Star Trek Replicator? Not quite, but getting there!

[Kal-El]

3D printers!

A couple of examples of printers generating real, usable mechanical objects! Solid objects is one thing, but ones with moving parts? Holy crap. :eek2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7h09dTVkdw&feature=related

This could spell much more trouble for the manufacturing sector. :eek2:

[shinlee]

dude.....that's mind blowing right there!

[rningonfumes]

That's mindblowing. We just barely got to machines that make parts for you and we've already come this far with the "replicator?"

The first printers, you had to assemble things, this one comes assembled with moving parts! I can see a correction to what the guy/host said about losing parts in space.. Why bring parts at all? Just take up the powder and print what you need when you get there!

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

Oh snap, I've seen those machines in person when I was attending Glendale Community College.