Hi all,
I started to prototype some angles using ponoko.com in order to create my own metric version of contraptor. My aim is to progress slowly as I am not so much an mechanical guy and I still need to figure out how some of the slinding elements, motor couplings, pulleys and rails work together.
My first batch of laser cut angles can be seen here: http://justjoheinz.posterous.com/contraptor-teile It is just a small prototype production.
MY next attempt will be to create linear motion kits and go large scale in the cutting of angles of bigger sizes. The acrylic parts seem to be reasonably stable. Of course they would not match the aluminium angles, but I guess it should be doable to construct e.g. the X-Y plotter.
I would be delighted if others respond to this thread if there still exists interest in the metric version of contraptor. As I am not limited to exisiting aluminium profiles sizes, I can pretty much lasercut anything, as long as it is 3mm thick. So currently I try to design something which adheres to the grid style of contraptor, as I have not really found matching elements in metric versions of alumunium profiles, which would allow this.
