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A motion system for flexible digital fabrication and research. Easy to fabricate and customize.

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A fabricatable machine is a computer-controlled fabrication machine that can be made using a standard set of existing computer-controlled machines; with minimal use of speciality parts, processes or skills. The type of machines include CNC-milling, lasercutter, and 3d-printers.

We want to enable individuals and communities to build their own production machines, to expand their own capabilities. Build more machines to increase production, build cheaper to increase availability, or build specialized machines tailored for specific purposes.

Chamfer Rail

A linear actuator with rack & pinion drive system, designed to be CNC-milled. This is a simplified version of the axis system from V-bird and Simple Gantry, which can be reproduced using only standard CNC operations and bits (chamfering using a 90deg V-bit).

Additionally the pitch is slightly smaller, for higher resolution and torque.

The files included here are for NEMA17 sized motor.

FreeCAD source

Award Plotter

  • Pen plotter.
  • Servo-based Z-axis

TODO: Document

A CoreXY-based motion platform using low-friction tape for plain bearings. Designed for low-force end-effectors, easy reproduction using lasercutter + FDM 3d-printer.

V-bird

  • Presented during the FAB12 conference.
  • Standardized axis
  • Assembled together into a CNC-mill

TODO: Document

Simple Gantry

Our first complete XY platform designed to be fabricated in a Fablab. It can be used to build custom digital fabrication machines, from laserengraving to light-duty milling. Initial prototype is for a gantry-based vinyl/laser-cutter. Video from fabricating the first gantry rig here

Laserengraving using diode-laser

First gantry prototype fabricated on Shopbot

First prototype linear axis fabricated on Shopbot

Machine builder interface

Status

No longer developed

Core principles

  • Using a birdbeak bit to make V-profiles, both inner and outer.
  • Using technical low-friction plastics (UHWMPE/POM) motion/contact parts
  • Assembling and contining to machine the axes on the CNC itself

Tests

Laserengraving

Laserengraving in plywood

  • 10mm/s workspeed, 20 mm/s jog, 0.9 Amps laser power.
  • Gcode generated by Cura, from a STL.
  • No software control of the laserdiode (manually turned on off)
  • Some of the bad lines are actually due to the poor quality font rendering
  • At this speed will also (generally) cut through standard white printer paper

Milestones

  • Make an axis that is longer than the workarea. Either by moving the workpiece, or machine in stages.
  • A machine has been reproduced independently by someone else
  • Use the machine in for realizing a project
  • Have a machine that can fully reproduce itself

Ideas

  • Fabricate V-wheel for standard bearing using Shopbot with birdbeak/birdmouth bit

Resources

Open source lasercutting software

Related work

To develop a complete inventory of fabricatable machines is a goal of the Fablab Network.

The Reprap aims to build self-replicating machines, where each individual machine can make itself. Mostly focused on FDM 3d-printers.

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A motion system for flexible digital fabrication and research. Easy to fabricate and customize.

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