PrintBeds

Why this name?

The print bed of a 3D printer is the surface where objects materialize. There, they go from digital to analog. It is one of the key components that influence at least 2 sides of a 3D print and sometimes even what materials can be used.

This inspired us to name our project PrintBeds. We want to create a platform that helps individuals, businesses, or authorities build on top of it.

The problem your project solves

There is a lack of clarity when it comes to what should be done, where it is needed, and how it needs to be done when it comes to at-home or independent not regulated PPE production.

There is also a lack of knowledge of available materials that can be used for 3D printing and their properties. Not all materials are suitable for producing PPE. For example, some equipment might require cleaning with chemicals and that would damage it if it is made out of a material that has no resistance. Another example would be that the equipment has to be water-resistant.

A lot of people have as a hobby 3D printing and have one or more 3D printers. A lot more bought a 3D printer out of curiosity and are not really passionate. Their manufacturing capability remains unutilized. Not all owners are aware they can help and might be excited to be part of a European network. This network can become a European inventory of 3D printing capabilities.

There are a lot of 3D models of PPE that are not the most efficient, comfortable, or useful. There is no direct feedback loop between users and providers.

There's no official channel to provide some recommended models, suggested materials, and quantities needs for specific areas.

These are just a few of the gaps that can be filled.

The solution you bring to the table (including technical details, architecture, tools used)

PrintBeds unites the capacity of people and business to 3D print, laser-cut, or do any other specific task that can be outsourced to machines.

The first phase focuses on the most common tool that some people may have at home: the 3D printer. Sequential phases will include tools like laser cutters, computer numerical control (CNC) machines, etc.

It can be used to produce PPE, on the short term, and other things that may be needed at a large scale in the future.

A scalable platform that will be able to take requests from people that know what they need in terms of size, material characteristics (strength, elasticity, softness, resistance to UV, water, heat or chemicals, durability, and others) and translate that in actual materials that have those characteristics.

Then, those requests will be matched to the closest available providers that are capable of creating and delivering the needed products.

It breaks orders in fragments and distributes those fragments to the providers that accept them.

The solution crosses multiple domains and touches many challenges from the hackathon: PPE production, inventory of 3D printing capabilities, creating a new infrastructure of production (distributed fablab).

What you have done during the weekend

We've settled on the branding, acquired the PrintBeds.eu domain and hosting.

Then we set up the infrastructure of the entire platform on top of a Docker instance. This will make the solution easy to port and scalable (using Kubernetes).

Traefik does a great job of providing us with SSL certificates to encrypt communication on our domain printbeds.eu and subdomains ( api.printbeds.eu ). It also makes sure users' requests get a fast response from the right services.

We managed to model the database schema using Prisma and then generate the tables that we defined and the JavaScript to be able to CRUD on those models.

We started writing a backend REST API with Node.js's Express that will allow users to create accounts, register their 3D printers, or request help with their projects.

We also started working on the frontend application that will be done in Flutter. Flutter is a cross-platform technology from Google that allows building, from the same codebase, mobile, web, and desktop apps. We're interested only in creating mobile and web apps. We used Adobe XD to plan our approach to this frontend application.

The solution’s impact on the crisis

The platform can help with the mass production of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Once completed, PrintBeds can help with mass the production of not just 3D printed objects, which don’t open up the possibility to create anything but orchestrate and provide a virtual assembly line of parts obtained from different providers of the network.

The necessities in order to continue the project

Some time would be the first requirement to complete the project. We were a bit overwhelmed by the complexity the project raises, but we're on the right track.

Then some marketing campaigns with a clear call to action to bring awareness of the platform to bring in people and businesses that have the tools we’re after: 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, foam cutters, and many others.

Also, resources (time & money) to host and develop the platform further.

The value of your solution(s) after the crisis

PrintBeds.eu is not only for the pro bono production of goods (in the short term PPE because of the context of coronavirus and the need it generated).

The platform will not only enable a "citizen supply chain" in times of need and extreme emergency but also open up opportunities for innovation to those who can't afford such machines. The latter can find support inside the community to design and create products at a fair price and in a relatively short time.

It will also provide a way to scale up production of anything that can be created using 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, or any other tools that can be put to good use.

There will be an option or obligation for the institutions and people that need the production capability to cover materials, transport, and other costs involved with the production.

It will become the go-to 3D print or manufacture anything solution in the long term and a source of revenue for the providers.

Built With

• adobe-creative-suite
• dart
• digitalocean
• docker
• flutter
• nginx
• node.js
• prisma
• traefik
• xd