E-Waste 3D Printer is now Retr3d, pronounced just like "Retread." This change reflects the "Retreading" of 2D printers with a Z-Axis.
In 2009, discarded TVs, computers, peripherals (including printers, scanners, fax machines) mice, keyboards, and cell phones totaled about 2.37 million short tons. Most of our e-waste ends up in landfills where toxic metals leach into the environment. This open source project aims to convert some of that e-waste into usable 3D printers.
Retr3d uses python and FreeCAD to 3D model printable parts for the construction of more 3D printers. Through globalVars.py dimensions of procured e-waste are turned into customized 3D models. Retr3d's software depends on FreeCAD's python scripting API. FreeCAD can be found here.
All of the customizable options can be configured here. After generating your configuration file make sure to replace the original "globalVars.py file with the newly generated one.
To begin creating a printer from the default options, open FreeCAD. Next, select from the menu.
Next, select the folder where is stored.
Finally, select for the available options. After that, hit to create a printer.
If everything was installed correctly, you should now have something that looks like this:
Remember, it might take a while for your printer to be modelled. Please be patient.
To facilitate an efficient work flow, Retr3d can interface with Plater to arrange parts in an extremely efficient manner. Make sure to put the appropriate version of plater in the "plater" folder. (Eg. plater.exe, plater.app, or plater)
Retr3d can also interface with Slic3r to slice parts automatically. After installing the dependencies, make sure to put the appropriate version of Slic3r in the "Slic3r" folder. (Eg. slic3r.exe, slic3r.app, or slic3r)
This error is generated when running "makePrinter.py" directly from the command line. To fix, follow the instructions under "Getting Started" to run "makePrinter.py" as a FreeCAD macro.
Due to the way FreeCAD assigns faces in it's version 0.15, some users may have to downgrade to an earlier version. FreeCAD 0.14 Revision 2935 has been confirmed to work on a multitude of operating systems. Also, FreeCAD Version 0.16 Revision 5239 has also been confirmed to work.
To downgrade on Debian Linux:
sudo apt-get install freecad=0.13.2935-dfsg-1.1build1