USAID posted an article on their blog about 3D printing and the IEPAS weather station project. http://blog.usaid.gov/2015/03/how-3d-printing-can-help-save-lives/
We have been a little remiss in reporting progress on the MMA Weather Station over the last few months, but we’ve had some early prototypes out in the elements for testing and we learned some important lessons on durability and reliability. Here’s an update on what we’ve been up to: Outer Shell and Structure Aside […]
The potentially transformative nature of technology is always seductive to the humanitarian community. Technologies often serve as vessels to carry a vision of a better future. It seems too that over the last decade every consumer electronic or social media site is sold as a ‘disruptive’ technology. The humanitarian community gravitates to such ‘disruptive’ […]
After several iterations, we’ve narrowed down the hybrid gauge to two versions that we are going to subject to initial testing. The first version, modestly named the “Ultimate” is the largest version of the gauge that we can make in the confines of the 5” x 5” x 5” build volume that our current, preferred […]
Because our own Mr. Steinson would not claim the credit for himself, I give to you the ‘Steinson Circuit Board’; a circuit board made with a 3D printer using ABS plastic. For size reference, a U.S. quarter is just slightly smaller than the square. To complete it a resistor, amplifier IC (placed on the […]
Eh….probably not….but maybe. Some of the structural components we have designed for the weather station have been developed on a 3D printer that uses PLA. PLA is great as the warping is less than with ABS. This is particularly important for larger pieces or those with extremely thin walls, such as the Stevenson screen. Typically […]
It is late spring in the DC metro area, which means increasing humidity. Despite my best efforts, PLA filament spools used by one of our 3D printers seem to absorb moisture, although our warehouse is not exactly a controlled environment. The effect, at least on our machine, is a lot of bad prints. Well, to […]