3D Printers, a step closer to radical change

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Why bother frequenting the market when you can just log onto your computer and print off whatever you want?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/technology/07copy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Lord Testicles]

This is rather exciting news, althought I guess there is still a market if you need to buy materials for your printer.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Heh; our slab of metal and glass is more luxurious!

[Mr. Path-e-fist]

Wasn't this in Jurassic Park 3?

[Jazzratt]

This has been speculated/talked about for a while. It's interesting but it doesn't seem to be getting much closer.

[Schrödinger's Cat]

This has been speculated/talked about for a while. It's interesting but it doesn't seem to be getting much closer.

Times is reporting that they'll soon enter regular households. I would say that's a change.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

This has been speculated/talked about for a while. It's interesting but it doesn't seem to be getting much closer.

That's not surprising, considering the fact that these things have only been around for a year or so.

It would be interesting to see what would be required for this kind of technology to really take off.

[Knight of Cydonia]

seem like an awesome new technology. but when i peep at the price, phew....it's damn expensive for my indonesian money.:crying:

[Bastable]

I wonder if it could be someday used for biological or organic matter?

maybe someday hospitals could just make a heart in a jiffy for someone who needs one?

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

I wonder if it could be someday used for biological or organic matter?

maybe someday hospitals could just make a heart in a jiffy for someone who needs one?

Unlike most artificial objects, organs and body parts have a complex molecular, cellular and organic structure that would be extremely time-consuming to put ttogether piece by piece. It would be better to grow them artificially, or harvest them from genetically engineered animals (They already do this with pig hearts, if I remember correctly).

[More Fire for the People]

I've seen one of these before, their potential is greatly exagerated and they're mega costly. I would be surprised to see corporations use these in 50 years, let alone the average person.

[which doctor]

Considering what they can create, they really don't seem that useful yet.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Computers once filled entire rooms and cost millions... it's early days yet for the 3D printer. Let us hope that the technology can go further.

[Dr Mindbender]

i suspect it'll still be rather a long time before i can 'print' myself a 50'' television set.

[bloody_capitalist_sham]

these have been around for a decade or more.

[Comrade Rage]

Probably in the prototype phase though. The Times sounds like these ought to be for sale in a few years. Even when they are for sale, they'll still probably cost as much as a car, though. Hopefully they'll be affordable in ten years.

[Don't Change Your Name]

Uh, will those things prints others like them? That would turn out to be a very interesting development indeed.

[sonicbluetm]

Is this like the Fly? I don't want no pears with fly dna mixed in. Ew.