High-service distributor of electronic, electrical, mechanical and industrial products RS Components SA has signed a distribution agreement with open-source three-dimensional (3D) printer supplier RepRapPro to supply the new Ormerod 3D printing kit to engineers worldwide.

The agreement entails the exclusive global distribution of 500 limited edition low-cost, self-replicating printers, continuing with the ongoing distribution of standard units.

RS Components SA GM Brian Andrew says the addition of the Ormerod 3D printing kit improves the company’s expanding ecosystem of solutions for design engineers with its DesignSpark community, which entails its free DesignSpark-printed circuit boards software and mechanical 3D design software.

“The Ormerod is one of the most versatile and upgradable 3D printers on the market. It can be built in less than two hours, which is much quicker than the two days it took to build its predecessor, the RepRapPro Mendal. A pre-assembled wiring loom will allow for quick assembly and an industry-standard advanced technology extended power supply will power the printer,” he notes.

The Ormerod uses the fused filament fabrication process to build 3D objects in a range of plastics and in a variety of colours. This process enables the user to create almost any shape that can be modelled on a computer, including some that cannot be produced by traditional manufacturing techniques.

Despite being a monochrome 3D printer that has been configured to work with one type of plastic at a time, the Ormerod is fundamentally designed to work with three-colour deposition. An upgrade kit will soon be available.

The 3D printer can connect to a Web browser, which creates an easy-to-use interface without the need for specific software to control the printer. Further, owing to the printer’s open-source nature, it allows for continuous development by the 3D printing community.

The printer is more affordable than the Mendal, at R8 999.99.

The benefits of 3D printing include the fast prototyping of designs without having to outsource.

Andrew says 3D printing will make prototyping easier and more cost effective, which, in turn, will lead to more innovation in South Africa.

He believes 3D printing is gaining greater traction in South Africa as the selling price of 3D printers decrease, which, he says, the Ormerod will achieve. Globally, price has always been one of the biggest factors restricting the growth of the 3D printer market, he adds.

“Educational institutions and larger businesses have had access to 3D printing, but these are generally closed platforms. It is the open-source community, such as RepRapPro, that is driving the price down and making 3D printing more accessible,” he notes.