Hi everybody! Sorry I've been away for so long, I kinda forgot.... Anyway, I plan to update this as regularly as I can from now on.
Recently, I've been working quite a bit on what is to be my big "capstone" project, which is to build a 3D printer. Specifically, a RepRap variant. A RepRap is a type of 3D printer that is simple, compact, easy to use, cheap, and most importantly, open source. So instead of buying a premade printer from MakerBot (which makes very good printers), I can build my own, for a fraction of the cost.
I personally plan on building mine based off of the designs of Nophead. As of now, I think I will have to spend around $300 to get it up and running, which all things considered is very cheap.
I suppose I should back up a bit, and explain how a 3D printer works, for those who might not know. Basically, it is just like a regular printer, except it prints in liquid plastic. While a normal inkjet printer prints ink back and forth, line by line, a 3D printer prints back and forth, rising up layer by layer, putting down beads of liquid plastic, which quickly harden. (For that matter, it doesn't need to print just plastic, 3D printers can be made to print anything from metal to chocolate!)
So, when (fingers crossed) I have the printer up and running, what will I do with it? Well, besides from printing random plastic/chocolate figurines, and stuff like that, I am looking into possibly printing custom arch supports. Basically, while pre-made arch supports are very cheap, custom ones (molded to an individual's foot) are usually a few hundred dollars. Since arch supports (also called orthotics) are just made out of a plastic/gel polymer, I'm thinking I might be able to print them, to give/sell cheaply to lower-income families (specifically to children, who of course grow very fast, and require new shoes frequently).
Anyway, those are my main plans, and I plan on posting more in the next day or so.
Cheers,
-Rafaello
