3D Printing Software Architecture

 
The BIQ Huxley Seedling 3D Printer operates and has been tested with ReplicatorG Software (Windows version) using machine type BIQ Huxley Seedling which supports the Arduino Mega 1280 (ATMega1280 RAMPS).

The BIQ printer comes with a software bundle for installation on Windows which contains all the necessary software and documentation for installing, setting up and running a 3D Printer.

The BIQ software bundle comprises of:

1. Arduino (arduino-0022) which is used to upload the firmware to the 3D printer.

2. ReplicatorG (replicatorg) is the application used to load a 3D drawing (i.e. STL) file and converts it to GCodes that are sent to the printer firmware to print the 3D object. It also provides facilities to test and control the printer.

3. BIQSprinter (BIQSprinter) is the name given to the firmware that interprets the GCodes it receives in order to print the 3D object.

This software also has dependencies on Skeinforge40 (40_reprap_python_beanshell.zip), Java (j3d-1_5_2-windows-1586) and Python (python-2.7.2).

Software bundles for other platforms will be made available later or upon request. Please contact BIQ for more information or requests for other platforms.

To get a more in-depth insight about the software used for 3D Printing also see How Can I Find out More.

“Mendel” named after the father of genetics, is the second improved version f RepRap which is small enough to fit on your desk, but with a print volume that is suitable for most hobbyist or rapid prototyping needs. The machine is made up of bits bought from local and online suppliers, and parts which can later make for itself i.e. all the structural components can be printed.

The goal for this project was to ensure simplicity by design, easy assembly and use, reduce cost and to make an aesthetically pleasing 3D printer that is more accessible to the hobbyist and home user market.

BIQ provide the Huxley Seedling in a variety of frame finishes such as MDF, acrylic glass effect perspex (6mm thick) in flat pack DIY kit form or fully built and tested. If you already have 3D printing electronics and mechanics you can also just obtain the frame and reuse you own components to build your own variant! The printer kits come complete with accessories and spare parts.

For a full technical specification see our Tech page.

3D printing devices available today are cumbersome to use and often unaffordable. There have been several, often related efforts to develop 3D printers suitable for desktop use, and to make this technology available at price points affordable to many individual end-users. Much of this work was driven by and targeted on DIY/enthusiast/early adopter communities, with links to both the academic and hacker communities. This kind of technology extends the use of existing hardware, making it particularly cost-efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The RepRap project was started in 2005 by Adrian Bowyer, who teaches mechanical engineering at Bath University which is a project that aims to produce a FLOSS (free/libre/open-source software) 3D printer, whose full specifications are released under the GNU General Public License, and which can print a copy of itself. In this case you must first have a printer in order to build another one. As of November 2010, the RepRap can only print plastic parts although research is under way to let the device print circuit boards too, as well as metal parts. This project has resulted in many variations of low end 3D Printers being made by new start-ups which are now selling them for between £430 for a very basic DIY kit and £2000 for fully built and tested machines.

BIQ aim to provide both flat-pack DIY build it yourself kits from anestimated £350 to £500 for a fully built and tested machine! See our Products page for information.

This post is brought to you courtesy of Reprap

Also see:

How can I find out more?

3D Printing Software Architecture Overview

BIQ’s 3D Printer Huxley Seedling

Please see our additional sections on 3D Printing , 3D Scanning  and CNC / Engraving  for more information about BIQ 3D Technologies and products.

Also see:

Our Product pages for products that we provide and our Tech  page for detailed information on our products including hardware, software and user guides.

Some other useful links about 3D Printing include:

Reprap Printers & Projects

The Reprap Wiki provides useful information about various Reprap projects with lots of information about the evolution of the different variants of 3D Printers, software and a forum for discussion on 3D Printing technologies.

Thingiverse

Thingiverse is a site that provides lots of designs (CAD drawings/STL) files that can be downloaded and printed on a 3D printer. It also demonstrates the kind of things that can be printed using a 3D Printer!

Skeinforge

The Skeinforge Wiki provides a overview of the various settings in Skeinforge that can be used to improve your print quality.

ReplicatorG

Provides and overview of ReplicatorG PC software used for 3D Printing.

Arduino

Arduino provides the open source electronics platform for 3D Printing

STL File Format

The STL Wiki provides more information about the CAD file format used for 3D Printing. Here is a link to convert to STL format in Google Sketchup.

GCode

3D Printers print using GCode. The GCode Wiki provides a full list and description of these GCodes. GCodes used for 3D Printing with ReplicatorG can be found here.

CAD Programs

Google Sketchup

The Reprap Wiki – Useful Software Packages Provides a comprehensive list of 2D & 3D CAD packages. Some are open source and some are not!

After three years of market research and proof of concept for your first project in 3D printing we are now ready to launch this product and other related products into the marketplace.

The first of these is the BIQ Huxley Seedling 3D printer kit  which is available in laser cut MDF or Perspex (6mm Acrylic). This printer has been demonstrated in 2011 at Makerfaire and the Manchester Science Festival  in association with Fablab Manchester  and BBC Bang Goes the Theory Live and received a great response and feedback from visitors to these events.

We are researching and developing various 3D printing accessories and parts and are also researching and developing other products to complete our 3D technology portfolio!