rapman-education's posterous

rapman-education's posterous

Dave White  //  A place for educators, teachers, lecturers and students to find "stuff" about RapMan,BfB3000 and BfB 3DTouch printers... The unofficial Blog by Dave White, Advanced Skills Teacher and Head of D&T in Clevedon School UK.

Jan 4 / 9:56pm

Representing print area limits in Axon (for RapMan Twin)

Limits

One of the users on the BfB Forum was enquiring if it was possible to have a different print bed (his own design) visible on the main page of Axon.... well this got me thinking about the "Warning -out of print area" message that axon displays if you move an object around on the bed.... the warning isn't strictly correct. So I've modified the file that displays the print bed to give a visual warning…. Great for helping students to visualise where they can place their objects on the print bed.

So,

If using ONLY extruder 1 you can use the area from near the left edge of the bed to the line marked "Ext 1 Limit"

If using ONLY extruder 2 you can use the area from near the right edge of the bed to the line marked "Ext 2 Limit"

You would need to use the extruder mapping functions in the firmware to do the above.

If using BOTH extruders you can only use the area BETWEEN "Ext 1 Limit" and "Ext 2 Limit".... if using the BfB2 Z0.xx ABSPLA profiles (for example if using ext 1 for object and ext 2 for support materials)

To use this file browse to the Axon install folder ( the default is C:\Bfb Software\Skeinforge ) and rename the file plate.stl to something like plate.old - then copy the new file plate.stl into this folder (then you can always go back to the original if necessary).... the file is attached at the bottom of this post.

Note.... The limits represented by the lines should be ok but it is best to stay on the "safe" side of these lines to prevent the carriage crunching into the framework.

Note 2.... Apart from loading into Axon to see if it works I have not tested to see if it upsets the z height or any similar nasties... so use it at your own risk and don't blame me if..... etc.

 

To download the .stl file see this thread on the BfB Forum http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/forum/post/representing-print-area-limits-axon-rapman-twin

 

Filed under  //  Software  
Dec 12 / 4:58pm

Classroom Innovation Competition

The Guardian newspaper in the UK is running a competition for "Classroom Innovation".... I couldn't resist entering a video from my school (Clevedon School) about 3D printing with BfB machines, so if you would like to see the clip have a look here www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/video/clevedon-school-3d-printing .... It was a bit of a rush to meet the deadline... oops

A preview can be seen on youtube

 To be fair the other entries can be viewed here www.guardian.co.uk/classroom-innovation/award-video-entries .

But of course I would appreciate it if you could vote for us…  we could win £7,500 of Asus computer equipment.

So... the information you need to vote for us

Email to send your vote to classroom.innovation@guardian.co.uk

School name ... Clevedon School.  Subject of Video... 3D Printing

Closing Date 5pm 7th Jan 2011

…. And of course ask all your friends, colleagues and relatives to vote too!!!

Thanks

Dave

Filed under  //  Education   Media   Teaching and Learning  
Dec 5 / 12:21pm

Education Ambassadors at Euromold

We have just arrived back from the Euromold show in Frankfurt. Bits from Bytes and 3D Systems invited me and a couple of students as Education Ambassadors to highlight the use of RapMan and BfB3000 3D printers in a schools context.

Throughout the show I was able to give presentations at the 3D Systems theatre showing examples of students work in 3D printing and the work I have done in developing teaching and learning resources and projects to give educators a hand in getting started and developing their use of 3D printers in D&T, STEM and cross curricular lessons.

The students and I also supported some German universities in the “RapMan Challenge”… the students competing to build a RapMan and print their first object. As the challenge was so successful this was also followed by a challenge to print the most interesting, high quality, innovative object. The winning universities were presented with a prize of a RapMan printer, materials, and a double head upgrade.

The student ambassadors were able to talk to the university students, potential customers and other educators about how 3D printing has enhanced their education and how they are using our schools printers to make objects for their A’Level exams. The students were also able to visit the stands and see how Rapid Prototyping is done with the large machines that are used commercially.

Unfortunately we did have some technical difficulties with Wi-Fi at the show and were unable to do any live blogging at the event, however in a few days’ time I will hopefully publish a more comprehensive report of our visit and some more photos.

Frankfurt was very cold and snow had recently fallen but this didn’t stop us from visiting a Christmas market in Darmstadt and also eating typical German food in a restaurant.

We had a fantastic time and wish to thank BfB and 3D Systems inviting us to attend Euromold for their friendliness and generosity.

Dave

(download)

Filed under  //  Conference   Education   News   Teaching and Learning  
Nov 20 / 12:07pm

Euromold 2010

Logo1

Euromold 2010 is a World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development taking place in Frankfurt, Germany on 1 - 4 December 2010. more details here http://www.euromold.com/index.php?id=51&l=1

Bits from Bytes Ltd and 3D Systems corporation have very kindly asked for me and a small group of students to attend the event where I will be giving presentations about how RapMan and BfB3000 printers can be used in schools. The students will be actind as "education ambassadors" talking to visitors about their work and building a RapMan 3.1 machine. We are hoping to be able to blog our activities (depending on internet access / wifi and the 1001 other technical difficulties we have yet to overcome)... so hopefully you will be able to track our progress here http://bfbeducation.posterous.com/ 

So, even if we can't manage to get the blog running and you happen to be in the Frankfurt area please drop in to see us and have a chat. Bits from Bytes will be in Hall 11.0 stand E26

Filed under  //  Conference   Education  
Nov 12 / 9:12pm

A nice 3D print by a student

Bracket

I just thought you guys would like to see this print... and this time I can take very little credit for it 

One of my D&T Product Design students is designing and making a flat pack moveable kitchen unit/trolley (a bit like an Ikea style butchers block on wheels)... as it is intended to be flat-packed he is designing the fixtures and fittings for it too... to get started he decided that for the first fitting he would produce would be the bottom corner bracket that holds the sides together and attaches the casters (wheels)- and being a little uncertain about the strength and size required he based his experimental part on an existing design that he "borrowed" from a conventional kitchen unit at home. (I do wonder if his parents know)

As you can see the ABS print (the red one in case you were wondering  ) came out really well and as a test piece was very successful.... now he has started on his own designs that are more specific to his unit/trolley.

It is worth noting that this is a photo of the part straight off the machine with no post processing, cleaning up or even photo re-touching!!!

Dave

Filed under  //  Education   printing  
Nov 12 / 8:11pm

Students visit Bits from Bytes

Last week a group of Design and Technology students visited the Bits from Bytes Headquarters in Clevedon, UK. The visit was intended to allow them to see first-hand different production methods in action. It is probably best for me to allow one of them to describe their visit....

 

In our recent visit to Bits from Bytes, we learned various things about the way in which their business works and how they operate. We were taken on a tour of the Bits from Bytes production facility, in an order identical to that of the resources used, what is meant by this is that we started where Bits from Bytes get there raw materials delivered, we then moved on to where the plastic is cut and shaped by laser cutters and finally finished where the products are finished and boxed ready for delivery.

The factory itself is divided into two parts, one side was dedicated to creating the RapMan kits for customers to purchase and build the machine themselves. A great investment for those who would like the experience of building it themselves and also would like to save money, as the kits cost less than the pre-built machines. The second area was dedicated to making BfB3000 machines for customers to buy and install without having to build or configure any parts, although these are charged at a higher price.

It was good to see the differences between the two methods of production and to be able to see one-off, batch production and production lines all operating in the same place.

Learning about manufacturing and production systems in a real life situation was much better than just researching or reading about it and should help us with our A ‘Level Design and Technology exam. Thank you to everyone at Bits from Bytes for allowing us to visit and making us so welcome.

Ollie Elson

 

… Couldn’t put it better myself!

But I would just like to add an "official" thank you from The Design & Technology Department at Clevedon School.

Dave

 

 

Filed under  //  Education   News   Teaching and Learning  
Nov 7 / 4:53pm

Bloodhound SSC and RapMan/BfB3000

Bloodhoundsmall

This resource is about using Bloodhound SSC as a context for designing and making using RapMan and BfB3000 printers.

Bloodhound SSC is the name of a project aiming to break the land speed record with a car powered by a jet engine and a rocket.

It is designed to reach approximately 1,000 miles per hour (1,609 km/h). It is being developed and built with the intention of breaking the land speed record by the largest ever margin.

If funding is obtained the construction should be complete by the end of 2011 and the record attempts may happen in late 2011 early 2012.

The resource contains suggested projects about designing model cars (even rocket or CO2  or balloon powered); printing a 3D map of the desert where the record attempt will take place; engine turbines; and ergonomic controls. There are cross references to other projects where more information and detail can be found.

I would like to thank Bloodhound SSC for the use of their images and ideas in producing this resource http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/

http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bloodhound_SSC

Dave

Filed under  //  Resources   Teaching and Learning  
Oct 21 / 10:44pm

TCT Live

Imag0064

Apologies for the slow posting…. End of term and lots to do!

Anyway, some of you may be aware that BfB and 3D Systems asked me to attend the TCT Live 2010 show in Coventry, UK. I was lucky enough to do a presentation at the show about “The Democratisation of Additive Technologies” …. Obviously RapMan and BfB featured heavily in this! I was really proud that my presentation had a large audience – nearly full to capacity and even people crowding around the edges. So I’m really pleased that we were able to capture so much attention. Even if only a few of those present will now start thinking about ways of using this sort of technology to help students to become better designers and engineers in the future then it was a really worthwhile “event”.

Talking to some of the visitors to BfB’s stand has also generated some interesting ideas for further projects and possible links to develop more educational projects and learning resources…. So keep an eye open for some more developments!

Iain at BfB has posted a Blog entry with more details of the event. http://rapmanv3.blogspot.com/2010/10/tct-live-great-success.html

Filed under  //  Conference   News  
Oct 8 / 9:01pm

Want to see a RapMan or BfB3000?

There are some opportunities to see RapMan and BfB3000 machines at a few events over the next few months

19 -20 October 2010- TCT Live 2010, Coventry, UK.  http://www.tctmagazine.com/x/exhibition.html “THE event for the Product Development and Manufacturing Industry!” Exhibits cover the vast range of RP&M machines and technologies. In addition, the exhibition brings together major players from the sectors of Inspection, Scanning and Digitizing, CAD/CAM/CAE Software and Materials all of whom showcase their latest offerings presenting the perfect opportunity for the prospective visitor to appraise all of the latest technologies on the market.  BfB are on stand G1 /H6, 3D Systems on stand M6/8

18 -20 November 2010 – D+T with ICT Education Show, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK. http://www.dteducation.co.uk/ The Design & Technology exhibition is the only subject specific event of its type relating to teaching Design & Technology in schools. It brings together suppliers, educators, resource providers, associations, professional bodies and teachers who have one common goal - to develop and encourage a technologically motivated generation of students who will provide the UK with the engineers and designers that the country needs in the future. Technology Supplies Ltd the UK distributor for education will be at Stand C62… there are sure to be machines on other stands too Denford Ltd? A1 Technologies? And more!

01 – 04 December, 2010 Euromold Frankfurt / Main, Germany, http://www.euromold.com/index.php?id=51&l=1 World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, Design and Application Development…. Sorry, no details at present but check on the website.

… so if you are thinking of buying a machine or just interested to find out more have a look at these events…. You never know we might even meet up there!

Filed under  //  Education   News  
Oct 5 / 8:06pm

BfB Teams up with 3D Systems

First of all I would like to add .... Congratulations to all at BfB.

For a huge company like 3D Systems to be teaming up with BfB must mean that they respect what BfB has done in the development of new machinery for 3D printing - and making it available to many people who would not otherwise be able to enter the world of RP and manufacture.
From an educational point of view many schools, colleges, students, teachers and lecturers now have contact with methods of designing and making that could only be dreamt of only a couple of years ago. The dream is now a reality, and this has only been possible because of BfB’s dedication and interest in making their products “accessible”. The next generation of designers and engineers are in our schools and colleges now... how will the world continue to develop unless we capture their interest and curiosity and expose them to exciting developments and technologies?
Teaming up with 3DS will, I’m pretty sure, enable BfB to invest even more in ensuring our young people can become excellent designers and engineers.  I look forwards to seeing what the future holds and the developments that this teaming up will bring.

 

More information on the BfB  Blog

 

Discussion on the BfB forum

Filed under  //  News