Making our own parts

As research continues, we have steadily accumulated a growing library of parts that we have designed, tested, and refined. CAD models, engineering drawings, STL meshes for additive manufacturing, and STEP files for interoperable mechanical design have gradually filled our local archives. As this collection expanded, it became clear that these designs should be organized into a centralized, publicly accessible repository. This ultimately led to the creation of our dedicated manufacturing database, manufacturing.

The manufacturing repository serves as the canonical source for the mechanical components developed throughout our research. Wherever practical, each part is accompanied by the original design files, production-ready exports, revision history, and supporting documentation. Our goal is to make every design reproducible, whether it is intended for 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, or conventional fabrication.

Beyond simply publishing design files, this repository documents the manufacturing process itself. We believe that the process is often just as valuable as the finished component. For that reason, we strive to include fabrication notes, recommended materials, machine settings, assembly procedures, design considerations, and lessons learned throughout development. By documenting these details, we hope to make our work easier to understand, reproduce, and improve.

A significant portion of our research infrastructure is built using locally manufactured components. Rather than relying exclusively on commercially available hardware, we frequently design and fabricate custom solutions using our own equipment and tooling. This approach enables rapid iteration, reduces development costs, and allows our hardware to evolve alongside the research it supports.

As this collection continues to grow, the manufacturing repository will evolve into a comprehensive archive of the mechanical systems, fixtures, adapters, and experimental hardware developed by HRG.