RUG/Oklahoma
RepRap Developer Groups in Oklahoma:
- Davenport (halfway between Tulsa and OKC)350682 East Hwy. 66 Davenport Ok, 74026 is the location of GeeksOk, LLC, Built their first repstrap in November of 2009. It may have been one of the first in Oklahoma.
- Tulsa RepRap group: several people who occasionally meet at Fab Lab Tulsa, are building RepRaps, including David Cary, Patrick Forringer
- Oklahoma City RepRap group: seems pretty active at the [ http :// forums . reprap . org / list.php?119 RepRap forums: "Oklahoma City RepRap User Group"].
Some of the projects Oklahoma RepRap developers are working on:
- building more RepRaps
- a more portable RepRap (smaller, lighter, hopefully cheaper) -- a variant of the SAE Mendel using lighter, cheaper 1/4" threaded rod and 1/4" nuts -- rather than 5/16" threaded rod of SAE Mendel, rather than the 8 mm threaded rod of the original Mendel).
- Using a small Android tablet mounted directly on the RepRap at the "host" end of the USB cable connected to the Arduino. (Does this meet the "print autonomously without a PC attached" requirement of the Gada Prize?)
- a RepRap-printable case for a wearable EKG recorder with more or less all the functionality of the one developed by wikipedia: Norman J. Holter, except smaller, lighter, (hopefully) more comfortable, longer run times, etc.
- ... etc.
Localization of RepRap
What sorts of tweaks can we make to various RepRap designs to allow the use of various localized materials?
What local sources are available for RepRap parts -- places that sell either exactly the parts called for on the original plans, or better/stronger/cheaper parts that can be functionally substituted?
- Fab Lab Tulsa has a 3D printer
- the Rule Company, Inc. sells primarily fasteners -- nuts, bolts, screws, washers, including oddball Imperial and Metric socket screws.
- Affiliated Electronics sells new, surplus, and used electronic items. Sometimes they have very low cost stepper motors.
- Grainger has smooth rod, big stepper motors, etc.
- Harbor Freight Tools sells low-cost hand tools
- Is there anyone in Tulsa that sells ball bearings or linear bearings?