Open Source Hardware Enterprise Building Tools for Future On-campus Makerspace

Our Enterprise is currently split between managing our growing 3D printing business and constructing the first few tools for our future makerspace. A makerspace is like a community center with tools, where students and faculty can come work on personal or school-related projects. Our end goal is always to promote and speed up the process of innovation. We currently have one small desktop 3D printer, and are in the process of finishing a much larger version. Our other main projects are a large laser cutter table, a small induction furnace, and a physical Bitcoin.

• The laser cutter table is an open-source design called the Lasersaur. The Lasersaur will be able to cut anything from cardboard to thin sheet metal. Our goal is to have the table finished by the end of the semester, but we are in desperate need of funding to purchase the rest of the components. Developed by Nortd Labs, more information on the design can be found at: http://www.lasersaur.com/.
• The small induction furnace is being designed to melt down aluminum cans and will eventually be used to create material for metal 3D printers still in development. Lessons learned from this small furnace can be applied to a larger scale model later down the line. In the mean time, the small furnace will be an excellent addition to the makerspace.
• Our last project for this semester is the development of a physical Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a relatively new form of Internet currency that is quite difficult for most people to understand. Our physical Bitcoin will be a large 3D printed coin with a flash drive inside containing the software necessary to use Bitcoin. This enables those less Bitcoin-savvy people to give and receive this secure currency much more easily.
• Finally, in addition to our projects, we have our 3D printing business. We take orders from other Enterprises as well as individuals. This is how we have funded our projects so far, but we are reaching the practical limitations of our machine. Currently we can only print one order at a time and are very limited in our part size. Your funding will enable us to build another desktop printer with improved reliability and finish our large-scale model. We would also love to expand our available materials and purchase a resin printer capable of printing with much higher accuracy and resolution.