For those who have been following the Rapid Prototyping Mill (RPM) machine from qu-bd, first shown at Maker Faire Bay Area this past year, will be happy to hear that they are finally entering the next phase of development. They will start focusing on the machine and its milling capabilities after its successful Kickstarter sharing their excellent 3D extruder (that combined “the best parts the Makerbot MK7/8 and Makergear Plastruder“.)
Check out their press release to learn more:
We wanted to announce the official information about our Rapid Prototyping Mill (RPM) and the beta program that we will be offering, culminating into another Kickstarter campaign to fund full scale production. We will be posting a lot more information, pictures and videos (machining metal and printing) in the coming days. We want this to be the last machine you ever buy (see FUTURE BOLT ON UPGRADES near the bottom); you are buying an incredibly robust platform.
We originally developed the RPM to not only machine metals (including stainless steel) but also be able to 3D print accurately and quickly. We developed the RPM chassis to be modular, to allow the addition of other components and capabilities, as well as to make available an open source, building block platform for makers to utilize.
The RPM is manufactured from 100% precision machined aluminum and steel. The structure is made from CNC machined, 1/4″ thick panels bolted to 2″x2″x1.25″ billet aluminum corner blocks (into a boxed in cube). It has been designed from the ground up to be able to effectively machine metals, plastics and wood as well as maintain the speed necessary for 3D printing.
Every Thursday is #3dthursday here at Adafruit! The DIY 3D printing community has thrilled us at Adafruit with its passion and dedication to making solid objects from digital models. Recently, we have noticed that our community integrating electronics projects into 3D printed enclosures, brackets, and sculptures, so each Thursday we celebrate and highlight these bold pioneers!
Have you take considered building a 3D project around an Arduino or other microcontroller? How about printing a bracket to mount your Raspberry Pi to the back of your HD monitor? And don’t forget the countless EL Wire and LED projects that are possible when you are modeling your projects!
The Adafruit Learning System has dozens of great tools to get you well on your way to creating incredible works of engineering, interactive art, and design with your 3D printer! If you have a cool project you’ve made that joins the traditions of 3D printing and electronics, be sure to send it in to be featured here!