Welcome

Welcome to the CubeSpawn project's main site! CubeSpawn is an open source project, so feel free to build Cubes for your open source machines. One exciting capability "Baked in" to this system is recursion, that is: the ability of the system to make its own parts! so you can start with a CubeMill, and MAKE a 3d printers parts, or the parts for numerous other modules. This should truly allow a community to embrace the promise of open source hardware. It has been designed as a modular framework for manufacturing machines, each Cube provides electrical power and network connectivity through an integrated connector embedded in a mechanical coupling that joins cubes together. Additionally, the system scales by doubling, so 300mm cubes, 600mm cubes 1.2 meter 2.4 meter and so on, on the micro-manipulation end of the spectrum the 300's split into 150's, and perhaps smaller making tiny work accessible through a remote control interface. Mobile platforms transport pallets and other work holders through the system allowing for higher degrees of automation as they are developed. Machine "modules" are socketed into the cubical frames, they can range from simple "Parking frames" to store unused modules to 3-d printers or milling machines. Some of the machines nearing completion: CubeMill - light duty Gantry style Milling Machine Ultimaker Module - 3D printer - similar to the Ultimaker 3d printer in design Additional Proposed Designs: CubeLathe - A small CNC turning Center Pallet Mover - the heart of the material moving system Surface Grinder Vacuum Former Plasma cutter Laser Cutter Spot Welder Punch - low speed 30-50 ton hydraulic punch/press CubeMill Toolchanger - an accessory Cube to hold, index and swap tools for the CubeMill CubeMill Headchanger - an experimental accessory Cube to swap out spindle modules for different specific applications Toolsetter - a Cube to index cutting tools into toolholders in an automated, precision way Tool Grinder - a sharpening and customizing Cube to create step drills, sharpen mills and drills and create special tools from drillrod or mill blanks There are more of course, but they'll be listed in the technical pages Much of this is conceptual at present, but several real, physical machines exist and the idea is showing its practical applications, even in the early stages. Anyhow, Welcome to the Site, I hope you enjoy the concept!!