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...
Solar Breakthrough
The trick for making solar thermal electrical generation a reality is to reduce the cost of the solar thermal collector system to absolute minimum. Why? If one familiarizes oneself with the costs of putting such a system together – it becomes apparent...
Factor e Live Part 4 – Digging for Water Completed
In part one of “Digging for Water”, we drilled a hole 85 feet deep, hit water, and tried to insert a 6 inch casing (pvc pipe) into the hole. When the 6 inch pipe didn’t fit, we decided to use a 4 inch casing. Although the 4 inch casing...
LifeTrac Alive!
Yesterday, LifeTrac rolled out of the shop under the power of its own engine. It purred like a cat, turning smoothly over the ground with its articulated steering. Brittany, Jessica, and I celebrated with elderberry champagne. Farm-fresh organic, of course....
Three Weeks with Jessica
Tomorrow marks the third weekiversary of my time here at Factor e. It feels like I’ve been here much longer, but only in a good way. Every day is a little bit different, but what remains consistent is hard work, thoughtful discussions, days seemingly...
Personal Fuel Makers – Biomass to Fuel
Based on a personal gasifier, care of Dr. Yuyi Lin , Mike Koch, et al: which generates gas from any cellulosic biomass: we can take the process further to make liquid fuels – such as diesel. Utilizing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a process proven...
Open Source Solar Turbine Convergence
We are preparing for several guests here in mid August to build the open source solar concentrator power system. Today, Benjamin from the Solar Turbine email group sent an updated design on the solar reflector mounting: In the August convergence, we’re...
Solar Panel Construction
Here are some videos of solar panel construction that we took last weekend. This video shows the process for connecting solar cells to one another: Here is video on how we tin the tabbing wire, and here is how we set up the soldering station. In about...
Summer Heat
We are in a backlog for Factor e Live documentation and updates in general. It’s a busy time – so here is a few notes. I shook the cobwebs off the CEB press, and our team is doing 3D and finite element analysis modeling. We are days from finishing...
