GOSHEN, Ind. The Midwest RepRap Festival (MRRF) returns to Goshen.
The 11th annual 3D Printing Festival brings together 3D printing companies from around the world, RepRap 3D Printers and the worldwide 3D Printing Community.
“John and I have worked very hard to keep this to be a fun, family-friendly event where you can come out and learn about 3D printing,” said Sonny Mounicou, a partner at MRRF. “It’s free, so for the price of gas, you can come out and see what this is all about, and maybe it’s for you, maybe it’s not. Even if you’re not interested in printing, you can see what other people are doing with it and get ideas of what you may be able to do, and that’s the best thing about it.
In the mid-2000s, English Professor Adrian Bowyer started the RepRap Project, or self replicating manufacturing machine. The project was created to share 3D printing around the world.
“And so the goal of RepRap was to make printers that could make themselves,” Mounicou said. “The designs, codes, and software are shared so more people can join in.”
MRRF is proud to say that as they have grown, they’ve been able provide a place for the community of 3D printers.
“We started this festival to celebrate the open-source 3D printing community,” Mounicou said.
3D printed items aren’t just used as toys or trinkets but devices that can help those with disabilities.
“I’m talking about a charity that I run called The Controller Project, where we use 3D printing and volunteers all over the world to help gamers with disabilities be able to play; people who are missing fingers and people with muscular dystrophy,” said Caleb Kraft, Senior Editor of Make Magazine. “A lot of them just need a little help, and so there are millions of people who need this stuff. Our most common request is people who only have one hand.”
Around 200 people will set up booths to showcase their work. 40 sponsors are helping put on this festival.
“It’s a great community,” said Matt Stultz, Community Manager at LightBurn Software. “We’re all here to support each other; everything is very open. You don’t need to know anything about 3D printers. Just come and chat with us. We’re all so passionate and so excited; we want to answer everyone’s questions and let them know more about 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machines, the whole thing; just come to MRRF. It’s a blast.”
You’ll still get a chance to enjoy the fest, as it wraps up on Sunday with 3D battle races starting at 11 a.m. and 3D drag races at noon.
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