The Fab Store: Difference between revisions

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[[File:The Fab Store.jpeg|thumb|While nothing lasts forever, the Fab Store can make your things last much longer.]]

[[File:Tea Kettle- Broken then Fixed.jpg|alt=Before and after shot of an electric tea kettle lid hinge. The before image shows a rusty, cracked hinge. The after shot shows it repaired and looking brand new.|thumb|A repair cafe's inability to fix a tea kettle with a broken hinge served as an inspiration for the Fab Store.]]

{{Infobox About User And Idea|aboutidea=Fab Stores make a dent in ending our throwaway culture in two ways. First by 3D printing custom parts to repair broken items. Second by delivering on the promise of small-scale manufacturing.}}

{{Infobox What Do I Want|wish1=Own a small percentage of company|wish2=Opportunities for additional, early investment.}}

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Eventually, the Fab Store Network could engage manufacturers who produce custom parts only used in their products. This could be a symbiotic relationship where the Fab Store Network reports parts that frequently break and the manufacturer improves their product while supplying Fab Stores with custom parts to keep their existing customers happy.

==== Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers ====

====Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers====

Each Fab Store has the following equipment:

* A professional-grade, FDM 3D printer

*A professional-grade, FDM 3D printer

* A 3D scanner

*A 3D scanner

* CNC machinery (off-site)

*CNC machinery (off-site)

This equipment should cover the majority of needs. However, there will be times when even more expensive, specialized machines are required to create parts and items. In these cases, the Fab Store sends the order to the Fab Store Network to fulfill.

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Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers are the workhorse of 3D printing. Each Fab Store will have one. They can:

* Print a wide variety of materials (not just plastic)

*Print a wide variety of materials (not just plastic)

* Print quickly. Some can print 500 mm/sec

*Print quickly. Some can print 500 mm/sec

* Print fairly large items. 3' x 3' x3' or larger for higher-end printers

*Print fairly large items. 3' x 3' x3' or larger for higher-end printers

Certain materials and processes require different types of 3D printing technologies, though. Namely, Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Here's a chart ChatGPT created showing the materials each printer type can use and the types of items each materials can create.

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Compatible materials aside, other limitations with FDM require other 3D printing technologies for certain items. For example, FDM technology is:

* '''Low-resolution.''' It creates visible lines between each layer laid down. An SLA printer creates items with smooth surfaces and much finer detail

*'''Low-resolution.''' It creates visible lines between each layer laid down. An SLA printer creates items with smooth surfaces and much finer detail

* '''Not very strong.''' Items produced FDM printers tend to have weak adhesion between each layer. SLA have low mechanical strength without post-processing. Only SLS can produce strong parts natively

*'''Not very strong.''' Items produced FDM printers tend to have weak adhesion between each layer. SLA have low mechanical strength without post-processing. Only SLS can produce strong parts natively

* '''Single item printing.''' Speed is often measured in hours when it comes to 3D printing. This can be a bottleneck. While SLA and SLS typically print slower, they can print multiple items at the same time. FDM it limited to one item at a time

*'''Single item printing.''' Speed is often measured in hours when it comes to 3D printing. This can be a bottleneck. While SLA and SLS typically print slower, they can print multiple items at the same time. FDM it limited to one item at a time

Having an additional SLA and SLS printer at each store would be cost prohibitive. They are also better suited for a building zoned for light industrial rather than commercial.

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Beyond 3D printers, the Fab Store Network could buy other types of expensive, large, specialized machines to offer a wider range of materials and items, such as:

* Woodworking

*Woodworking

* Metal 3D printers

*Metal 3D printers

* Food-safe materials

*Food-safe materials

* Specialized CNC machinery

*Specialized CNC machinery

When a customer's part or item needs go beyond the capabilities of Fab Store equipment, the Fab Store Network can fulfill the request.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 }}
 [[File:The Fab Store.jpeg|thumb|While nothing lasts forever, the Fab Store can make your things last much longer.]]
+[[File:Tea Kettle- Broken then Fixed.jpg|alt=Before and after shot of an electric tea kettle lid hinge. The before image shows a rusty, cracked hinge. The after shot shows it repaired and looking brand new.|thumb|A repair cafe's inability to fix a tea kettle with a broken hinge served as an inspiration for the Fab Store.]]
 {{Infobox About User And Idea|aboutidea=Fab Stores make a dent in ending our throwaway culture in two ways. First by 3D printing custom parts to repair broken items. Second by delivering on the promise of small-scale manufacturing.}}
 {{Infobox What Do I Want|wish1=Own a small percentage of company|wish2=Opportunities for additional, early investment.}}
@@ Line 97: / Line 98: @@
 Eventually, the Fab Store Network could engage manufacturers who produce custom parts only used in their products. This could be a symbiotic relationship where the Fab Store Network reports parts that frequently break and the manufacturer improves their product while supplying Fab Stores with custom parts to keep their existing customers happy.
-==== Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers ====
+====Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers====
 Each Fab Store has the following equipment:
-* A professional-grade, FDM 3D printer
+*A professional-grade, FDM 3D printer
-* A 3D scanner
+*A 3D scanner
-* CNC machinery (off-site)
+*CNC machinery (off-site)
 This equipment should cover the majority of needs. However, there will be times when even more expensive, specialized machines are required to create parts and items. In these cases, the Fab Store sends the order to the Fab Store Network to fulfill.
@@ Line 108: / Line 109: @@
 Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printers are the workhorse of 3D printing. Each Fab Store will have one. They can:
-* Print a wide variety of materials (not just plastic)
+*Print a wide variety of materials (not just plastic)
-* Print quickly. Some can print 500 mm/sec
+*Print quickly. Some can print 500 mm/sec
-* Print fairly large items. 3' x 3' x3' or larger for higher-end printers
+*Print fairly large items. 3' x 3' x3' or larger for higher-end printers
 Certain materials and processes require different types of 3D printing technologies, though. Namely, Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Here's a chart ChatGPT created showing the materials each printer type can use and the types of items each materials can create.
@@ Line 223: / Line 224: @@
 Compatible materials aside, other limitations with FDM require other 3D printing technologies for certain items. For example, FDM technology is:
-* '''Low-resolution.''' It creates visible lines between each layer laid down. An SLA printer creates items with smooth surfaces and much finer detail
+*'''Low-resolution.''' It creates visible lines between each layer laid down. An SLA printer creates items with smooth surfaces and much finer detail
-* '''Not very strong.''' Items produced FDM printers tend to have weak adhesion between each layer. SLA have low mechanical strength without post-processing. Only SLS can produce strong parts natively
+*'''Not very strong.''' Items produced FDM printers tend to have weak adhesion between each layer. SLA have low mechanical strength without post-processing. Only SLS can produce strong parts natively
-* '''Single item printing.''' Speed is often measured in hours when it comes to 3D printing. This can be a bottleneck. While SLA and SLS typically print slower, they can print multiple items at the same time. FDM it limited to one item at a time
+*'''Single item printing.''' Speed is often measured in hours when it comes to 3D printing. This can be a bottleneck. While SLA and SLS typically print slower, they can print multiple items at the same time. FDM it limited to one item at a time
 Having an additional SLA and SLS printer at each store would be cost prohibitive. They are also better suited for a building zoned for light industrial rather than commercial.
@@ Line 231: / Line 232: @@
 Beyond 3D printers, the Fab Store Network could buy other types of expensive, large, specialized machines to offer a wider range of materials and items, such as:
-* Woodworking
+*Woodworking
-* Metal 3D printers
+*Metal 3D printers
-* Food-safe materials
+*Food-safe materials
-* Specialized CNC machinery
+*Specialized CNC machinery
 When a customer's part or item needs go beyond the capabilities of Fab Store equipment, the Fab Store Network can fulfill the request.