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They're going by the name "3-D printer" right now, but the overall idea is a home fabrication machine capable of producing complex 3-D goods (including moving p

They're going by the name "3-D printer" right now, but the overall idea is a home fabrication machine capable of producing complex 3-D goods (including moving parts, electronics, etc) on demand. Current 3-D printing is an extremely crude version of the eventual device. So if you wanted a new microwave, go online and download the design. Then go to the Christmas Tree machine and have it print one up for you. Just like presents under a Christmas Tree, you ask for something, say the magic words, then it appears with a little bow on it. (It occurs to me they should have been named Santa Claus machines, but I don't make this stuff up, I simply repeat it) Of course, we're starting off with extremely simple implementations. I think the current technology does stuff like figurines. Adding moving parts is probably a next logical step, then printable simple electronics. There's a long way to go, but once realized, Christmas Tree machines will change everything.

nollidge 16y ago
Ah, I gotcha, thanks. I've only ever heard those called "3D printers". Google only turned up either artificial tree makers or logging equipment. The Make magazine follows CTM/3DP stuff pretty closely: http://blog.makezine.com/ http://blog.makezine.com/
- HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
  It's the latest name. Don Lancaster's been calling them Santa Claus machines for about 15 years now...
  - codebaobab 16y ago
    Actually, that seems like a low estimate. I think I remember him already having coined that term when I was buying his books 20 years ago... ...And Don was already Old School then...
    - HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
      ...so how long did it take before your copy of The Incredible Secret Money Machine was ripped off :-)
      - codebaobab 16y ago
        I proactively bought gift copies... Seriously, it is amazing how way ahead of the curve he was. ISMM was originally published when Tim Ferriss was only 1 year old, but the only real difference between it and 4 Hour Work Week is the scale that the Internet makes available. Every time some hungry hacker blogs about supplementing his income by selling photos on some stock photography site--man, it's deja vu all over again.

nollidge 16y ago

Ah, I gotcha, thanks. I've only ever heard those called "3D printers". Google only turned up either artificial tree makers or logging equipment. The Make magazine follows CTM/3DP stuff pretty closely: http://blog.makezine.com/ http://blog.makezine.com/

HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
It's the latest name. Don Lancaster's been calling them Santa Claus machines for about 15 years now...
- codebaobab 16y ago
  Actually, that seems like a low estimate. I think I remember him already having coined that term when I was buying his books 20 years ago... ...And Don was already Old School then...
  - HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
    ...so how long did it take before your copy of The Incredible Secret Money Machine was ripped off :-)
    - codebaobab 16y ago
      I proactively bought gift copies... Seriously, it is amazing how way ahead of the curve he was. ISMM was originally published when Tim Ferriss was only 1 year old, but the only real difference between it and 4 Hour Work Week is the scale that the Internet makes available. Every time some hungry hacker blogs about supplementing his income by selling photos on some stock photography site--man, it's deja vu all over again.