3 ms·

ELI5? Is this a Star Trek replicator or what?

• c22 8mo ago
  I believe this happens inside a liquid substrate that cures (hardens) when exposed to light. Instead of building up a shape by exposing a series of flat layers (stacked on top of eachother) one at a time, this exposes the entire 3d shape at once, using holograms.
• ra 8mo ago
  that was my first reaction
• Nevermark 8mo ago
  That replicator involved arbitrary chemistry, so except for fans of polymer flavored “chicken” nuggets, no. :) But if they can scale up dimensions it is a big opportunity. Or scale down dimensions. Or scale up resolution. Or scale up the throughput for manufacturing small complex parts. Not just one part at a time but many parts in proximity at a time, a bit like chip production. All four seem likely now that the principle has been proven.
• kadoban 8mo ago
  Star Trek replicator but only for a particular type of ~plastic, you can't make arbitrary materials/chemicals.