The CandyFab Project - A list of questions

A list of questions

Here is an almost-organized outline of some of the things that we're looking at exploring for the CandyFab project. We plan to take each of these little lists and expand it into a useful discussion, with your help. Is there any part of this list that you know something about, or are willing to check out and report back on? Get involved!

Things to be explored:

motors -- Stepper, servo? DIY servo from RC hobby motors?
Air pump (partially answered, see here.)
air filters / dessicators
position encoders
linear bearings
electric automotive jack (for vertical axis) and alternatives
Canvas
heating elements

sandblasting (sugarblasting)
ultrasonic cleaning and deburring
vibratory polishing
rock candification
sugar "laquering" with a candy coating
wax dipping
heat annealing - Kitchen oven?
investment casting: Plaster, wax, aluminum, steel, pewter, bronze
plastic clear coats

"Plug and play" software with graphical user interface that is open source, cross-platform, and good.
File conversion utilities
Adjustable hinting and thermal modelling
Design of vector tool paths; selection of language (G code?)
Compensation for typical printing anomalies during slicing?
Automatic pseudo annealing for crack resistance in high-CTE materials
Selection of appropriate open-source software license(s)
Examine existing open-source software tools, e.g., GCAM, LinuxCNC

Plastics (which types?) We've had success with HDPE, and polypropylene seems to work as well.
Chocolate
Waxes (which types?)
Glasses (Which types?)
Metals: See Notes on low-melting point metals

Glass shot-- bead blasting media
Bismuth shot - "lead-free" shotgun shot
plastic beads (from craft sources)

Is it worthwhile to put together a CandyFab "kit" to sell? Or keep it as a virtual kit with a parts list?
CNC packages that could be sent to manufactures for custom wood/plastic parts
CAD formats to be chosen for distribution

Large-scale off-the-shelf version: The CandyFab 5000s (coming next year!)
Kitchen-counter scale off-the-shelf version: The CandyFab Junior

Fire safety: detection and suppression
Food safety: What is required to be truly food safe?

Aternative materials to canvas
All-metal liners for use with high-temperature materials
Create Fabric/rubber/plastic liners that do not require sewing-- glue parts of rubber raft/raincoat material together?
Linerless design?

A list of questions | 8 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

From: Wilfred on Tuesday, July 24 2007 @ 11:24 AM PDT

You're on the right track!

Just get away from threadrod and exposed mechanics NOW, heating generates smell. Guess what smell sticks to. (Dont bother trying to cover it up, the cover is mechanical too.)

-Wilfred
WilfredGuerin@gmail.com

[ Reply to This | # ]

A list of questions - From: Windell on Tuesday, July 24 2007 @ 12:14 PM PDT

Design for the situation, Simplicity and Accuracy - From: Wilfred on Tuesday, July 24 2007 @ 01:10 PM PDT

Design for the situation, Simplicity and Accuracy - From: Oren Beck on Wednesday, December 19 2007 @ 12:06 AM PDT

From: Anonymous on Friday, July 27 2007 @ 08:23 PM PDT

There's this wonderful sticky brown wax, Victory brand, I think, that I've used for glass casting - it melts at a pretty low temperature and would be great for making models. How would you do the layering thing with wax, though? Are you thinking of powderizing it and spreading it in layers, like you do with the sugar?

Patti

A list of questions - From: Windell on Friday, July 27 2007 @ 08:42 PM PDT

From: Wonko on Monday, August 06 2007 @ 04:17 PM PDT

Kitchen-counter scale off-the-shelf version: The CandyFab Junior
This would be a perfect thing to offer. Preferably built using an existing commecial printer plus all missing parts that come in a kit.

A list of questions - From: Windell on Monday, August 06 2007 @ 04:22 PM PDT

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