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Ironically, lack of DIY/consumer powder coating (and, perhaps, more significantly -- steel bending) tools were reasons Bre Pettis gave for why MakerBot went clo
by hugs 12y ago
Ironically, lack of DIY/consumer powder coating (and, perhaps, more significantly -- steel bending) tools were reasons Bre Pettis gave for why MakerBot went closed source.
"Some of the shifts we’ve just made, that’ve made some people grumpy. We are not sharing the design files for the body of the Replicator 2. That’s because it’s powder coated steel, and unless you have, like, an open-source steelbender, you’re not going to be able to do this, it’s not something you can do, at home. It’s something that really you have to have a manufacturing facility to do." [http://makezine.com/2012/09/28/bre-pettis-ohs-challenges-of-open-source-consumer-products/ http://makezine.com/2012/09/28/bre-pettis-ohs-challenges-of-...]
- RyJones 12y agoFor the infrequency of use, and the cost, I agree. A home brake wouldn't be impossible to buy (just a couple hundred dollars) but they're huge and not very useful. http://www.harborfreight.com/36-inch-metal-brake-with-stand-91012.html http://www.harborfreight.com/36-inch-metal-brake-with-stand-...
- ericcope 12y agothis is the best hacker news thread ever. DIY powder coating AND Harbor Freight! Bam!
- karmicthreat 12y agoThe frame of the Replicator 2 is very simple. You can get a 40$ sheet metal brake at harbor freight and a blind rivet setup for 20$. It was just an excuse on the part of makerbot to take things closed source. Everyone should have a rivet gun though. Extremely useful when you have sheet metal that needs to be fastened.
- jloughry 12y agoI had to look up "blind rivet" because I've always heard them called "pop rivets". I agree, though: it's my new favourite tool. Be sure to buy a box of different size rivets at the same time; having the right length to hand is critical, and unlike screws they can't be cut shorter. But the tool is magical---it attaches things securely when you can only get to one side, with a joint that is strong, rigid, and low-profile. Best tool ever.