Are 3D printers the next step to 'Star Trek' syle replicators?

[FelixDeCat]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100569418?__source=yahoo|headline|quote|text|&par=yahoo

More and more articles are appearing about 3D printing including some that claim it will revolutionize manufacturing, again. Progress seems to be growing at a rapid pace. All we need to do now is figure out a way to convert one type of universal matter molecules into metals, fibers and liquids. Not to mention, cheeseburgers.

I think these devices are the progenitor of full scale replication technology. After that, we will supposedly abandon the monetary system in favor of space exploration. :whiste:

 

[Crono]

I want nanolathing.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Not a chance. I'd bet IP lawyers are working on ways to sabotage this technology now and we'll see the equivalent of MPAA-like legal lobbies and legislation before long.

 

[_Rick_]

3D printers are only glorified glue guns.
CNC robots are the only 3D printers you could interest me in. But they're still a bit pricey, for a toy.

 

[Newbian]

As soon as they make full sized copies of themselves I will be impressed.

 

[MarkXIX]

I'm just not getting the whole 3D printing craze honestly. Maybe in terms of the medical field being able to construct ears, noses, and such, but the rest of it seems silly to me.

So far just about everything I've seen has been like a plastic toy that's probably far easier to produce with injection molding processes, etc.

 

[Rakehellion]

I'm just not getting the whole 3D printing craze honestly. Maybe in terms of the medical field being able to construct ears, noses, and such, but the rest of it seems silly to me.

So far just about everything I've seen has been like a plastic toy that's probably far easier to produce with injection molding processes, etc.

Lithography is better than an inkjet printer, but those still caught on.

 

[Soundmanred]

No

 

[Triumph]

I've done a bunch with it at work, working on one project right now using the technology. It's a lot better than it was, but it isn't as powerful as articles like this claim. They offer pretty curt examples of places like Nike or NASA using it in shoes and rockets. But they're probably using it for prototyping. I know of no 3D printing process that would be more cost effective for creating literally millions of parts (as in shoe cleats) that would be cheaper than injection molding or casting. Actually a lot of 3d printed parts are used for exactly that, creating castings that you can then mold parts out of more substantial materials, such as traditional plastics and even metals. The "metallic" 3D printing is glued or soldered together, it is nowhere near as strong as real metal. 3D printing is nowhere near replacing real metal, nor will it ever I think.

Until they can build an item by layering atoms of aluminum, iron, carbon, magnesium, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and silicon into the proper crystalline structures, it'll never be as strong as traditional steel and aluminum processes.

I can see 3d printing changing a lot of the plastics industry in the future, though it isn't cost effective enough yet right now. For one offs, 3d printing is usually cost effective. Some of my parts have cost 500-1000 bucks to prototype. Machining it would be 3-4 times that and take longer. For low volume to medium volume, the casting processes work. A cast of the 500 dollar SLA part might cost $50. For high volume, an injection mold of that 500 dollar SLA part might cost $3. Until you can 3d print that same part for $3 and do 2-3,000 of them a day, it isn't going to win against traditional methods.

 

[Fritzo]

As soon as they make full sized copies of themselves I will be impressed.

...or assimilated.

 

[exdeath]

Nothing new, just idiot proof. All you need for one off production of real things is a lathe + mill + drill press + hydraulic press in your garage.

CNC and 3D printing just allows the process to be automated for rapid mass production.

Anything you can make on a 3D printer you could make by hand out of a ingot of forged billet on a $1500 table top mill/lathe, it just takes longer.

 

[_Rick_]

it just takes longer.

Much longer, if you want anywhere near the same tolerances. (CNC, not printing, obviously)

 

[SaurusX]

Given that 3D printers only produce objects made of one type of material... no. It's not even strong material.

 

[BladeVenom]

The "metallic" 3D printing is glued or soldered together, it is nowhere near as strong as real metal. 3D printing is nowhere near replacing real metal, nor will it ever I think.

Sintered parts can be almost as strong. I could see 3D printers using the same stuff they use in MIM, and then sintering it for a very strong part. That's something that could probably be done now.

Then there's laser sintering.

 

[BladeVenom]

Given that 3D printers only produce objects made of one type of material... no. It's not even strong material.

But it's going to get better. Wait til 3d printers start using something like Zytel.

 

[Ken g6]

No, the next step toward replicators will be protein synthesizers. Other chemicals like carbohydrates and caffeine would need to be synthesized too. Remember, Enterprise had a drink dispenser? Kind of like that.

Put that together with 3d printing, and you probably won't get a cheeseburger, but you might get tofurky. D:

I think real meat will have to be grown - though whether it can be grown outside the animal is the next challenge.

 

[Wyndru]

I'm just be happy when I can make a replacement battery cover for my remote control.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm just not getting the whole 3D printing craze honestly. Maybe in terms of the medical field being able to construct ears, noses, and such, but the rest of it seems silly to me.

So far just about everything I've seen has been like a plastic toy that's probably far easier to produce with injection molding processes, etc.

WHAT? You mean you have not seen the variety of truly amazing and unique iPhone cases that the world of budding 3D printers have constructed and made available?

 

[zinfamous]

I'm just be happy when I can make a replacement battery cover for my remote control.

indeed. It actually has some real practical uses, but a huge commitment for the average person to adopt it:

--cost
--CAD

 

[JulesMaximus]

It is great for prototyping but that's about it.

 

[lxskllr]

indeed. It actually has some real practical uses, but a huge commitment for the average person to adopt it:

--cost
--CAD

Everything was hard and expensive at first. The internet used to be a geeks playground, and the equipment was expensive. Now every mouth breather with a pulse is drooling on facebook. 3D printing at home is revolutionary, and it'll change the world almost as much as the internet itself did.

 

[Midwayman]

I think the neat stuff for 3d printing is going to be in layering 3d structures of different materials. For example building components with built in wires, circuitboards, etc, etc. Thinks that might be difficult or expensive through traditional processes. It'll also lower the barrier for entry into market with low volume production. I don't really see people owning these as much as I see regional on-demand manufacturing facilities. IE for some products instead of amazon having a warehouse, it gets sent here and shipped to you locally.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Whatever is coming, it's going to be great.
As for the RIAA/MPAA/etc of the world, they can go off themselves.

Check out this short story on the subject, by Cory Doctorow:
http://craphound.com/overclocked/Cory_Doctorow_-_Overclocked_-_Printcrime.html

 

[ImpulsE69]

If it ever comes to be something truly useful for the average consumer, you can bet there will be people in the IP world that is going to try to stop it.

I love the idea of the 3D printer, it's still in it's infancy. The future uses are almost limitless once you start to incorporate other "out there" ideas into it.

 

[disappoint]

All we need to do now is figure out a way to convert one type of universal matter molecules into metals, fibers and liquids.

What is this nonsense? We will not have sci-fi-esq replicators because you haven't been praying hard enough for them. If you don't look constipated when you're praying you aren't praying hard enough!