CharlesC

New article Review on 3D printer Extruder

Hi CharlesC, I am working on an article, "3D printer Extruder" located as draft here [1]. It would be really helpful if you could spare some time to review it and follow up with suggestion and feasibility of topic. Thank you.Priybrat (talk) 04:54, 25 October 2014 (UTC)

Sorry for my slow response Pribrat, I rarely look at this page at the moment. Sounds like a worthwhile page to make. Apologies but I have no spare time at the moment. If I was you I would ask some people in the RepRap community who may be in a good position to help. Best, Charles. CharlesC (talk) 13:28, 6 December 2014 (UTC)

How broad a category is Open-source hardware?

Dear CharlesC

I am very glad to see that someone else here is interested in Post-scarcity through open-source design and advanced automation. Here is what concerns me: according to this link

http://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Open_design&action=historysubmit&diff=99002672&oldid=98982803

you made a change on Open_design#See_also and referred to Open-source hardware as "- open-source computer and electronic hardware". I wonder what the correct usage is. Is "Open-source hardware" really a subset of "Open design" but referring only to computer and electronic hardware? The Open Hardware Directory at http://p2pfoundation.net/Product_Hacking implies that the term can include Building and Housing, Furniture--more than just computer and electronic hardware.

At any rate, the Open-source hardware/Open hardware page has a notice saying

. That means that someone, probably you or I, must solve the Open design Vs. Open-source hardware conundrum and then turn the Open-source hardware article into prose. I thought I would bring this to your attention. I will Watch both pages. Fascinating subject. Thanks for your contributions.

Wikkrockiana (talk) 05:45, 26 April 2010 (UTC)

Certainly it is a good point. I think it is all still so nascent that the terms and meaning probably haven't fully solidified yet, and the terms are not sharply defined anyway. Originally I think 'open-source hardware' did refer to to electronic hardware - the compliment of open-source software in. But 'hardware' does of course have a wider meaning beyond electronics too. There is a significant overlap between open-source hardware and open-source design, but I feel that 'design' can include a wider range of things that have more ephemeral components such as 'systems' which can be physical items and processes, and things that are not used termed 'hardware'.

I've done a fair amount of work on these articles in the past, but unfortunately I simply don't have the time at the moment to do any re-writing on Wikipedia at the moment (I'm sorry to say). CharlesC (talk) 12:31, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

Spanner image

I used your spanner image (from the programming tool stub template) in my wiki: [2] I'd like to attribute it to you but I don't know your real name so I just copied the GFDL infobox from the equivalent wikipedia page. Feel free to log into my wiki and add your name to it. --Finnw (talk) 20:20, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

No problem, I have just added a link back to this page. Hope the wiki goes well! --CharlesC (talk) 19:30, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Final Project in Mechanical Engineering

Hi, I saw that you were the author/editor of all kinds of interesting articles and you might be able to help me out. I have plenty of time before I have to decide, but I am looking for a subject for my final project for my bachleor degree. What I would like to do is to look closer at any mobile SFF/FFF units that can be used in contexts like development assistance or humanitarian aid, and if there arent any, the reason for that. Do you have any nice articles or resources I could look in to? Cheers, --Valross 15:08, 13 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure there are any solid-freeform fabrication machines suited to the job just yet. One problem is that rapid prototyping / rapid manufacturing machines are only rapid in the context of old fashioned product development techniques - builds actually take many hours and sometimes days to complete. Currently in a development assistance or humanitarian aid situation it would be much quicker for people to custom build things by hand - high level of tolerance and accuracy are not usually required in these situations (although I don't know what timescales you mean when talking about "development assistance").

Having said that, things in this field are developing and improving pretty fast and I think mobile SFF units could have a significant part to play in the not too distant future aiding the situations you mention. (I think it will have a truly massive impact in the developed world too, but that another story).

If you haven't already, I would recommend reading about the following which could be relevant: RepRap, FabLab, Fab@Home, Architecture for Humanity, Contour Crafting, Electron beam melting and Open Design. RepRap's goal is ideal as it is a multi-material, self-replicating fabricator and the team are hoping to be able to use a plastic feedstock that can be made from plants grown as a crop that could be grown locally. RepRap was initially a university project (University of Bath) and a number of people have been involved with it as part of their final year project. Perhaps you might like to contact one of the team members and ask what you could do as a final year project that contributes to its development? Just a thought! Hope some of this helps and good luck! --CharlesC 22:07, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

Thanks a lot! Now I have something to work with. I promise to let you know when I have decided exactly what I am going to write about. A good thing is that it is only a few hours away from Mölndal where Arcam AB is situated. --Valross 08:26, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

What amazing pictures

Just saw your additions to Rhossili. Now I know what those paragliders above my head are up to!

Image:Burry Holms.jpg is astounding. I wonder if it -- or a trimmed version of it (keeping the top half) -- might be worth adding to Loughor estuary?

Telsa (talk) 21:53, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks very much! I've just come back from a week there with the family. Weather was wonderful for flying and going to the beaches with children!

Sure, I've added the image to Loughor estuary too. I didn't crop it as it made the image look a little distant. I think Rhossili Down maybe gives some context to the viewpoint. -- CharlesC 22:19, 31 July 2006 (UTC)