LifeTrac Prototype I
Here is the evolution of LifeTrac (see wiki work page) from design, possibly the most simple implementation of tractor-loader functions: to steel frame: to wheels and motor, and to bucket: I completed the quick attach plate yesterday, from design: to...
Solar Turbine – Commentary on Results
Friends, the latest developments on the Solar Turbine project, outside of the documentation clips in Factor e Live 6 and Factor e Live 7, are ambitious. We are presently leaning to mirrors and a modern, high-recirculation ratio uniflow steam engine as...
Factor e Live – Episode 8
This week’s episode of Factor e Live features the CEB press in action (in addition to the documentation of our first complete solar panels). It is a perfect union – the LifeTrac open source tractor powers the Factor e Liberator CEB Press....
Factor e Live – Episode 7
Here is a video update on the solar turbine project and the open source tractor – plus other fruits of Factor e Farm: Stay tuned for the next episode. The front-end loader is already on LifeTrac, we connected the Factor e Liberator CEB press to...
Solar Turbine, Cast of Characters, and CEB Press
Stuart, Elliot, and I are here on the Solar Turbine: For the next two weeks we will iron out the details – right now it looks like a set of 40 foot long, 2-foot wide slats – 4 of these in total – with 48x solar concentration. Cost is...
Factor e Live – Part 6 – Solar Turbine Beginnings
Here is video documentation for making the first two parabolic reflectors for the Solar Turbine project: The Solar Turbine Convergence is here – Elliot and I are continuing on the next reflector version, and we are picking up Stuart today. We’d...
Factor e Live – Part 5 – LifeTrac Takes Baby Steps
We showed the construction of our open source tractor frame in Factor e Live Part 3. Here we show LifeTrac running under the power of its own motor: Next steps: mounting the front end loader, building a rototiller, and mounting a backhoe. In the meantime,...
Earth Plaster
Hi, this is Travis. My cousin, Ben, and I had a last minute opportunity to visit Factor E Farm. Ben has been helping with the open source Solar Turbine project and I am trying to get the earth plaster operation started. Last month I had the fortune of...
Rapid Prototyping for Industrial Swadeshi
There is a significant set of open source technologies available for rapid prototyping in small workshops. By combining 3D printing with low-cost metal casting, and following with machining using a computer controlled Multimachine, the capacity arises...
On Organizational Form: Questioning the Unquestioned
I started the concept of Open Source Ecology back in 2003 when I was finishing grad school. Then we started a non-profit corporation in the state of Wisconsin, by name of Open Source Ecology, Inc (OSE Inc), later that year. Our initial site – see...
