A very fine book about a post-scarcity world in which nanotechnology has reached the point that anything you want can be "printed" at home from a simple appliance.
Posted on 01/25/2012 3:17:41 AM PST by LibWhacker
Exciting times, friends. While we’ve been cleaning up the proverbial ticker tape left behind by jubilant celebration over the recently-stalled antipiracy bills, the Pirate Bay – arguably the premier resource for pirating digital content – has already moved on to the next big thing.
The site has announced a new category called “Physibles” that houses digital files that can be downloaded and used in conjunction with 3D printers to print out actual, physical objects:
We believe that the next step in copying will be made from digital form into physical form. It will be physical objects. Or as we decided to call them: Physibles. Data objects that are able (and feasible) to become physical. We believe that things like three dimensional printers, scanners and such are just the first step. We believe that in the nearby future you will print your spare parts for your vehicles. You will download your sneakers within 20 years.
As of right now, the Physibles section of the Pirate Bay has only a few odds and ends – a 3D model of a camera lens, a model 1970 Chevelle hot rod and a whistle, to name a few – but as the prices of 3D printers continue to fall and people one day get used to the idea of, say, purchasing an otherwise tangible product from Amazon and then printing that object out themselves, you can see where a site like the Pirate Bay could really start to ruffle some retail feathers.
(Excerpt) Read more at techland.time.com ...
A very fine book about a post-scarcity world in which nanotechnology has reached the point that anything you want can be "printed" at home from a simple appliance.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0765312816/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1327491618&sr=1-1
How much toner does it take to print out an engine block for a 1965 Barracuda?
Read the article; now I can’t get the movie “Weird Science” out of my head . . .
Who is going to have the metallurgical knowledge to "Print" a:
* Crankshaft for said 1970 Chevelle, with better strength than the original or aftermarket forged 4340 steel...
* A Turbine Shaft for a small Turbofan
* Maybe do-able via "printing" but a High Temperature Turbine Blade that rivals Single Crystal Blades performance...
Lets move along here...
3D printers have been around for 20 or more years. They are a common means of making a one-of part. But they aren’t cheap and they are very slow. If you’re lucky, you can get a part in a few hours, if it’s small.
I’ve had dozens of parts made using this technology, both in plastics and a few in metal. These parts are good for 2 things. Trying out a new part to make sure it works and then to use that part to make a mold with.
“3D printers have been around for 20 or more years. They are a common means of making a one-of part. But they aren’t cheap and they are very slow. If you’re lucky, you can get a part in a few hours, if it’s small.
I’ve had dozens of parts made using this technology, both in plastics and a few in metal. These parts are good for 2 things. Trying out a new part to make sure it works and then to use that part to make a mold with.”
No one who writes these “gee-whiz” articles ever considers these “minor” technical limitations. Even if you don’t really need a strong or good-looking part, the plastics used to operate these printers make toner and ink look downright cheap in comparison.
I would want a Wendys’ double cheeseburger just like the picture shows it!
A CNC machine that cost 5 million to buy in the 80's and early 90's can be had now for tens of thousands on Ebay. Technology isn't static and neither are the economies of scale. This will get easier, cheaper, and better at a rapid pace. In fact it's probably farther along than many realize. A team in England recently created a fully functional UAV with a 3D printer.
Can I download Olivia Wilde ?
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