Repurposing of abandoned printing devices

Repurposing of abandoned printing devices through physical computing and open source software and hardware

by Gonzalo Ramírez Restucci

abstract:

Develop a modular system and procedure to re-utilize old printers & plotters internals for the creation of more "interesting" printing devices.

description:

This project aims to develop a system that based on any generic dismembered plotter or large format printer, allows for a replaceable “printing head” to be used together with the carriage mechanism in order to produce a printing robot that is powered through AI and capable of a rich amount of printing styles and behaviors. Control of the device will be done through the magic of arduino and open source software.

Printing heads are to be produced using basic 3D printing, allowing for different components to be designed and mounted in different ways, from a Pan-Tilt-Yaw robotic arm with a mounted brush or pencil controlled with a wiimote, to a paintball gun shooting at a wall, taking parameters from software, gathering data from statistical and analytical procedures, visiting concepts of generative composition, GML, and code one-liners. You get the idea.

There could also be other uses completely unrelated to printing, that's the whole point of making this device as modular and open ended as possible.

personal profile and background:

My name is Gonzalo Ramírez, from Santiago, Chile, born in 1981.
I've been living in Valencia, Spain, since 2009.

I've been involved with technology since very early in my life, I proud myself in being an early adopter of Linux and open source technologies, not a fan, but someone who can take the best out of different technologies and mix them together to create complex and interesting solutions. Being good enough in networking and integration of systems, I turned myself to the use of all this knowledge to the aiding of people in the need of integrating technology and art, that means working with different artists and institutions in many different and fun projects.

Currently I've been doing workshops on these subjects, building pieces that involve movement, AI, robotics and other crazy stuff. I'm also developing a project to gather people interested in learning open technologies in support of the DIY culture in my local area, a Hacker/Maker Space if you will.

profiles of potential collaborators:

This project could use some:

• Coders experienced with programming AI, genetic and generative algorithms.

• People that has been hacking their rep-raps or other 3d printers to behave in strange ways.

• Human beings with awesome making skills.

• Fresh ideas from anyone interested in the above.

ultima edicion por Gonzalo Ramírez (07-07-2012 14:32:27)