1-Introduction

Introduction
The **RepRap project** is an initiative founded in 2005 by Dr. Adrian Bowyer, a Senior Lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. The idea was to develop a 3D printer that can print most (and eventually, all) of its own components. The name //RepRap// is short for "replicating rapid prototyper". It has evolved considerably since 2005, with thousands of printers built by hobbists and engineers. T he RepRap project was the impetus for the open-source 3D printer revolution.
 * What is RepRap?**

RepRap might be considered one of those "disruptive technologies", a technology that substantially changes an established paradigm. The replicator of tomorrow may be a direct descendant of this RepRap printer. RepRap has been called the invention that will bring down global capitalism, start a second industrial revolution and save the environment.

There is also a strong and vibrant community of RepRap enthusiasts, well represented by RepRap.org, that encourages experimentation and sharing. This printer is a good example of a massively collaborative project, thousands of individuals, spread across the globe, sharing improvements in hardware and software.

This is an "Open Source" project. **Open source** is a philosophy or pragmatic methodology that encourages free redistribution and access to an end product's design, source code and implementation details. As a result, all of the designs produced by the RepRap project are released under a free software license, in this case the [|GNU General Public License.]

RepRap uses a variation of fused deposition modeling(FDM), an additive manufacturing technique. The reprap project calls it's method //Fused Filament Fabrication// (FFF) to avoid trademark issues around the "fused deposition modeling" term.

As of the date of our build (February 2012), the RepRap project has released four official models of 3D printing machines: The "Darwin" model, was released in March 2007. The "Mendel" model, was released in October 2009. "Prusa Mendel" and "Huxley" were both released in 2010. Developers have named each after famous biologists, as "the point of RepRap is replication and evolution"

Due to the self-replicating ability of the machine, the developers envision the possibility to cheaply distribute RepRap units to people and communities, enabling them to create (or download from the Internet) complex products without the need for expensive industrial infrastructure. They intend for the RepRap to demonstrate evolution in this process as well as for it to increase in number exponentially. [|(Wikipedia)]

This project introduces and reinforces robotics skills and concepts. A RepRap printer is a robot. A **robot** is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Most of the subsystems involved in this project involve robotic concepts and components, including, but not limited to:
 * How does this relate to Robotics?**
 * Electrical wiring
 * Stepper motors
 * Microprocessors
 * Motor controllers
 * Electronic circuits
 * Sensors
 * Feedback mechanisms
 * Firmware
 * Computer interfacing

STEM standards applicable to this project Project based education ISTE NETS for Students
 * Educational value of the RepRap project**