Project Summary | Project Information |
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Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printers require resources such as reliable power and a specialized plastic filament. In Colombia, and other developing countries, the power supply can be inconsistent, and in some areas is nonexistent, so a new solution for 3D printing is necessary. In 2017, an RIT MSD team developed a 3D printing solution that combined solar energy and battery storage to overcome an unreliable power grid system. However, the solar power unit that was designed did not function as intended. The key goals of the project are to make improvements to the existing solar-powered 3D printer developed by RIT students in 2017. The power management system should be made robust and the printer should fail gracefully when power cuts out. It’s desired that the printer accept pellets rather than filament and include additional functionality such as milling or laser cutting to increase utility. Finally, the printer should be easy to package, assemble, disassemble and transport to Cali, Colombia. The resulting solution should ideally be sustainable with easily obtained local materials. This project hopes to encourage and nurture innovation in children in Colombia and enhance ongoing education efforts with 3D printing technology. For an updated project description, click on the following link for the Project Readiness Package. |
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Team Members
Member | Role | Contact |
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Robert Mejia | Project Manager | rym7708@rit.edu |
Lawrence Holden | Lead Engineer | lah5116@rit.edu |
Olohirere Jennifer Aruya | Computer Engineer | oja6360@rit.edu |
Leah Jones | Electrical Engineer | lxj7882@rit.edu |
Aaron Edelman | Electrical Engineer | aje3254@rit.edu |
Sienna Fisher | Mechanical Engineer | slf1413@rit.edu |
Work Breakdown: By Phase
MSD I & II | MSD I | MSD II |
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Integrated System Build & Test Customer Handoff & Final Project Documentation (Verification & Validation) |
Work Breakdown: By Topic
Project Management | Design Tools | Design Documentation | Implementation | Validation | Presentation & Dissemination |
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Problem Management |
Pugh Concept Selection |
BOM Mechanical Drawings Software Diagrams Manuals |
Mockups Test Fixtures Prototyping |
Analysis Results Simulations Test Results |
Design Review Documents Technical Paper Poster Imagine RIT Exhibit |
Acknowledgements
Mike Buffalin, Director of The Construct at RITDr. Denis Cormier, Earl W. Brinkman Professor and AMPrint Center Director
Dr. Chris Hoople, Senior Undergraduate Lecturer in Electrical Engineering
Dr. Robert J. Stevens, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Energy & Environment Option Lead