Holy Crap! A 3D printer, Is this thing for real?

[JoLLyRoGer]

It's like a Star Trek replicator or something. Story and website claims this "3d" printer can print model objects from like a CAD program or something. An actual scale size 3D object you can handle! I can't believe this.

CNN Technology - 3D Printer.

Apparently it uses some kind of powder and binds it together to make solid objects.

ZCorp's page.

Buy Stock Now..

 

[jfall]

Thats crazy.. can't wait to download a 4ghz cpu on kazaa

 

[Spoooon]

Didn't arstechnica have something on their frontpage about this years ago? Maybe back then they were talking about it theoretically.

 

[bunker]

Z Corp has been selling 3d printers for a while. The printers the article is talking about are new in that they print electronics and were not developed by Z Corp.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: bunker
Z Corp has been selling 3d printers for a while. The printers the article is talking about are new in that they print electronics and were not developed by Z Corp.

This is news to me. I must be living under a rock. Even so this is some wild crap!

 

[Brutuskend]

I saw a story about this sort of technology several years ago.

It's kinda cool I suppose, but not something the average person could use. Unless you can do LIFE SIZE scans of hotties!

 

[maziwanka]

holy crap this is new to me. man. sounds cool as hell.

 

[iamwiz82]

they have used that kind of stuff for years. The ones I have seen are used to make parts for the auto industry out of either resin or layers of paper. Neat stuff

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

It's not a new technology, but it certainly hasn't been a consumer-level technology.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
they have used that kind of stuff for years. The ones I have seen are used to make parts for the auto industry out of either resin or layers of paper. Neat stuff

Yeah, but think about this new one they're trying to make happen. Actually "printing" electronic circuits....??? BAD A$$

Go BERKLEY!!!

 

[austin316]

The Umbrella corporation of Resident Evil has had this technology for years.

 

[Glitchny]

Originally posted by: jfall
Thats crazy.. can't wait to download a 4ghz cpu on kazaa

ohhhh the possiblities

 

[Orsorum]

If I remember correctly a lot of mechanical engineering firms have used these to create prototypes of components they created with CAD software. It's awesome.

 

[StageLeft]

It's very cool but incredibly far away from actually printing a fully capable digital device like an MP3 player

 

[dxkj]

This sounds way too freak-science-fictiony.

NASA would like to be able to print spare parts in outer space instead of transporting a huge inventory on the shuttle.

lol

 

[Spooner]

I have two in my room. I used one to print out another one

 

[Beau]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
Even so this is some wild crap!

Be careful not to anger it. Wild Crap are known to throw their buttholes.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
If I remember correctly a lot of mechanical engineering firms have used these to create prototypes of components they created with CAD software. It's awesome.

yah we have some of those machines at work (toy design/development). one prints this wax-like substance, another uses a laser to cure a liquid resin (SLA), and one uses powdered plastic (SLS). it's pretty cool to be able to design parts on the computer and then have a sample in your hand in a few hours.

 

[Adul]

I seen stuff like it before. They wher used to show models of parts and various other catia drawings in 3d. cool stuff.

 

[edro]

Umm.... where have you been?!?!

It's been on Star Trek for years...

 

[notfred]

Reminds me more of the 5th element than star trek.

 

[Czar]

costs only about $50 to print out a 3d model

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: PipBoy

Originally posted by: Orsorum
If I remember correctly a lot of mechanical engineering firms have used these to create prototypes of components they created with CAD software. It's awesome.

yah we have some of those machines at work (toy design/development). one prints this wax-like substance, another uses a laser to cure a liquid resin (SLA), and one uses powdered plastic (SLS). it's pretty cool to be able to design parts on the computer and then have a sample in your hand in a few hours.

Yeah, I don't see how this is too different than those rapid prototyping methods. They're fairly prevalent in industry and academia.

 

[Scarpozzi]

QC and longevity are both nonexistant with this technology. I think it's a nice thought that may work, but the actual value of the end-product has extremely limited worth in a production environment.

 

[DurocShark]

Just a cad-cam system. Very cool though, and compared to an automated machine tool very cheap.

I've been drooling over these for years... heh