The Fab-@-Home Dremel Tool

Fab-@-Home is a student run team at Cornell University that has developed and now continues to build on a fabrication device (3D printer), which is cheap enough and simple enough to be built in a common house hold (Assuming a minimum technical background).  The 3D printer works like a regular printer in how the carriage moves around a page in the x-y plane while depositing ink.  The only difference is, in the 3D version it is no longer a plane but x-y-z space and instead of depositing ink, various materials are extruded onto the platform which can be built up layer by layer. 

The Model II version of the Fab-@-Home Printer

The uniqueness of the tool I designed for the printer is that it essentially does the reverse.  Instead of building up, the Dremel tool moves about the x-y-z coordinate system milling away at whatever material is already inside the printer. Depending on the Dremel and Dremel attachment used, a number of materials can be milled including, Styrofoam, soft woods (like balsa), and other soft materials like plastic and silicone.   

The SolidWorks Model of the Dremel Tool (Not the best image, but currently don't have access to SolidWorks)

The tool was designed and modeled in solid works.  It was then cut out of acrylic using a laser cutter.  

Assembled Dremel Tool

Below is a video of the tool in action. (After a few seconds you get the idea, and you can just jump around to see the finished result).  Enjoy!