[Art]

OK...we hear a lot about these 3D printers but what can they really print and do they have a future?
Get your notepad ready...

[Ultron]

Interesting - I have recently began to collect the materials to build my own. Aiming to make it for 80 - 100 dollars, with some fancy salvaging. The plastic filaments are expensive enough... Anyhow I want to build this or something very similar, so this tool is essential in my next project:


http://www.inmoov.fr/


Anyhow, one of the disadvantages (at least with the classic 3D - printing method which uses a heated extruder) is that it can use only one color at a time (well, discarding rainbow filaments) and it can only melt a plastic-like material. I doubt 3D printers like the ones we see today have any future - I don't see anyway they could evolve into being capable of etching electronic plates, soldering parts and then printing a plastic case for the thing... Or 3D print our food.


http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/01/05/voxel8-unleashes-electronics-3d-printer-ces-world/


Now I'l stop you right there - I know we have already 3D-printed food, electronic plates, metals, ceramics and even biological organs, but all of these are specialized machines which are called "3D-printers" because of the way they actuate the main head - stepper motors, bearings and belts. Those machines may fall into the category of 3D printers, but they are very specialized and extremely distinct from each other. I also see no way these are to be unified into one machine one day - like the Star Trek replicator.


My bets are that quantum telleportation will get there first and the moment we can synthesize something's molecules somewhere in 3D space, we can begin designing replicators, since (as I have said countless times before) they work on the same basic principle.


Ultron out.

[Art]

Ultron,

I loved those InMoov Robot projects from a while back. There are quite a few videos of them, some from different people. Obviously scripted banter between the builder and the robot but still entertaining, none-the-less. I did ask one builder whether or not he gave any thought to installing an AI into his bot. Still waiting for a reply.

The only main drawback I see is that it would be of no real value with regard to lifting and mobility would be limited to a wheeled base and not "legs" per se. It's still quite a nice project for $2000 - $3000 dollars (perhaps cheaper if you shop around).

Now...Last week I witnessed a different type of 3D printing. It basically "extrudes" the solid object from a base container or semi-liquid plastic material (I think). The presenter had it print a rather complicated polyhedron shaped globe while he was giving his talk (somewhere less than 10 minutes as I recall). Quite impressive as one could watch the object being lifted from the pool of material beneath it.
We've just tapped the tip of things to come!

Finally!! I had to go back and search for the article so you could see for yourself...
http://www.ted.com/talks/joe_desimone_what_if_3d_printing_was_25x_faster?language=en

[Ultron]

10 microns 'Dead-Zone'? Yeah good like DIY-ing this one... I can't even afford a regular projector.


I must admit I was amazed by the speed of that printing method. It may be a step towards the right direction, but if we talk about the comparison to the T-1000 terminator, I'd say memory meta-materials are more promising - I see no way how this technology could get mobilized and incorporated into the material itself.


Anyhow, there are more and more methods of 3D printing - light curing are becoming somewhat popular today. And thanks for sharing that, Art! Interesting to watch - I rarely make it to the end.

But to conclude on my personal beliefs, I find futuristic quantum printers much more promising and with a much wider field of potential uses.

[Art]

I second that and for the future as well!!

[ranch vermin]

that is pretty amazing, printing your head out.