Free and Open-source Control Software for 3-D Motion and Processing. Issue 1 (27th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wijnen, Bas; Anzalone, Gerald C.; Haselhuhn, Amberlee S.; Sanders, P. G.; Pearce, Joshua M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of open research software. Volume 4:Issue 1(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-01-27
• Subjects: 3-D printing -- additive manufacturing -- distributed manufacturing -- firmware -- free and open source software -- FOSS -- open-source -- open-source electronics -- open-source hardware -- personal fabrication -- printing -- RepRap -- rapid prototyping; Computer software -- Reusability -- Periodicals; Open source software -- Periodicals; 005
• DOI: 10.5334/jors.78
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-9647

Abstract

RepRap 3-D printers and their derivatives using conventional firmware are limited by: 1) requiring technical knowledge, 2) poor resilience with unreliable hardware, and 3) poor integration in complicated systems. In this paper, a new control system called Franklin, for CNC machines in general and 3-D printers specifically, is presented that enables web-based three dimensional control of additive, subtractive and analytical tools from any Internet connected device. Franklin can be set up and controlled entirely from a web interface; it uses a custom protocol which allows it to continue printing when the connection is temporarily lost, and allows communication with scripts.