Project History

Popular Mechanics Sept 1923 crate joint advertisement.

As children (and sometimes as adults) many of us have played with modular toys like Lego, Construx, Capcella, Erector, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Magnetix and Geomag, K'nex, and the Playmat 4 in 1 tool set.

Many of us gained further experience with modular systems in electronics, computers, and software development. As well as in manufacturing and tool and die work.

Erik Hunting wrote an influential blog about non-toxic shelter.

Wrench-built machine is a RepStrap built mostly out of 1" square perforated tube.

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  Fireball CNC prototype used to print first Darwin and Mendel parts

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  RepRap Mendel

I wrote a series of blog posts early in the RepRap project, on the problem of building a bootstrap printer. How to, without access to a 3D printer, build a 3D printer. Researching and addressing this problem caused me to reflect on my various experiences with rapid prototyping systems used in science and industry. Around the same time, I ran across How to Build with Gridbeam by Phil and RJ Jergenson and Joy Livingwell - a truely inspirational book and excellent reference. The Gridbeam framing system simplified the bootstrap printer problem and opened up many new possibilities! The RepRap Building System was conceived and work on Eiffel began in earnest.

• Griddome

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  Griddome supplies

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  Griddome Jig

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  Dome joint v1

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  Griddome

• The Library of Radiant Optimism for Let's Re-Make the World
• OpenSCAD library, thingdoc fork, openjscad work
• Two years with Phil and RJ at The Summit
• How to Build Your Own Living Structures + A Pattern Language
• Lansing studio