[GRLUG] RepRap / Arduino

[Tim Schmidt]

On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 9:03 PM, <adderd at kkmfg.com> wrote:
> I've seen some mention of RepRap before but I've never seen one or tried
> to build one or anything. I do have experience with a variety of
> industrial CNC equipment though. I've never built one mind you, but I have
> repaired and maintained a few CNC machines. So I do have some experience
> and interest in them.

Excellent!

> I'm kind of curious about this RepRap thing. It's a rapid prototyping
> machine huh... Sounds interesting. Seeing it on a website is one thing,
> seeing it actually work would be something totally different. How well
> does this sort of thing really work in real life?

Just as well as in the videos.  The parts are tangible, useful, solid plastic.

> I like EagleCAD personally. They've got a free version and it's plenty for
> smaller electronics projects. I think it's easier to use and easier to
> find parts for Eagle than KiCAD but I've heard good things about KiCAD
> too. I guess it's a personal preference sort of thing.

It's not personal preference for me.  Eagle is non-free, KiCAD is
GPL'd.  An Eagle -> KiCAD parts library converter exists, so finding
parts for KiCAD isn't any harder than Eagle.  The workflow of each is
different, but KiCAD isn't any harder IMHO.

> I might stop on to IRC sometime... Thanks for the heads up.

Thank you.  We'd love to have you stop by (on IRC or at a
soon-to-be-announced meet).

--tim