18 day RepRap Marathon

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A experiment in self funded exponential replication.

For the next 18 days, it's just going to be me and my RepRap hobby.  It's something I have wanted to do since I first read about RepRap 2 years ago, and finally I have the time to do it (Use it or loose it vacation days, got to love them :) ).  This will be an experiment in how exponential growth works in the real world of RepRap. 

To keep myself honest, I am going do to 1 blog post each day telling about the progress i have made toward my goal, and what I have learned.  It should be interesting considering my pension for doing stupid things and telling the world about it. :)

I go into this project with

1 95% completed Prusa Mendel

1 50% complete set of Prusa RP parts set to SAE fasteners
1 100% at this time operating MB Cupcake (with DC gearmotor, so let's see if it holds out)
1 1 set of the Makergear Stepper extruder kit to replace my DC gearmotor if it dies
2 Set of screws, smooth , and threaded for Imperial Prusa Mendel
1 Set of screws, smooth, and threaded for Metric Prusa Mendel
2 sets of PEEK barriers from Makergear
2 NEMA 17 stepper motors (two different makes, so must me by X & Y)

My goal is to by the end of the 18 days have enough money coming in from RP parts sells, and enough experience with the Prusa Mendel Design that I can reach exponential growth (If only mathematically for a few days).

I am going to set a lofty goal, 6 new printers in 18 days, all funded via selling RP parts online.  I feel I can use what I have already because besides my Cupcake I got 14 months ago, everything else has been paid for by selling RP Parts.

The "Plan" assumes that I will not have the Prusa printing parts until Friday, that the Makerbot holds out for 18 days at a 20+ hour printing pace (We will see), that I will at no point have more than 2 printers functioning at one time, and that I have a quick turn over on the Prusa Mendel RP sets.

To this end all RP parts sold from this project will be only $100 ($50 less than the going rate), so that they go quickly.  All parts will come with a certificate stating how what number replication it is for me, and what machine made it.

My "base" build will be as follows
$50 4 http://www.alltronics.com/cgi-bin/item/28M056/55/Lin-Engineering-4118M-02-07RO-bipolar-stepper-motor 63 oz-inch stepper motors
$220 1 http://ultimachine.com/content/ramps-pre-assembled-kit Ramps Electronics and 4 connectors for motors
$165 http://www.makergear.com/products/plastruder 1 plastruder kit from Makergear, if they are out of stock I will just get 1 more stepper motor and $87 http://www.makergear.com/products/operators-pack an operators pack and mount
$40 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110538227436&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNAFP:US:1123 a 20A power supply
$35 http://www.mcmaster.com/#9368T115 12 brass bushings, and http://www.mcmaster.com/#7959K24 8 foot of .2" xl 1/4 inch wide belting.
$50 Local fastener store all the Tool & threaded rod and fasteners.

So $560 that's the simplest, easiest way to build a Prusa, I could cut that by $200, and likely will if it seems practical, but considering I am going to be printing 20+ hours a day, I might not want to get into complicated soldiering :)

I go into this project with $600 from selling RP parts, so on Monday I will order 1 of everything I need for Prusa2

So for the 18 day run, this is my "plan"
1. Finish partial set, and 1 more for getting ahead on Prusa Mechanicals
All components for 2nd Prusa ordered
2. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)Altronics
3. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)Ebay Power supply
4. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)electronics
5. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)belts/bushings
6. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)Hot end
All components for 3rd Prusa ordered
7. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)Alltronics
8. Sell 1 Prusa Set ($100)Ebay
2nd Printer online
9. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Electronics
10. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)belts/bushings/hotend
All componetns for 4th Prusa ordered
11. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Electornics
12. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Motors/Hot End
13. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)belts/bushings/powersupply
All components for 5th Prusa ordered
14. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Electronics
15. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Motors/Hot End
16. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)belts/bushings/powersupply
All components for 6h Prusa ordered
17. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)Electronics
18. Sell 2 Prusa Set ($200)motors/Hot end
All components for 7th Prusa but hot end belts and bushings ordered

That would mean that in 18 days I could supply the world with 27 new Prusa Mendels, and they would return the favor by giving me 6 1/2 back.  of course there are a lot of ways this could not work out.

-My MB loves to eat DC gearmotors, if this happens before I get Prusa1 up and going the Geared Stepper falls into the critical path.
-The parts could not sell, but I think at 1/3 less than the going rate I shouldn't have an issue with that.
-It could take more than a week to get Prusa1 up and going (All I need to do it put the build plate & hot end on, calibrate, and I am good).  Not likely, but with the help of #reprap in IRC I think I will have no issues
-The Great Gremlin, we don’t' talk about him, but Makergear and Prusa designs are mostly Gremlin resistant.

Next post tomorrow evening.  I made Day 1 pretty easy considering I work 14 hour days on the weekend, and those days are hard.  Wish me luck, and if you see me in #RepRap tell me to print faster. :)

Still Extruding