it almost completely consists of FischerTechnik parts - including steppers and the driver and interface electronics - which can be ordered online
- the few remaining parts (hot-melt gun, balsa wood, sand paper, fan, glass plate) can also either be bought online or found in various shops in your neighbourhood
- no special tools are required to build the FTIStrap - although a hacksaw is recommended to cut the balsa wood which covers the hot-melt gun
- no soldering is required - all the electronics you need is already available from FischerTechnik
- when all parts are available, the whole FTIStrap can be easily assembled within a single working day
- as soon as you no longer need the FTIStrap (because you build your own RepRap), for other projects