Have your own "replicator"! ;)

[Salinga]

Well, definatly inspired by the Star Trek replicator technology, MakerBot Industries is offering now an ready assembled 3D printer, called "The MakerBot Replicator". Price: about 1800 US $.

http://www.makerbot.com/

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY6VSu-oOws[/yt]

I wonder, how far this technology can actually go. Probably not exactly like the Trek replicators, but maybe some day you can actually download models for electronic devices and "replicate" (print) them out, instead of having them shipped from the manufacturer through a sales point to your home. I wonder, if it could help save a lot of energy, since the item isnt shipped and stored anymore.

 

[dtoliaferro]

MakerBot's not so good, and too expensive for what it is. We have 2 of them at our space (hive76.org) and they're both broken.

Check out the RepRap Mendel if you'd like an open source design.

It can be had, fully assembled at BotMill for $1,395. It can create bigger objects, too.

A professional option is the 3D Systems VFlash, but it's currently $9,000.

Anyway, we actually printed plastic shot glasses with our Mendel. So of course I joked that we should have a tea maker suspended above the printer and after the mug is done we'd have it pour Earl Gray, hot.

Of course the mug would take a few hours to print.

With 3D printers now you can already just download models and print them out, albeit only in plastic form. But, you can even print out some lite tools.

 

[JB2005]

I remember reading about these (or something similar) in Shatner's Trek Tech book when I got it last year! I love living in the future! It's exciting!

 

[T'Girl]

I look forward to having long protracted philosophical discussions with my replicator as to the meaning of "Tomato Soup."

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