Applications of Open Source 3-D Printing on Small Farms

Abstract

Abstract:There is growing evidence that low-cost open-source 3-D printers can reduce costs by enabling distributed manufacturing of substitutes for both specialty equipment and conventional mass-manufactured products. The rate of 3-D printable designs under open licenses is growing exponentially and there are already hundreds of designs applicable to small-scale organic farming. It has also been hypothesized that this technology could assist sustainable development in rural communities that rely on small-scale organic agriculture. To gauge the present utility of open-source 3-D printers in this organic farm context both in the developed and developing world, this paper reviews the current open-source designs available and evaluates the ability of low-cost 3-D printers to be effective at reducing the economic costs of farming. This study limits the evaluation of open-source 3-D printers to only the most-developed fused filament fabrication of the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is a strong biodegradable and recyclable thermoplastic appropriate for a range of representative products, which are grouped into five categories of prints: hand tools, food processing, animal management, water management and hydroponics. The advantages and shortcomings of applying 3-D printing to each technology are evaluated. The results show a generalizable technical viability and economic benefit to adopting open-source 3-D printing for any of the technologies, although the individual economic impact is highly dependent on needs and frequency of use on a specific farm. Capital costs of a 3-D printer may be saved from on-farm printing of a single advanced analytical instrument in a day or replacing hundreds of inexpensive products over a year. In order for the full potential of open-source 3-D printing to be realized to assist organic farm economic resiliency and self-sufficiency, future work is outlined in five core areas: designs of 3-D printable objects, 3-D printing materials, 3-D printers, software and 3-D printable repositories.

Tensile strength of commercial polymer materials for fused filament fabrication 3D printing

“…First, many practical applications of open source appropriate technologies (OSAT) for the developing world demand high strength materials [6,[61][62][63]. For example, hand tools used by organic farmers on small farms need to the strength available from higher performance materials to be practical [64]. These same tools could be used in gardens in the developed world.…”

Tightening the loop on the circular economy: Coupled distributed recycling and manufacturing with recyclebot and RepRap 3-D printing

“…The open source nature of the RepRap 3-D printer has resulted in rapid technical evolution and reductions in the cost; currently a basic polymer printing RepRap 3-D printer can be constructed for less than $500 in parts (Anzalone, et al, 2015). Reducing the cost of 3-D printers has greatly expanded its popularity and enabled wide applicability for distributed manufacturing throughout the world for a wide range of products (Pearce et al, 2010;Mota, 2011;Richardson and Haylock, 2012;Gwamuri et al, 2015;Kietzmann et al, 2015;Pearce, 2015;Petersen and Pearce, 2017a).…”

Open-Source Photometric System for Enzymatic Nitrate Quantification

“…This and the open-sourcing the bill of materials ( Table 1 ), the designs (Figs 1 , 2 and S1 Appendix ), and software allow for a greater number of people to use this technology and the new, safer nitrate testing technique. This greater access to the open source appropriate technology is most important in developing regions and for small farmers [ 61 – 66 ]. This greater access also creates the potential for increased customers for the materials that are not easily manufactured by the consumers such as the nitrate reductase.…”