Application Field
- CNC Machinery
- Precision Engineering
Products Sponsored
- UHP-500-48 (500W Fanless Industrial Power Supply)
Project Overview
At just 17 years old, Ruben Rodermann designed and built an optimized CNC milling machine, earning first prize at Germany’s prestigious Jugend Forscht (Youth Research) 2019 competition. The contest is renowned for spotlighting the country’s top young scientific talent.
With limited resources but a deep interest in engineering, Ruben sought to create a high-precision, affordable CNC machine from scratch. He had already been sharing his builds and technical learnings via his YouTube channel “Reblicator” since 2015, demonstrating early commitment to the maker and open-source engineering communities.
MEAN WELL’s Impact
MEAN WELL’s UHP-500-48, a fanless, slim-profile AC-DC industrial power supply, played a key role in powering Ruben’s CNC system. The unit was selected for its compact design, conduction cooling, and robust performance — all vital in a precision machine requiring consistent voltage stability without added noise or bulk.
Although MEAN WELL provided product sponsorship for this specific build, the support extended beyond just hardware. It enabled a young innovator to compete on a national stage, prove the viability of low-cost industrial automation, and continue his development into more complex machinery such as affordable metal 3D printers.
This collaboration reflects MEAN WELL’s longstanding commitment to CSR, particularly in fostering STEM education and engineering creativity among the next generation. Ruben’s success is a living case of how standard power supplies can power non-standard, world-class ideas.
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