Oct. 4, 2014
Last month, a London-based team of young entrepreneurs and engineers have revealed the prototype for their Raspberry Pi laptop, the world's first ever fully-functional, 3D printed laptop. The team behind this inspiring creation intends to develop a do-it-yourself kit that will allow everyone to print their very own laptop.
Side view of Pi-Top
Their kit,called the Pi-Top, as the laptop runs on a Raspberry Pi board computer, is to include all the materials and components you need (and that you can't print yourself) and a comprehensive guide to printing all the necessary remaining parts. It comes with an injection molded case as well as 3D printing files so that you can print your own Pi-Top case.
HDMI to LVDS Bridge PCB (top left); Battery (bottom left); Raspberry Pi Model B+ (top right); Power management PCB (bottom right)
This week, the team has released more details about the Pi-Top. First of all, they have created multiple file formats so the Pi-Top can be printed on any 5"+ bed size 3D printer. "We want to make hardware as accessible as software is now," stated Jesse Lozano of Pi-Top. They have made the final case design roughly 30% thinner than their last prototype.
Earlier prototypes
"We want users to be able to create their own products and ideas. The Pi-Top kit is the start of a journey that will see users gaining the skills to build their own products. A core theme will be combining 3D printing with Printed Circuit Board design, by combining these two skills you can start to create real hardware products as you progress with Pi-Top."
Secondly, the team has decided to launch their project on indiegogo, instead of Kickstarter, on October 14th 2014. Lozano explained why they chose Indiegogo:
We have made this decision for the following reasons:
1) Fees are roughly half that of Kickstarter - this means we can offer Pi-Top for an even more affordable price!
2) They have offered their support and experience to help us run the funding campaign and make Pi-Top all it can be!
3) Indiegogo allows us to sell to a truly global audience. The Pi-Top website is visited by people from over 110 countries, by launching on Indiegogo we can take payments from all over the world and help create a globally connected network of makers, builders and creators!
The price will be revealed on the 14th, but the team said that full Pi-Top kit will be priced under $300. "There will be significant 'Early Bird' discounts on Indiegogo. We will also offer an educational package with discounts for schools and clubs." Lozano stated.
The most impressive part is that Pi-Top will be released with three HATs, adding a huge layer of functionality.
One of the brilliant things about the Raspberry Pi has always been the ability to attach physical hardware to the Raspberry Pi's GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) connector. Many third party add-on boards can be attached to the Raspberry Pi to extend its functionality: motor controllers, LEDs, buttons, sensors, microcontrollers, LCDs, ADCs and DACs etc. In July this year, Raspberry Pi introduced 'HATs' (Hardware Attached on Top), an add-on board for Raspberry Pi B+ that conforms to a specific set of rules. It includes a system that allows the B+ to identify a connected HAT and automatically configure the GPIOs and drivers for the board, making life for the end user much easier.
Pi-Top will come with the following HATs:
Pi-Top Robot HAT
Pi-Top Robot HAT is described to be "the easiest, most accessible, compact and functional Raspberry Pi Robot in the world". It sits on top of the Raspberry Pi inside your Pi-Top. You code it using Python and the Pi-Top lesson plans. Then simply remove the Raspberry Pi from Pi-Top, clip on a 3D printed chassis and your robot is ready to go.
Example Robot HAT 3D printed chassis
"In terms of functionality, the robot HAT gives you access to motor and servo drivers, digital-to-analogue converters, analog-to-digital converters, LEDs, IR proximity sensors and more." explained the Pi-Top team. "Due to how the HAT has been designed to clip into a 3D printed chassis, you will have access to other GPIOs so that you can customise your own 3D printed chassis to include even more sensors! The HAT also takes care of safely charging a lipo battery (included) which keeps the Raspberry Pi running when you unclip it from Pi-Top."
The Robot HAT comes with design dimensions so that anyone can create a custom robot based off of the Pi-Top Robot HAT. This model has a Raspberry Pi camera placed in the head.
Pi-Top Home Automation HAT
This HAT is packed with loads of sensors so that you can retrieve information from the environment surrounding your Raspberry Pi, including pressure, humidity, temperature, touch, IR proximity and sound. The HAT also gives you access to several outputs, so that you can use the data you have collected to control the environment, including motor drives, a relay switch, a 7 segment digital readout and a buzzer. With this HAT you will be able to practice and learn how to use data collected by sensors to create automated devices.
Pi-Top LCD HAT
One of the problems Pi-Top solves is that Raspberry Pi users traditionally have to settle for small screen sizes if they want a mobile Pi. Pi-Top's solution was to create an HDMI to LVDS bridge PCB. They have used these designs to create an LCD HAT that will allow the Raspberry Pi Model B+ to connect to any LCD screen that has a single channel LVDS interface (which is usually anything less than 1400x1050 resolution). The LCD HAT makes it easy to make displays and a range of mobile devices.
The Pi-Top Kit will include:
- Injection moulded case
- 3D printer STL files compatible for all 5"+ print bed sizes
- PCBs - Power Management, HDMI to LVDS Bridge and Keyboard & Trackpad Controller.
- Electronics breadboard
- Battery
- Keyboard
- Trackpad
- 13.3" HD LCD Screen
- Wifi adapter
- Acrylic slice
- Wiring
- DC wall plug
- Build instructions
- Online & integrated lesson plans
The Indiegogo campaign will launch in 10 days, and their Pi-Top will be available to try at the iMakr store from the 14th October and at Tech Crunch Disrupt: Europe 2014 in Hardware Alley. Stay tuned.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
Maybe you also like:
- 3D Printing from racing to automotive
- Creating low cost violin mold with 3D printing
- RecycleBot turns old milk jugs into 3D printer feedstock
- 3D printing brings customized, low-cost polymer implants to patients
- 3D printed Cellular Loop chair, design of nature without DNA
- Early version of Nike LeBron X: Z-Corp 3D printed prototype
- 3D printed AR lowers holds up 600+ rounds, file ready for download
- Only for men: Create a gummy replica of yourself for White Day
- CEO of Modern Meadow explains 3D bioprinted meat
- Self cleaning fish tank: 3D printing steps into life sciences!
To Peter_s, your comment is nonsense. With computing it's all about using the right tool for the right job. You wouldn't take a golf cart to a drag strip and expect to beat everyone...
Peter_s wrote at 10/5/2014 12:25:04 AM:
I beleive this project is much of nonsens. I'm using the Rasberry B+ headless serving my 3D printjobs (Octoprint). Sufficantly w.o. graphic shell. This thing is slow as hell. Same thing as with the crappy Netbooks. Compare this with the ancient Pentium 100MHz. You may use it to teach children learning programming techniques. But don't expect much when it comes to everyday use (PC).
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
