5 ms·

Print a Vacuum Cleaner

42 points by ph0rque 16y ago

md3 16y ago
I think the time would have been better spent trying to print another 3D printer
- patrickk 16y ago
  Isn't it true that most/all new technology looks messy and is barely usable when it is brand new? This person's efforts should be applauded. As an aide, most people like the idea of innovation, but when they see it up close, their reaction is often ugh.
  - iwwr 16y ago
    Up close, the making of sausages is not pretty.
- Stwerner 16y ago
  Looks like RepRap is already self replicating: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
  - diploid 16y ago
    yeah, Chris designed the vacuum as a side project because the lab's roombas are next to useless. We're definitely still working on the reprap world domination schemes :) PS. Just emailed Chris, he'll be super excited to see this!
    - colah2 16y ago
      And I was! Can't believe I made HN!
- colah2 16y ago
  You're right, and, in addition to being the creator of this vacuum (which I designed in a few hours), I'm a core developer of the hacklab-reprap (https://github.com/hacklabto/Hacklab-RepRap https://github.com/hacklabto/Hacklab-RepRap; you can see my last update on it at http://christopherolah.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/hacklab-reprap-coolness-2/ http://christopherolah.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/hacklab-repr... ). Unfortunately, I can't focus on that 24/7 and occasionally work on other projects...
theklub 16y ago
These printers really blow my mind with the amount of potential they have.
zoomzoom 16y ago
Actually this is pretty amazing. A vacuum cleaner was one of the big appliances that broke down the barrier of machines doing chores (along with the dishwasher and clothing washing machine). The fact that reprap can already produce even a bad vacuum cleaner is ana amazing sign of the potential that this technology has and how quickly it is moving. Very interesting.
- Retric 16y ago
  They are not printing a vacuum cleaner; they are printing some of the parts, but you still need to buy A DC motor, Tape Filter (some cloth; see later), Power Supply. Anyway, I wish they focused more on the real advantage of these things which is to produce replacement parts when a 5 cent piece breaks on a 100+$ object. Think being able to replace the little plastic tab on your remote control so you don't have to resort to duck tape to keep the batteries from falling out. Or one of those clips on your backpack that let's you readjust things without just tying a knot in them.
  - diploid 16y ago
    There are definitely people working towards this. Allot of 3d printable replacement parts are already on thingiverse but many have to be product-specific so it can be difficult to find exactly what you need. A perfect example is the remote control tab you mentioned which will be different on each remote control. 3D scanners have been touted as a way to solve this (scan your object, print a new one) but I don't think the resolution will be high enough any time soon to print reasonably aesthetic replacements. The real solution in my opinion is to make MCAD easier and more affordable so it's easier to design a replacement then to walk to the store. FYI. backpack buckles can be downloaded here: http://www.thingiverse.com/derivative:1113 http://www.thingiverse.com/derivative:1113
  - colah2 16y ago
    I bought the DC motor for the second one I'm making at active surplus for $1.95. The cloth was under hacklabs sink in a package of 10 that cost ~ $5, and I didn't use a full cloth. The tape was sitting around, but probably cost about $2 (the one I used this time was taken out of an old vacuum cleaner, ironically enough). The power supply was a fancy one and would cost >$100 but I could have bought a cheap converter for $5. And I used a dollar or two of plastic. So, even if I'd had to buy everything from scratch, it only would have cost me ~ $15. Since that wasn't the case, it only cost me my time and some negligible expenses. Meanwhile, the cheapest portable vacuum cleaner I could find at the stores I went to was $39.99 + tax... Also, we're not that far from printing motors. Fab@home has printed metal by dissolving it into a thick paste and others have printed grooves and run solder through them. Once I can print metal coils, I can print a motor... (Some motors don't need an internal magnet -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor)
lolizbak 16y ago
Would you downvote me if i used the bad wordplay of saying that i'm ...... sucked away ? :) It's really pretty amazing. But the very sad thing is that the kidney printing (http://www.shockmd.com/2011/03/10/printing-a-human-kidney/ http://www.shockmd.com/2011/03/10/printing-a-human-kidney/) would get less funding than a mainstream application of what you've done.
- diploid 16y ago
  True but I think if you look at the grassroots movement of open source a different picture emerges. The hacker appeal of printing a kidney is far beyond that of a vacuum. The only reason it hasn't caught on so far with the hardware hackers pushing these printers is because the open source 3d printers are so far away from being able to actually print that. When the price of open source 3d printers decreases to a couple hundred dollars and their quality has steadily improved for 5-10 years will it matter which cash cows corporations are chasing? In a world where you can just go to your computer and print a kidney for yourself they may just be entirely irrelevant. disclaimer: if you print yourself a kidney, please get a certified doctor to install it :) EDIT: watching the ted talk. He's using custom machines, very impressive in-body printing.
p0ppe 16y ago
You wouldn't steal a vaacum cleaner, but you might be inclined to download and print one.

42 points by ph0rque 16y ago

md3 16y ago

I think the time would have been better spent trying to print another 3D printer

patrickk 16y ago
Isn't it true that most/all new technology looks messy and is barely usable when it is brand new? This person's efforts should be applauded. As an aide, most people like the idea of innovation, but when they see it up close, their reaction is often ugh.
- iwwr 16y ago
  Up close, the making of sausages is not pretty.
Stwerner 16y ago
Looks like RepRap is already self replicating: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
- diploid 16y ago
  yeah, Chris designed the vacuum as a side project because the lab's roombas are next to useless. We're definitely still working on the reprap world domination schemes :) PS. Just emailed Chris, he'll be super excited to see this!
  - colah2 16y ago
    And I was! Can't believe I made HN!
colah2 16y ago
You're right, and, in addition to being the creator of this vacuum (which I designed in a few hours), I'm a core developer of the hacklab-reprap (https://github.com/hacklabto/Hacklab-RepRap https://github.com/hacklabto/Hacklab-RepRap; you can see my last update on it at http://christopherolah.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/hacklab-reprap-coolness-2/ http://christopherolah.wordpress.com/2011/01/24/hacklab-repr... ). Unfortunately, I can't focus on that 24/7 and occasionally work on other projects...

theklub 16y ago

These printers really blow my mind with the amount of potential they have.

zoomzoom 16y ago

Actually this is pretty amazing. A vacuum cleaner was one of the big appliances that broke down the barrier of machines doing chores (along with the dishwasher and clothing washing machine). The fact that reprap can already produce even a bad vacuum cleaner is ana amazing sign of the potential that this technology has and how quickly it is moving. Very interesting.

Retric 16y ago
They are not printing a vacuum cleaner; they are printing some of the parts, but you still need to buy A DC motor, Tape Filter (some cloth; see later), Power Supply. Anyway, I wish they focused more on the real advantage of these things which is to produce replacement parts when a 5 cent piece breaks on a 100+$ object. Think being able to replace the little plastic tab on your remote control so you don't have to resort to duck tape to keep the batteries from falling out. Or one of those clips on your backpack that let's you readjust things without just tying a knot in them.
- diploid 16y ago
  There are definitely people working towards this. Allot of 3d printable replacement parts are already on thingiverse but many have to be product-specific so it can be difficult to find exactly what you need. A perfect example is the remote control tab you mentioned which will be different on each remote control. 3D scanners have been touted as a way to solve this (scan your object, print a new one) but I don't think the resolution will be high enough any time soon to print reasonably aesthetic replacements. The real solution in my opinion is to make MCAD easier and more affordable so it's easier to design a replacement then to walk to the store. FYI. backpack buckles can be downloaded here: http://www.thingiverse.com/derivative:1113 http://www.thingiverse.com/derivative:1113
- colah2 16y ago
  I bought the DC motor for the second one I'm making at active surplus for $1.95. The cloth was under hacklabs sink in a package of 10 that cost ~ $5, and I didn't use a full cloth. The tape was sitting around, but probably cost about $2 (the one I used this time was taken out of an old vacuum cleaner, ironically enough). The power supply was a fancy one and would cost >$100 but I could have bought a cheap converter for $5. And I used a dollar or two of plastic. So, even if I'd had to buy everything from scratch, it only would have cost me ~ $15. Since that wasn't the case, it only cost me my time and some negligible expenses. Meanwhile, the cheapest portable vacuum cleaner I could find at the stores I went to was $39.99 + tax... Also, we're not that far from printing motors. Fab@home has printed metal by dissolving it into a thick paste and others have printed grooves and run solder through them. Once I can print metal coils, I can print a motor... (Some motors don't need an internal magnet -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor)

lolizbak 16y ago

Would you downvote me if i used the bad wordplay of saying that i'm ...... sucked away ? :) It's really pretty amazing. But the very sad thing is that the kidney printing (http://www.shockmd.com/2011/03/10/printing-a-human-kidney/ http://www.shockmd.com/2011/03/10/printing-a-human-kidney/) would get less funding than a mainstream application of what you've done.

diploid 16y ago
True but I think if you look at the grassroots movement of open source a different picture emerges. The hacker appeal of printing a kidney is far beyond that of a vacuum. The only reason it hasn't caught on so far with the hardware hackers pushing these printers is because the open source 3d printers are so far away from being able to actually print that. When the price of open source 3d printers decreases to a couple hundred dollars and their quality has steadily improved for 5-10 years will it matter which cash cows corporations are chasing? In a world where you can just go to your computer and print a kidney for yourself they may just be entirely irrelevant. disclaimer: if you print yourself a kidney, please get a certified doctor to install it :) EDIT: watching the ted talk. He's using custom machines, very impressive in-body printing.

p0ppe 16y ago

You wouldn't steal a vaacum cleaner, but you might be inclined to download and print one.