![\"reprap_molded\"](\"pic\/reprap_molded.jpg\")
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It’s been a while since I’ve posted something on the RepRap project, but that doesn’t mean I don’t continue to follow it. Funny enough, the reason for this post isn’t to alert anyone to a developmental milestone, but to call attention to something that might seem counter to the whole purpose of the project: the use of molds<\/em> to replicate parts (Link).<\/a> The picture above shows fabber parts created using some fairly simple silicone molds. I like what they’re doing. It reminds me of open source software development. If only they could “share” the tangible pieces, eh?<\/p>\n For me personally, this tactic mirrors my own approach which I recently mentioned over on The Meshverse Journal (Link)<\/a>: “fwiw, right now I see the opportunity not in fabbing the final product, but in creating low-volume tooling at the pro-sumer level<\/em>” (this followed up another set of comments elsewhere on the blog – Link<\/a>).<\/p>\n It should go without saying that there will be significant overlap in the transition from molded to fab-on-demand parts. So from my perspective, like virtual world technology, this is the time for experimentation… using all<\/em> the tools at our disposal.<\/p>\n That said, some of you might find an earlier entry of interest: “Itokin’s Robo Factory” (reLink<\/a>). It’s a great example of making do with what you have.<\/p>\n {Image source \u00a9 RepRap blog<\/a>}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s been a while since I’ve posted something on the RepRap project, but that doesn’t mean I don’t continue to follow it. Funny enough, the reason for this post isn’t to alert anyone to a developmental milestone, but to call … Continue reading
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\nThe RepRap team is clearly recognizing what might be called a social<\/em> problem with the development of their device: the fewer the people involved, the slower the progress. Hence the practical solution of molding parts to help seed a community (note the growth in the store’s offerings – Link<\/a>).<\/p>\n