Posted on 01/05/2013 1:40:44 PM PST by Olog-hai
3-D printing technology, used industrially for the last few decades, is poised to break into the mass market. Its endless and swiftly developing possibilitiesfrom entrepreneurial manufacturing to the potential sculpting of human organscould become the next industrial revolution.
Assembling, screwing together, adhering, weldingall these processes are rendered obsolete when even the most complex shapes can be produced by a single machine using this casting technique. The end result can be an artificial hip, a hearing aid, a cell phone case, customized footwear or even the Urbee, a prototype car that has been making a splash.
The only limits are set by the selection of materials, the space needed for each individual printed object and one other very important factor: time. Three-dimensional printing as currently practiced is a long, slow process.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
/johnny
Perhaps, one of these days, I can have 2 kidneys again. Not sure if I want the spleen back, we never talked anyway.
/johnny
You may enjoy this:
http://circlecycleice.com/page9.php
-PJ
The open source printer that is self replicating so you can give one to a friend.
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
I’m printing an M1A1 Abrams tank. But the printer cartridges are getting a little pricey.
I refill my cartridges with old bent silhouette targets made of T1 armor plate. Try it.
... or even the Urbee, a prototype car
I’ll take a 1960 something Vette with all the extras
3-D printer ping
Fasteners are not obsolete because you’ll still want to disassemble certain components for maintenance.
Thanks....Ross
DDD - Top name
SSYS - main competitor
ADSK - provides the software
ONVO - provides tissues for testing and grafts but are working on JRs kidneys
Big block or small block? I think it was 1965 that the big blocks started appearing; up until 1964, the most powerful motor was a small block with mechanical fuel injection (a 327 with about 390 horses).
“Fasteners are not obsolete because youll still want to disassemble certain components for maintenance.”
Professional outfits like Victoria’s Secret and Frederick’s of Hollywood are well aware of this.
This 3-D printing will in a little while morph into something called an assembler.
They will come in small desktop models to large mobile models that build homes/bridges/whatever
Just about all you really need to build large structures like homes is lots of sand, an assembler and plenty of energy.
Assemblers will one day be able to create drugs, food, clothes, electronic devices, tools .... and new assemblers.
Progressives (communists) will NOT like this tech at all! How can you rule over a populace that does not need anything from government!?!?
>>Progressives (communists) will NOT like this tech at all! How can you rule over a populace that does not need anything from government!?!?>>
The Luddites will protest. Unions will scream their heads off. Too bad Henry Ford isn’t still around.
“Tea, Earl Grey, Hot” ping.
Thanks Olog-hai.
Interesting!
I ran across it a few years back, possibly linked here for all I know. I think it is fascinating and have been watching for it to break through ever since. The engineering appears brilliant to me.
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