The University of Bath has created a self-replicating 3D printer which they have GPLed.
RepRap itself stands for Replicating Rapid-prototyper and works by building up the component in layers of plastic to produce something akin to a Lego brick in terms of robustness. Sure, there are other 3D printers out there but most are hellish expensive. RepRap did not cost tens of thousands of pounds but less than a thousand.
Best of all, it’s open source. The developers say that “following the principles of the Free Software Movement we are distributing the RepRap machine at no cost to everyone under the GNU General Public Licence. So, if you have a RepRap machine, you can make another and give it to a friend…”
I’m not sure if they are just doing this to be funny, but it’s pretty cool.
June 24th, 2008 at 14:42
Nope, not a joke. We’re serious and it works. We want to give it all away and let it evolve – you can even print the evolved upgrades.
Vik :v)
June 24th, 2008 at 14:52
Very cool. Some guys in my chapter of Students for Free Culture are thinking about trying to get one. It’d be pretty cool if Virginia Tech had a RepRap.