The rock-solid MendelMax 1.5 printer.

NOVARRG (Northern Virginia Reprap Group), the 3d-printing group hosted at Nova Labs, has been doing a lot of work recently.   Nova Labs is so much more than 3D-printers, but this is a special update because of the general interest outside the group.

NOVARRG would normally meet the first Saturday of the month at Nova Labs’ Reston location.  In March, though, we’ll gather at the Chantilly Regional Library (Meetup details here). This will be a public demonstration of 3D-printing technologies – basically showing off the various printers constructed and operated by members of the NOVARRG group.  This follows our earlier, extremely successful demonstration at the Reston Regional Library.  These printers range from commercially-available pre-assembled ones, to do-it-yourself kits, to custom ones built at Nova Labs with the digital fabrication equipment like our laser-cutter and other 3D-printers.  We think this will be the largest concentration of 3D-printers outside of a full-blown Maker Faire!

Second, we’re now up to 3D-printer build group four!  We have guided three previous build groups, where materials are purchased in bulk and 3D-printers constructed mostly from scratch.  Doing it as a group incorporates the economies of scale needed for price improvements through quantity purchases, and also provides a support system for people to ask questions about the process as they put one together. Build group four will construct a MendelMax 1.5 printer for a cost of $750.

These are currently sold as various kits from $1200-1700, so we are doing our part to make it affordable.  If you’re interested, we just need that money in advance so we can order the appropriate number of kits.  Contact brian to start the process.