The RepRap Journey

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From 2008 to 2012, I documented my experience building and refining RepRap 3D printers, starting with a crude wire-frame RepStrap and eventually achieving true self-replication with RepRap Mendel printers. This series chronicles the technical challenges, solutions, and evolution of early hobby 3D printing.

The journey demonstrates the RepRap philosophy: tools building better tools. The McWire RepStrap printed parts for a Mendel, which printed improved parts for a better Mendel, which enabled further innovations. Each machine made the next one possible.

Historical Context

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These articles have been updated for clarity and readability in 2025, but preserve the technical reality of hobby 3D printing in 2008-2012. The challenges described, including unreliable electronics, inconsistent extrusion, and limited documentation, were typical of the era. Modern 3D printers benefit from over a decade of refinement building on this foundation.

The RepRap project’s vision of self-replicating machines democratizing manufacturing continues to influence open-source 3D printing today.