Update #3: The Context
Dear Backers,
Thanks for your explosive support, we have reached our goal with 15 days left. There is also no sign of slowing down, pass this on to your friends:
I have been asked several times now regarding the greater context of the GVCS, in terms of the resources required to complete the 50 GVCS tools. I am now a Senior TED Fellow, and combined with my present application for the Shuttleworth Fellowship, I aim to propel this project to completion on schedule by year-end 2012. That is, with support of many caring people like yourselves, who continue to pour their energy into the project through all of its trials.
The plan is outlined for the first quarter of 2012 here:
In a nutshell, $540k in my hands by January 1, 2012 starts a parallel development process of 13 further prototypes for beta product release by April 1, 2012. The rest follows at a similar pace on a quarterly basis.
With the releases of the first quarter, we will be in an improved position for bootstrap earnings via production at Factor e Farm, and we will be well-positioned for further resources coming into the project, without us having to solicit for them, as is truly beginning to happen now. For example, there are are 3 individuals who offered 5 figure donations as a result of this Kickstarter.
The total price for the base kernel of 50 prototypes is $2M by year-end 2012, not including documentation, not including the development of a fully-featured, open source CAD/CAM package. The former is another $2M to do correctly, and the latter is $800k to hire 12 full time programmers - to deliver these also by year-end 2012.
That's a brief overview, and I will be posting a construction update video today or tomorrow.
Thanks for your support, and today we aim to press 10,000 bricks. Gotta run.
Marcin
1,384
Backers
$63,573
pledged of $40,000 goal
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Funding period
Oct 10, 2011 -
Nov 19, 2011
(40 days)
- First created · 4 backed
- Marcin Jakubowski 125 friends
- Website: opensourceecology.org
Pledge $8 or more
593 backers
Beta Access. Receive weekly status updates with video blog of progress + honorable mention on the Kickstarter Supporters page on our wiki.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $32 or more
121 backers
Represent. Get Beta Access + a GVCS sticker + a personal video thank you message from the OSE Founder published on this page.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $48 or more
84 backers
Back It - Back the project on your own back with the first edition of the Global Village Construction Set T-shirt, in addition to the Represent Package. New reward, added by demand, at the 2-weeks-left mark.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2012Pledge $64 or more
287 backers
Taste the GVCS. Get the Represent package + Punchout Magnet + deluxe data DVD of complete resource library for easy replication of the 4 machines, including instructional videos. The Punchout Magnet is a refrigerator magnet made from 3/4” punch-outs from the world's first, open source, 150 ton hole puncher - punched with tons of love during CEB Press and Tractor fabrication.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $128 or more
34 backers
Visit the GVCS. Taste the GVCS package + admission to Factor e Farm for a visit on Visitor's Days to see the action with your own eyes.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $174 or more
11 backers
Use the GVCS. Taste the GVCS package + Visit the GVCS + a solenoid controller board for the CEB press, including un-soldered components, milled on our own open source CNC Circuit Mill
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $256 or more
21 backers
Build Naturally. Admission to a one-day Natural Building workshop at Factor e Farm in 2011 + DVD documenting the natural construction with CEB, Straw, and Lumber, including modular house and workshop designs that can be adapted based on our designs. Includes hands-on experience: brick laying with CEBs and square bale insulation; assisting with lumber production with the Dimensional Sawmill, and square bale making with the Baler.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $512 or more
12 backers
Consult. Build Naturally package + personal consultation regarding the Civilization Starter Kit applications with the Founder + reservation to a weekend retreat where you can experience the life at Factor e Farm.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $1,024 or more
4 backers
Produce. Build Naturally package + an immersion experience of one day of personal coaching for you to do brick pressing, lumber production, or baling at Factor e Farm. We provide you with technical support, you do the actual work, with possibility of taking home the product.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers
Housebuild. Produce package + 1 month of access to CEB press, tractor, pulverizer, and power units as a 'productive vacation' get-away at Factor e Farm. You get a chance to produce the materials to take with you.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers
Go Deep. Access to user training workshops for any of the 50 GVCS machines as they become available + fabrication training workshops + other workshops as they are offered at Factor e Farm. This is for responsible individuals committed to re-skilling themselves in a deep way.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012
Comments
Creator Ryan Kelln on November 6, 2011
I would agree with David - look into modifying or adapting an existing open source CAD/CAM package.
What are the details for $2 million in documentation? I'm sure you can find some volunteer help for that as well.
Creator David on November 4, 2011
Hi Marcin, congratulations on the already achieved success! One question, you mention in your update: "the development of a fully-featured, open source CAD/CAM package". There is already FreeCAD, Cascade, Salome, BRL-CAD and others. Are they not powerful enough? Could the existing software be used as a basis for further development?