Llamas and 3D printers: how does the "Prusa Research Centre" in Prague look like?

October 13, 2022

It's hard to believe (or maybe not) that where some of Europe's most popular 3D printers are born, the "Prusa Research" centre is also home to llamas and sheep, named after Josef Prusa and his fellows. In mid-September, the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenu fabrikas" team visited the European capital of 3D printers – Prague. During the Erasmus+ study visit, the team not only saw the "Prusa Research" Innovation Lab but also attended the "Maker Faire Prague" 2022, a festival dedicated to makers across Europe. 

A day at the "Prusa Research" Innovation Lab with Josef Prusa himself

"Prusa Research” is a 3D printer company founded by Czech hobbyist, inventor and developer Josef Prusa. Starting with the idea of 3D printers in 2012, Josef Prusa now has more than 700 employees and sends more than 9000 printers worldwide every month directly from his headquarters in Prague.

"At "LinkMenu Fabrikas", we teach students to work and prototype with Prusa 3D printers. So it was interesting to learn about the production line and the most frequent challenges the company faces," says Rokas Bagdonas, robotics and mechatronics specialist at VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenu Fabrikas".

During the visit, the participants consulted about how universities and schools could use Prusa 3D printers for laboratory and practical work. 

As R. Bagdonas says, the most fun part of the day was an unexpected and unplanned meeting with Josef Prusa. Even the meeting location was extraordinary – his llama and sheep reservoir, right next to "Prusa Research" leading innovator incubator. 

A "Maker Faire Prague" 2022 with more than 140 innovative projects

It goes without saying that the "LinkMenu fabrikas" team got some inspiration and ideas for future projects by participating in the makers' festival. But they also saw some of "Prusa Research" novelties – the latest Prusa 3D printer and the next-generation Prusa Pro AFS (Automated Farm System) printing farm.

"Prusa's latest print farm features 34 new original Prusa CoreXY 3D printers, automated print pick-up and output. The management of such a 3D printer farm is based on a system controlled by autonomous control algorithms," says R.Bagdonas.

In addition to the projects mentioned above, other innovative installations were also on display at the fair, including "Fluidum", – an intelligent mirror installation shown for the first time in Europe. This installation came straight from "EXPO 2020". Created at Prusa Lab, "Fluidum" steals an image of reality and breaks it into individual fragments using a jigsaw of moving mirrors. 

The fair also showcased the Dutch installation called "Algorithmic Perfumery", the world's first artificial intelligence-based perfume creation platform, and even a 3D-printed underwater drone.

According to the VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenų fabrikas" team, this Erasmus+ learning visit was genuinely memorable: from the unexpected meeting with 3D printer designer Josef Prusa to the eye-catching maker installations.
 

 

Galerija

Related news

Student Memo: Where to park your car or bicycle, eat, and find your classrooms
Student Memo: Where to park your car or bicycle, eat, and find your classrooms
When starting your studies, it is not always clear during the first week where you can park your car or bicycle, which building your seminar will be in, or where you can eat or heat up your own food during breaks. To make settling into the academic year easier, we have prepared this memo. Student Car Parking: Students attending lectures at Saulėtekio al. 11 can park their cars in the lot located on Šatrijos Raganos Street. There is no barrier in this lot. How to find the lot: Driving from Saulėtekio al. – going up the hill past the roundabout and the university buildings. Or entering from Pragiedrulių, Mileišiškių sodų, or other streets onto Šatrijos Raganos Street – going down the hill before the roundabout and the university buildings. Students attending lectures on Plytinės Street can park in the lots located there. Students can enter the gated lot by tapping their activated student ID card at the terminal. Entrance to the lots is from Plytinės Street. Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) students, lecturers, and students or staff arriving at "Linkmenų fabrikas" can park in all lots. The barrier opens by tapping an activated student or staff ID card at the terminal. There are no dedicated parking lots for students attending lectures at the Old Town Campus (Trakų rūmai). Canteens and Cafes: Saulėtekis Campus: "Maisto imperija" (Building S2, 1st floor) – weighed food (you can build your own plate) – 1.70 € per 100 g, lunch of the day – 7.50 €, snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 08:00–16:00; Friday: 08:00–15:00. "ARC BISTRO" (Building S3, 1st floor) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 11:00–15:00. Plytinė Campus (P2, 1st floor): "Confetti" – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 09:00–16:00; Friday: 09:00–15:00. Old Town Campus (Senamiesčio rūmai): "Confetti" (Islandijos str. 3) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 07:45–15:00. Places where you can heat your own food in microwaves: When using microwaves, please maintain cleanliness, follow safety rules, and respect others: do not put in or heat items with shiny surfaces (e.g., cutlery, aluminum foil, etc.), do not slam the doors or other surfaces, wipe or clean the inside of the microwave or other surfaces (including the kitchenette) if needed, do not cut in line, and do not stop someone else's food from heating without permission, etc. Saulėtekis Campus: In the "Maisto imperija" canteen (Building S2, 1st floor), as well as in the Sustainability Centre (Building S5), and the 5th and 6th-floor kitchenettes in Building S6. Plytinė Campus: In the "Confetti" cafe (Building P2, 1st floor). Old Town Campus: In the Faculty of Architecture's 2nd and 3rd-floor kitchenettes (at the end of the corridor). AGAI: In the 2nd-floor kitchenette of the old building (near the Dean's office). It is planned that microwaves will also be available in the new building in the future. Linkmenų Campus: In the 2nd-floor kitchenette at "Linkmenų fabrikas". Library: Room 119, 1st floor. You can also make tea/coffee here. Places to leave your bicycle: Saulėtekis Campus: At special bike racks near the entrance to Building S2, and in the Central Building parking lot. Plytinė Campus: In the two designated bicycle shelters in the courtyard between buildings P1 and P2. Old Town Campus: At special bike racks near the entrances to each building. AGAI and Linkmenų Campus: At special bike racks near both departments. Library: At special bike racks near the entrance. Department/Building Abbreviations: Saulėtekis Campus (Saulėtekio al. 11, Vilnius): S1 Central Building (Administration, International Studies Centre, International Relations Office, etc.) S2 Classroom Building S3 Educational Building (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Business Management) S4 Classroom Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S5 Educational Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S6 Laboratory Building (Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Information Technology and Systems Centre, Academic Support Centre, etc.) S7 Laboratory Building Plytinė Campus (Plytinės str. 25, Vilnius): P1 or P Laboratory Building P2 Educational Building (Faculty of Electronics, Faculty of Mechanics, Faculty of Transport Engineering) P3 Educational Building Linkmenų Campus (Linkmenų str. 28, Vilnius): L1 Building (Institute of Building Materials) L2 Building (Road Research Institute) L3 Building L4 Building L5 Educational Building (Linkmenų fabrikas) L6 Educational Building (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute) Old Town Campus (Trakų str. 1, Vilnius): T1 or T Educational Building (Faculty of Architecture) T2 Educational Building (Faculty of Creative Industries) T3 Educational Building T4 Educational Building T5 Educational Building Old abbreviations that might still appear in some contacts: SNR – Senamiesčio rūmai (Old Town Campus) SRK-I – Saulėtekio rūmų pirmas korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus First Building) SRK-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Building) SRL – Saulėtekio rūmų laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Laboratory Building) SRL-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Laboratory Building) MAC – Saulėtekio centriniai rūmai (Saulėtekis Central Building) AGAI TLK – Antano Gustaičio Aviacijos instituto Treniruoklių ir laboratorijų korpusas (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute Simulator and Laboratory Building). Other Addresses: Kyviškės Airfield: Lakūnų str. 7D, Kyviškės Sports and Art Centre: Saulėtekio al. 28, Vilnius Library: Saulėtekio al. 14, Vilnius Lithuanian Maritime Academy: I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda. Thematic Reading Rooms in Faculties: Architecture and Creative Sciences Reading Room (Trakų str. 1, T1, 1.15, Vilnius) Technology and Management Sciences Reading Room (Saulėtekio al. 11, S1, C03, Vilnius) Mechanics, Electronics, and Transport Sciences Reading Room (Plytinės str. 25, P2, 179, Vilnius) Maritime Sciences Reading Room (I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda)
More