Open Source Technology

Call Out for Inverter Project

Hey all, Vann here. If you have a background in Power Electronics, and are interested in acting as a consultant, mentor, or remote developer of our Power Inverter project, please contact me at vann.miller@gmail.com. We’re just starting and thus...

Open Source Induction Furnace Continued

The open source induction furnace project discussed previously is moving forward. We are currently evaluating bids, as you can see at the induction furnace project management site. This marks a point in our organizational history where we are beginning...

Greetings from Sunny Sweden

Sweden is not exactly sunny at this time of the year, but the Nordic people are lovely. So far, it’s been a mind-blowing experience at the Free Society Conference and Nordic Summit (FSCONS 2009). One cannot explain it in writing – not even...

Power Cube – Prototype I Complete

Power Cube is our open source, self-contained, modular, interchangeable, hydraulic power unit for all kinds of power equipment. It has an 18 hp gasoline engine coupled to a hydraulic pump, and it will later be be powered by a flexible-fuel modern steam...

Basic Bookbinding

For the record, we keep log books/journals at Factor e Farm. Anyone visiting for more than one week is required to make a notebook for records, data, pictures, numbers, etc. This is useful for keeping track of Factor e Farm history, passing on work to...

Steam Dreams

I’m in the process of designing a simple 3kW steam engine for both a combined heat-and-power gasifier system and our solar power generator system. I can’t help but think about the future possibility of small-scale steam power for both stationary...

The Brick that Broke the Camel’s Back

I have a lot to say about where I am, about what I’m doing, about what I’m feeling and about bricks. And no pictures to say it with. So, please be persistent and listen to what I have to say and perhaps we’ll all be the wiser for it....

3000 Bricks and Counting

Upon the suggestion of Reto Stauss of the nachhaltigBeobachtet blog, we have installed the ChipIn widget here for additional transparency in our crowd funding strategy. At the time of this post, we collected $1144, and still have $856 left to go in the...

Backhoe Breaks Ground

The open source backhoe is complete. Check out the finished product as attached on our open source tractor: Field testing showed some explosive news. See for yourself: I ran over to Sweiger Shop right after, to get a larger shaft. The store was closed...

Breakthroughs: Teeth and Other

Because LifeTrac has difficulty digging clayey soil for CEB bricks – we added breakthrough teeth. Pun intended. LifeTrac is a toothless granddaddy no more. Now the digging bucket will munch the ground up like cotton candy. Field testing is forthcoming....