Free and Open-source Control Software for 3-D Motion and Processing

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.

Keywords

• 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