Printrbot

                                         My self sourced Printrbot, nearing completion!

Extruder Test Run

Hot End/Extruder Completed.

I finished the assembly of my extruder and hot end today. I decided to go with Wade's Geared Extruder and a J-Head hot end.  

Right View

 Left View

 Top View

 Front View

Back View

ScanStrap:Drawing Board

With a little inspiration from the scanner I am using to bootstrap my Rap, I think I will add a mount to hold a Xbox Kinect. This would be accompanied with 3D scanning ability, of course, and maybe some A.R. action as well. ;) This will all come after the initial build if finished, however. 

 I will post a fresh video of my progress as soon as my lm8uu linear bearings come in, which is the only thing holding my build progress back. 

Repstrap Mockup: ScanStrap?

FreeCAD:Part 2

Importing Files Into FreeCAD

Today I will explain how to import a file from almost any CAD program into FreeCAD.

I will start with a simple cube I created in Autodesk Inventor.

Then choose the "Save Copy As" function under the file menu

Save the file as a .stl file

(This file type can be used for 3D printing and a variety of other applications, which I will describe in later posts.)








Finally, open a new file in FreeCAD, and select "Import" from the File menu, and select the .stl file you just saved.

Voila :) Check back later this week for further applications of the topics we've discussed!