Anybody hear of this - 3D printers for every FIRST team

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I didn't have to do anything but sign up, and they took care of the rest. I was informed today that the equipment is purchased and should be in our hands within the next three weeks.

While we're on the topic of 3D printers, does anyone know if MakerBot 1.75mm PLA critical, or can you buy 1.75mm PLA from other sources/companies that work as well/better? This is our first go-round with additive manufacturing, so I'm sure there's a lot of little details we'll have to learn.

I can not stress this enough:
Until you are comfortable with a MakerBot printer do not extrude anything that MakerBot does not approve of.

Buy their filament or be prepared they might waive off your other material as the cause of whatever issue you might have.

On the plus side there are MakerBot stores that carry their filament if you are near to one you can just walk in an get it.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

I can not stress this enough:
Until you are comfortable with a MakerBot printer do not extrude anything that MakerBot does not approve of.

Buy their filament or be prepared they might waive off your other material as the cause of whatever issue you might have.

On the plus side there are MakerBot stores that carry their filament if you are near to one you can just walk in an get it.

I had heard something to that effect at one point--thanks for verifying!

(Me, near a store. That's *hilarious*! )

[avanboekel]

Looks like most projects are "almost home" now. Looks like they got more funding.

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by avanboekel

Looks like most projects are "almost home" now. Looks like they got more funding.

Looks that way...ours just got funded, down to $98.00 - then the remaining in about 10 minutes by friends of the team.

[geomapguy]

Yep ours got funded.

[MysterE]

We're just waiting for $96.00 more dollars.

[avanboekel]

Originally Posted by MysterE

Apparently in one 12 hour period we got Almost Home funding and then lost it.

Sadness

Same here. We contacted them, and they said it may go back up. My guess is it went to another project and will come back funding pending.

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by avanboekel

Same here. We contacted them, and they said it may go back up. My guess is it went to another project and will come back funding pending.

I think the difference may be how quickly you fund the remaining $100.00. I watched our project get finished and a neighboring middle school lose the "Almost Home" almost simultaneously. Have the requesting teacher closely monitor the email and have someone ready to finish it off as soon as you are notified.

[Alpha Beta]

Wanted to publically thank Team 330 - Beach Bots for contributing to our project. Your contribution triggered an e-mail which caused us to look at the donorschoose webpage. Only then did we discover that the "Almost Home" funding had been applied to our project. We quickly funded the remaining amount and had the process completed by about 8:10 last night.

In the first 10 days of the project donors who include the code INSPIRE with their donation can get up to $100 matched by other donors. We did test this function during our final funding push and found it to work. This suggests that even without the "Almost Home" funding teams might be able to secure the technology by raising only half of the funds.

I expect MakerBot to continue to search for funding to honor their goal. We did not have the resources to add this technology without their generous support. Check often, act quickly, and Good Luck.

[sanddrag]

Radio Shack has 1kg spools of 1.75mm PLA filament for $25 today. I wonder if it's any good.

Edit: I realized this price isn't really any better than what similar spools are available for on eBay and elsewhere. I'm still curious about the performance of these Radioshack ones though.

[protoserge]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Radio Shack has 1kg spools of 1.75mm PLA filament for $25 today. I wonder if it's any good.

Edit: I realized this price isn't really any better than what similar spools are available for on eBay and elsewhere. I'm still curious about the performance of these Radioshack ones though.

It would be nice to know if they work well though. Sometimes having a local supplier is handy in build season

[Rohawk1]

These printers won't go to every FIRST team this year, but the ones who do receive them will have the option of a 3D Systems Cube, a MakerBot Replicator 2, or a MakerGear. As a part of 3824, we are partnered with ORNL, so we have had the privilege to use various 3D printing machines. We have found an incredible amount of uses for this technology, and we want to share our knowledge and experience with it. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

[protoserge]

FYI, Cyber Monday is quickly approaching!

11 AM Eastern tomorrow, Amazon.com will be selling this printer (Up! Plus 2) at a discount. It is presently listed at $1612, and I've seen it as low as $1599 regularly. Others (Joe Ross, below) have noticed it at $1523.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by stinglikeabee

11 AM Eastern tomorrow, Amazon.com will be selling this printer (Up! Plus 2) at a discount. It is presently listed at $1612, and I've seen it as low as $1599 regularly.

It was $1523 on 10/20. Hopefully it will be cheaper tomorrow.

[protoserge]

Currently $1290!