Additive Manufacturing with RepRap Methodology: Current Situation and Future Prospects
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Date
2014
Authors
Romero, L.
Guerrero, A.
Espinosa, M.M.
Jiménez, M.
Domínguez, I.A.
Domínguez, M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Texas at Austin
Abstract
In February 2004, Adrian Bowyer, from the University of Bath, began an open initiative called RepRap, with the purpose of creating an open source rapid prototyping machine which, moreover, could replicate itself. This article analyzes the current status of the RepRap initiative, commenting the basic components of RepRap machines, the differences between the different 3D printers developed by the RepRap community so far, and the technical possibilities that opens this technology from the engineering point of view. In addition we propose some improvements that could be perfectly feasible in the short term. For this purpose, the assembly of a RepRap Mendel Prusa was performed, but with some modifications.