Hi, my name is Gina, and I am raising money for the students from Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), to build a custom made filament extruder machine.

What does the machine do?

It melts plastic pellets or recycled plastic and pushes it through a nozzle, to form long strands of filament for 3D printing.

Why does having a filament extruder machine matter?

Unlike countries like the US and Canada, Nigeria does not have rolls and rolls of 3D printing filament readily available, and without the filament their 3D printers could only gather dust. The filament extruder machine provides FUTO with a source of 3D printing filament, such that students can 3D print designs of their own, and equally importantly, a SCUTTLE Robot that enables them to learn and apply engineering skills.

What is SCUTTLE Robotics?

SCUTTLE Robotics is an open source robotics platform developed by David Malawey, robotics engineer and educator, in the Texas A&M University. Its flexibility, durability, affordability and extensive documentation are qualities that makes it suitable for teaching mechanical, electrical and software engineering skills in university classrooms.

Why am I personally helping to raise funds?

Because, frankly, I remember what it was like dreaming about getting hands-on with robotics. I was a curious kid who wandered into my middle school's robotics workshop by chance. That day, the sight of whirring machines built by upper year students made me go: "Maybe someday I can do this too." I was lucky that my school had the tools, mentors, and support I needed. But so many students in places like Owerri have the dream, yet lacked the resources for supporting it -- and 3D printing filament is their major obstacle right now.

Where will the funds go?

Here's a rough breakdown of where our funds will go:

- $2500 - raw materials and components for the filament extruder machine.

- $2500 - logistics, including shipping, insurance and import clearance costs.

- $3000 - student stipends for physically building the filament extruder machine.

- All remaining donations will go towards the next steps in creating a grass-roots robotics curriculum at FUTO.

What is our timeline to get things done?

Our plan to build this filament extruder is:

- At the $1000 mark - Start sourcing and shipping electrical components, such as motors and power distribution circuit boards.

- At the $2500 mark - Start sourcing and shipping mechanical components, such as sheet metal enclosures and an extruder screw.

- The physical build and testing will start as soon as the team at FUTO receives the electrical components.

Where can I know more about this project?

- An introduction video about the extruder (to be included)

- Big picture video (David's video)

- Bill of Materials

Every $1 counts towards a bolt or a strand of wire that makes up the filament extruder machine, or 10 minutes of engineering experience for a struggling student. If helping out young engineers achieve their dreams speak to you, please feel free to contribute any amount you're comfortable with and spread the word.