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3D printers will be as revolutionary as computers

By tovarichpeter   Follow   Mon, 3 Dec 2012, 7:18pm   647 views   11 comments
In South San Francisco CA 94080   Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike  

http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21567201-difference-engine-just-computers-make-it-easy-copy-music-3d-printers-will

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1. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   1   8:26pm Mon 3 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike   Tell me when 3D printers can print 3D printers.

2. oddhack Follow Befriend 110 comments

   2   8:44am Tue 4 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says Tell me when 3D printers can print 3D printers. http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

3. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   3   1:25pm Tue 4 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   oddhack says Peter P says Tell me when 3D printers can print 3D printers. http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page Scary.

4. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 436 threads 4,261 comments Baltimore, MD

   4   6:16pm Tue 4 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says oddhack says Peter P says Tell me when 3D printers can print 3D printers. http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page Scary.

5. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 436 threads 4,261 comments Baltimore, MD

   5   6:18pm Tue 4 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   When I can print my own aftermarket auto parts out of better materials (I.E. - make my own stainless steel radiator instead of crappy ones they make now with crappy plastic side tanks and crappy plastic threads on the drain valve). Now that would be something.

6. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   6   6:29pm Tue 4 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I want to print my own golf putter.

7. zzyzzx Follow Befriend (9) 436 threads 4,261 comments Baltimore, MD

   7   12:22pm Fri 14 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   I want to print my own cat toys. A lot of them (especially the interactive ones) are made so cheaply that even an elderly cat breaks them in a short period of time.

8. relo guy Follow Befriend 2 comments

   8   12:44pm Fri 14 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   i want to print my own concubine.

9. varmint Follow Befriend 4 threads 125 comments

   9   2:37pm Fri 14 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   It's funny to me that they're called "3D printers" when the machine has a lot more in common with a CNC than a printer. I think they technically are CNC's, though the traditional understanding of CNC is to create the part by removing material rather than adding it. You can buy regular metal CNC's for home use (even to make radiator parts!). They were not incredibly expensive the last time I looked. Maybe the term "3D printer" makes it seem a lot more accessible to normal "non-shop" people. I dunno, I'm not a machinist but not scared of whirring motors and drill bits either.

10. Dan8267 Follow Befriend (17) 785 threads 7,970 comments Boca Raton, FL Premium

    10   2:45pm Fri 14 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   Peter P says Tell me when 3D printers can print 3D printers. They can right now. Everything except electronics, but that's coming in the not-so-distant future.

11. Dan8267 Follow Befriend (17) 785 threads 7,970 comments Boca Raton, FL Premium

    11   2:57pm Fri 14 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like   Dislike   tovarichpeter says 3D printers will be as revolutionary as computers This could very well be true. If manufacturing becomes something you can do at home just like desktop publishing in the Internet Age, then this will greatly affect the trade balance and the consumer's reliance on corporations. It will shake things up quite a bit. As such, the real consequences are unpredictable.