Two improved versions have been released since then: the Prusa i3 MK2 in 2016, and the Prusa i3 MK2S in 2017. The Prusa i3 is part of these improvements, and it’s now one of the most used 3D printers in the world. Over the years, since the RepRap project is open-source, with all the 3D models available online, there have been many iterations of this printable 3D printer from various manufacturing aficionados.

You then need to assemble them yourself and to add the components who can’t be 3D printed, like electronics or metal parts (since it’s a plastic 3D printer). As they are plastic 3D printers made of plastic parts, they can 3D print some parts of themselves, just like they could totally build other 3D printed objects. Moreover, they can’t totally print themselves. They are desktop 3D printers, and thus they are limited in terms of applications compared to industrial Additive Manufacturing. The 3D printed 3D printers made by the RepRap project use the Fused Deposition Modeling FDM printing technology, with plastic 3D printing materials. Here’s a video of Adrian Bowyer assembling the RepRap project: His first functional machine, called the RepRap “Darwin”, with 50% of self-replicated parts, was unveiled in 2008. Adrian Bowyer through the RepRap project, senior lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath, who started his research in 2005. Take this into consideration.The first self-replicating 3D printer was invented by Dr. If we just 3d printed it right away, it would have cost us thousands of dollars on wasted material! There were loose joints, the walls were too thin, and there were 3d models inside the stadium itself.

As we inspected the file, we saw that the model had multiple problems. They wanted a 3d printed version of this. For simple products, this can be the right solution.īut what about complex parts and architectural models? We found that even with the most sophisticated algorithm, you still need some human guidance when it comes to 3d printing these type of projects.Ī quick story, a client sent us a 3d model of an actual stadium. For some 3d printing services, everything is automated, which can make transactions faster. 3d printing takes preparation and planning. Some are 3d print-ready, while some are just plain crazy.

Small 3d print files