3D Printer: Most unbelievable gizmo ever

[GJarrett]

My lifespan of 50+ years has seen unbelievable changes in technology and I thought nothing would surprize me anymore. But this is straight out of Star Trek. I'm speechless.

http://youtu.be/ZboxMsSz5Aw

This has to be a prank, right? No way this can actually be real ?!?!

 

[BrooklynBay]

The technology has been around for a while, but it's very expensive. It's known as desktop prototyping, rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing.

 

[FIND]

Give them a few years, units will be available in a price range that suits normal people that would be around the size one needs to print things the size of a 1:24 scale model car.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Eventually, shopping online will change completely. You will see a photo of something, then instead of buying the actual item, you will download the CAD program to replicate the item. It's similar to the idea of eBooks. Instead of purchasing a book online, you download a PDF of a book, and you have an option to either view it on your computer or print a hard copy.

 

[YBCold]

imagine all the spare parts you could make!

 

[FIND]

imagine the piracy concerns

 

[BrooklynBay]

A lot of things wouldn't have value anymore. There will no longer be something that is "one of a kind". Everything has pros & cons. This is a great device that could be a life saver for astronauts. They could use this on a mission to Mars. All that they would need is a supply of powder cartridges. It's also possible to alter the CAD program to change the scale of the item. The wrench in that video was set to replicate in the same scale. They could increase or decrease the actual size once the computer has all of the 3D information stored from the actual item. The color of one part was easily changed in the video.

 

[YBCold]

imagine the piracy concerns

thats a dirty word IMHO theyre coming out with alot of open source goodness these days XD

 

[Stic-o]

Jay Leno has made parts for his car using one

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/ne...printers_create_realistic_atm_skimmer_devices

 

[FLOffroad]

Companies will absolutely go insane if these ever get into people's houses because you'll never have to buy crap from manufacturers or big companies again.
The gov'll probably ban them because it would ruin the economy. Walmart would fail in about a week.

Awesome technology though, I'd love one.

EDIT - Woah! That nextengine one is available for only $3k.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's a book on making your own 3d printer: http://www.amazon.com/Printing-Plas...4431/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316643455&sr=8-1

 

[BrooklynBay]

More companies are competing on making them smaller, and more affordable for the average person. Here's an example: http://www.technewsdaily.com/3d-printing-available-for-desktop-computers-1515/

 

[BrooklynBay]

This company is trying to develop a version that makes spare body parts: http://www.explainingthefuture.com/bioprinting.html

 

[FIND]

This company is trying to develop a version that makes spare body parts: http://www.explainingthefuture.com/bioprinting.html

$50 says that if they ever make a viable body part printer, within 3 months, companies will be making these types of machines specifically for penis enlargement.... and those will be the best selling versions.

 

[BrooklynBay]

More advances in the field of spare body parts: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...rid10|htmlws-sb-bb|dl18|sec1_lnk1&pLid=121822

 

[BrooklynBay]

How stuff works has an article on the subject of 3D printing: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/3-d-printing.htm

 

[College Student]

At Butler they have a dual degree program where you get a Butler degree and a Purdue degree by taking classes at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and I remember a year and a half ago they told us not to touch the 3d printer because its super expensive. If costs keep going down maybe i can have one of these in my house by the time i graduate

 

[BrooklynBay]

What kind of things did they make with the 3D printer? Did they offer a course on how to use it as well as write the software?

 

[College Student]

they might at the moment i haven't been over there too much i start my courses where ill be attending classes there next year, but there were all sorts of things, like a mini atv and a rubrics cube, if i ever have classes in there ill be more than happy to post everything i build