Autodesk open sources Linux-based 3D printer
Autodesk has open sourced the electronics and firmware of its resin- and DLP-based Ember 3D printer, revealing it to run Linux on a BeagleBone Black clone.
In releasing the design of its Ember 3D Printer under open source licensing, Autodesk has revealed a mainboard that runs Linux on a customized spin-off of the BeagleBone Black hacker SBC. In March, the company published the recipe for the printer's "PR48" Standard Clear Prototyping resin, and in May, it followed through by open sourcing its mechanical files. As promised, Autodesk has now opened up the BeagleBone Black based electronics and firmware.
Like the resin details and mechanical design, the electronics were released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. The firmware is being shared using a GNU GPL license. Electronics files were provided separately for the printer's four main boards, each of which is now detailed with design files, schematics and PCBs, bill of materials, approved vendor lists, and assembly drawings. An SD card image is available to run on a standard BeagleBone Black for evaluation and prototyping.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 25 2015, @04:02PM
There is varicad, which, while not open is available on linux and when you buy it you own it forever and only have to pay if you want an upgrade. It's fairly comparable to solidworks (I have 9 years of experience with solidworks, and I do prefer solidworks, but I'm done with windows so I use what is available). There's a 30 day trial you can download for free (as in beer only, obviously)- maybe give it a shot.
http://www.varicad.com [varicad.com]
I keep hoping for freecad to make it just a little farther but it's really rough in some places (as most alpha software is). It's still come a long ways and I have some real hope for the project.