Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
The 3D Printer Derivative
The greatest result of the RepRap project is the fast development of 3D printers as open
source hardware. The name of the project, Replicating Rapid Prototyper, means that many
of the components of a RepRap printer are printable on a 3D printer. Replication meant
that every new printer that was printed and built could then also print parts for additional
printers. Early advancements could be quickly printed, tested, and implemented among the
RepRap community.
This fast development curve rapidly led to more stable and more efficient designs. Be-
cause most early developers worked out of their homes or in small groups, a lower-cost
printer was a common goal. Finding cheaper alternatives to materials and components
drove much of the design principles of the early RepRap designs. By 2009, a RepRap
printer could be built for less than $2000. Only one year later, that cost had been cut in
half by further design changes.
The community's exponential growth led to rapid development in all areas of 3D print-
ers. Open source hardware electronics specifically for 3D printers were quickly developed
and put into use. 1 Free source software was also developed for 3D printing, including
firmware to control the printer, hosts to communicate with the printer from a PC, and
slicer software to generate print files from common CAD and 3D models.
1 . For a list of current RepRap open source hardware electronics, see http://reprap.org/wiki/
List_of_electronics .
After starting with the release of the first RepRap 3D printer design in 2007, the
RepRap project, as of early 2014, had spanned almost 500 derivatives ( Figure 8.1 ). 2 The
project has now spread out into many types of 3D printers, including fused filament fab-
rication, photo-polymerization, and selective laser sintering.
2 . http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap_Family_Tree
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