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Well, presumably you could print the next generation of printers using the previous generation. You'd still need to pay for the energy/raw materials to run the

Well, presumably you could print the next generation of printers using the previous generation. You'd still need to pay for the energy/raw materials to run them though. Maybe if LFTR works out, energy will be next-to-free also.

firefoxman1 15y ago
Both very good points. Printing a printer is quite a thought.
- icebraining 15y ago
  Printing a printer is quite a thought. Check out the RepRap project. They're trying to design a cheap, open source 3D printer that can print itself: http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap
  - firefoxman1 15y ago
    Oh that's insane. It says it's self-replicating, but can it assemble the parts it creates or is a human needed? And what about the microchips? Those still take expensive machinery to produce, right?
    - icebraining 15y ago
      Well, their goal is to make it self-replicating, but it's far from it for now. I think it can essentially make the specialized parts, but you still need to buy various common parts and assemble it yourself. See the BOM of non-printed parts: http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel#Non-Printed_Parts_.28.22vitamins.22.29 http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel#Non-Printed_Parts_.28.22...
      - cabalamat 15y ago
        > Well, their goal is to make it self-replicating, but it's far from it for now. Indeed. Replicators are at roughly the same point today that personal computers were in 1975. So expect that in a few decades everyone will have one in their house, able to make a very wide range of objects.
kaybe 15y ago
For all it's worth, here's a simple printer that runs on sand and sunshine: Video: http://www.markuskayser.com/ http://www.markuskayser.com/ Text with photos: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/markus-kayser-builds-a-solar-powered-3d-printer-that-prints-glass-from-sand-and-a-sun-powered-laser-cutter/ http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/markus-kayser-builds-a...

firefoxman1 15y ago

Both very good points. Printing a printer is quite a thought.

icebraining 15y ago
Printing a printer is quite a thought. Check out the RepRap project. They're trying to design a cheap, open source 3D printer that can print itself: http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap
- firefoxman1 15y ago
  Oh that's insane. It says it's self-replicating, but can it assemble the parts it creates or is a human needed? And what about the microchips? Those still take expensive machinery to produce, right?
  - icebraining 15y ago
    Well, their goal is to make it self-replicating, but it's far from it for now. I think it can essentially make the specialized parts, but you still need to buy various common parts and assemble it yourself. See the BOM of non-printed parts: http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel#Non-Printed_Parts_.28.22vitamins.22.29 http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel#Non-Printed_Parts_.28.22...
    - cabalamat 15y ago
      > Well, their goal is to make it self-replicating, but it's far from it for now. Indeed. Replicators are at roughly the same point today that personal computers were in 1975. So expect that in a few decades everyone will have one in their house, able to make a very wide range of objects.

kaybe 15y ago

For all it's worth, here's a simple printer that runs on sand and sunshine: Video: http://www.markuskayser.com/ http://www.markuskayser.com/ Text with photos: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/markus-kayser-builds-a-solar-powered-3d-printer-that-prints-glass-from-sand-and-a-sun-powered-laser-cutter/ http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/06/markus-kayser-builds-a...