[p2p-research] [freeknowledge-discuss] Fwd: Free Manufacturing idea

Sat Jul 18 10:18:43 CEST 2009

Dear Wouter,

the link you discuss, is at present mostly an empty structure,

see http://p2pfoundation.net/Open_Source_Manufacturing_Tools

is there any  chance that people could start filling these up with details?

On the other hand, this page is much more developed, just in case people are
not fully aware of it: http://p2pfoundation.net/Product_Hacking

And as you probably know, the extensive sections on open design and
distributed manufacturing have been recently revamped by Nathan Cravens:

see http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Design and
http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Manufacturing

Michel

On Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 12:43 AM, Wouter Tebbens <wouter at freeknowledge.eu>wrote:

> Hi Karlis, Smari, Michel and all,
>
> I agree that the topic of Free Manufacturing is indeed a very interesting
> one. Very much needed if we'd like to come to a distributed production
> system by the multitude.
>
> Therefore I welcome Karlis initiative to write a collaborative book about
> it. The initiative could provide a well discussed definition of Free
> Manufacturing, a theoretical part, and exploration of existing projects,
> tools and people, an economical review, etc. In fact, the project itself
> might be very helpful to unite forces, and to expand the group.
>
> As far as I know (that's limited anyway, so I might probably be
> mistaken...), there are definitions of Free Software, Free Knowledge, but
> not of Free Manufacturing. We have theories of P2P production by Michel,
> commons based peer production by Yochai Benkler, Eric von Hippel on User
> Innovation, but no specific critical analysis of knowledge in manufacturing
> and what Free Knowledge could bring in that area.
>
> At the P2P Foundation there is a directory of tools, projects and people,
> [1]. And I think all of us know a few more people and things going on in
> this area, so we need to get back to the union of forces.
>
> The way we could unite forces should be somehow distributed. We will be
> working on the set up of a discussion space (in a freedom respecting social
> network tool), and link as much as possible to existing groups, directories,
> research, projects, ... by doing so we could possibly connect to each other
> and contribute from different groups and perspectives.
>
> I hope this approach will satisfy all in working towards a common goal!
>
> [1] http://p2pfoundation.net/Open_Source_Manufacturing_Tools
>
> best and good weekend,
>
> Wouter
>
> Kārlis Repsons wrote:
>
>> Hi Smári!
>>
>> I appreciate your interest and I believe, that we have quite a bit to
>> discuss, but there is still a problem, that communication environment hasn't
>> been set up. There is at least one more interested person with mechanical
>> engineering background in freeknowledge.eu.
>> So, please let us set environment up (currently publicly negotiated at
>> discussion at freeknowledge.eu) and then we should be able to discuss and
>> build things!
>>
>> See some answers below.
>>
>> On Friday 17 July 2009 10:20:24 you wrote:
>>
>>> Karlis,
>>>
>>>  This sounds like a good project.
>>>
>> It is, of course, intended to be, but serious work must be done still.
>>
>>   I have been doing some work with Bryan Bishop, Ben Lipkowitz and Sam
>>> Rose (CC'd) on the idea of creating a database of manufacturing
>>> processes where each defines a set of inputs and outputs as well as
>>> documenting the process itself to a human readable degree.
>>>
>> There is quite much to discuss about those topics.
>>
>>   Creating such a machine-readable database of interactions would pave
>>> the way for computational solutions of arbitrary "manufacturing graph"
>>> queries such as, "given my available stock of materials, what is the
>>> shortest path to create an electric toothbrush?"
>>>
>>>  Of course for that level of details the database would need to be
>>> extremely large and contain a multitude of object designs as well as
>>> processes. The beauty of this is, though, that the simple process of
>>> defining it makes a standard definition of datafiles
>>>
>> Even more to discuss...
>>
>>  for the manufacturing of anything, which could be adopted for use in 3D
>>> printers, CNC mills, etc.
>>>
>>>  From here we talk of capabilities: What are the manufacturing
>>> capabilities associated with a particular piece of hardware? Or rather:
>>> Which manufacturing processes are made available by a particular piece
>>> of hardware.
>>>
>>>  When we have knowledge of this, we can start geographically mapping
>>> equipment and materials, to add a "distance" notion to the question of
>>> "how to manufacture anything".
>>>
>> Hmmm, I was thinking, that databases are necessary, I guess, you have
>> developed more understanding. And you know, why I think it is good, what
>> you've described before? It might allow an appliance, feedback for theory
>> and ideas and make transition to Free Manufacturing more realistic.
>>
>>   You can imagine where we go from there.
>>>
>> Well, yes, however, there may be many variations.
>>
>>   This kind of project is no less important than the design and
>>> construction of devices like the RepRap...
>>>
>> Willing to manufacture something - sure.
>>
>>   Now, how does this relate to your concept?
>>>
>> Given the previous, it should be documented / described properly at some
>> point.
>>
>>   Primarily, I would argue, in that this book should be a guide on how to
>>> view the abstract notion
>>> of manufacturing given this new manufacturing ecosystem that we are
>>> trying to build.
>>>
>> It may now contain things, which were necessary for me, but are not an
>> essential knowledge, so lets not worry too much, because it is a community
>> book.
>>
>>  It should document equipment, common analytical, chemical, mechanical and
>>> computational processes, and methodology, and
>>> should generally serve as an entry point for people into the world of
>>> free manufacturing.
>>>
>>>  Perhaps you think of this differently, and that's fine, these are just
>>> my two cents.
>>>
>>>  It's good to have you on board! Your background in CFD could help with
>>> a lot of things that would be highly beneficial, such as defining a
>>> parametric design for Tesla turbines...
>>>
>> Any serious CFD project is typically "heavy", so at this time its
>> certainly postponed or with low priority.
>>
>>  and more generally easy accessible documentation and modeling software
>>> would be great.
>>>
>> Well, as you should know, there is OpenFOAM. However, documentation,
>> tutorials, openly available books - its all very lacking still.
>> Best wishes,
>> Kārlis
>>
>>         - Smári
>>>
>>> Michel Bauwens wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear friends,
>>>>
>>>> here is a very important free manufacturing initiative.Karlis is asking
>>>> for feedback, Thanks for doing this,
>>>>
>>>> Michel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>>>
>>>>  From: Kārlis Repsons <karlis.repsons at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>> <mailto:karlis.repsons at gmail.com>>
>>>>
>>>>  To: michelsub2003 at yahoo.com <mailto:michelsub2003 at yahoo.com>
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 11:44:16 PM
>>>>> Subject: Free Manufacturing idea
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello!
>>>>>
>>>>> My name is Kārlis Repsons, I am a young physics graduate, who changed
>>>>> mind about going to CFD doctoral studies, because of perceived global
>>>>>
>>>> problems and
>>>>
>>>>  misuse/small value of my possible work in the field of CFD.
>>>>> What I do right now and why you are reading my letter is an idea about
>>>>> manufacturing inspired by free software. I have made some containers
>>>>> for
>>>>> collaboration on writing a book "Free Manufacturing and Support"
>>>>> already.
>>>>>
>>>>> Since you have taken up even wider initiative, it would be interesting
>>>>>
>>>> for me
>>>>
>>>>  to initiate some contacts with you. Freely available manufacturing
>>>>> information is of crucial importance to allow new production to happen
>>>>>
>>>> and be
>>>>
>>>>  improved, but I happen to think, that FM needs some reference work,
>>>>> which would contain every essential information - definitions, goals,
>>>>>
>>>> motivations,
>>>>
>>>>  solutions, problems and more. My solution, obviously, was to set up an
>>>>> infrastructure for writing a book and now efforts to find contributors.
>>>>>
>>>>> My hope is, that you could advice/participate on some sections on that
>>>>>
>>>> book or
>>>>
>>>>  help with contacts, so some network could be built for writing that
>>>>> book.
>>>>>
>>>>> If this is interesting, please look here:
>>>>> http://gitorious.org/free-manufacturing .
>>>>> Most of content still needs to be added, of course.
>>>>> In the precompiled book there is a section "book writing", which
>>>>> explains about technical solutions, using which it is written. They
>>>>> might be interesting for you too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Let me know about this...
>>>>> And I shake your hand for daring to work on P2P things!
>>>>>
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Kārlis
>>>>> (Latvia)
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Working at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
>>>> http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html -
>>>> http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI
>>>>
>>>> Volunteering at the P2P Foundation:
>>>> http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net -
>>>> http://p2pfoundation.ning.com
>>>>
>>>> Monitor updates at http://del.icio.us/mbauwens
>>>>
>>>> The work of the P2P Foundation is supported by SHIFTN,
>>>> http://www.shiftn.com/
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discussion mailing list
>> Discussion at freeknowledge.eu
>> http://mail.freeknowledge.eu/mailman/listinfo/discussion
>>
>
>
> --
> Wouter Tebbens
> --
> http://freeknowledge.eu/
> Free Knowledge Institute
> /Unlocking the knowledge society/
>
>

-- 
Working at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
http://www.dpu.ac.th/dpuic/info/Research.html -
http://www.asianforesightinstitute.org/index.php/eng/The-AFI

Volunteering at the P2P Foundation:
http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net -
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com

Monitor updates at http://del.icio.us/mbauwens

The work of the P2P Foundation is supported by SHIFTN,
http://www.shiftn.com/
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