Open-Source 3D Printer Lets Users Make Anything

An anonymous reader writes "Picture a 3D inkjet printer that deposits droplets of plastic, layer by layer, gradually building up an object of any shape. Fabbers have been around for two decades, but they've always been the pricey playthings of high-tech labs — and could only use a single material. A Fab at Home kit costs around $2400 and allows users to print anything from Hors d'Oeuvres to flashlights."

Gives new meaning to

[davidsyes]

"This printer prints like... SHIT."

in other news...

[plasmacutter]

the plastic storage container manufacturers of america have sent out their subpoena's against the first batch of kids "stealing" their products.

Throw some Chinese out of work for a change!

[tjstork]

Could make toys on demand!

It could be very useful

[paladinwannabe2]

I've always thought something like this could be awesome for all sorts of geeky pastimes. Need an army for Warhammer 40k? Need a horde of orcs for D&D? Missing a piece to your favorite board game? You can print out an army, toss them back, then print out a new one the next day.

Re:material

[plasmacutter]

two part epoxy resin.

it's suitably viscous, dries rather quickly, and its stiff flexibility makes it virtually indestructible.

Do remember to have the nozzels flushed with something more easily removed, like hot glue, after each pass.

Re:Any shape?

[Spy der Mann]

Yes, but what about hollow objects, like an egg? Will the inside contain the "filler" sand?

Obvious Use -- Make Fingerprints

[Temeraire]

Yet another reason why biometric ID cards are nonsense!

Read a person's fingerprints etc, ideally remotely from an RFID passport, but more likely by hacking an official reader. Then 3D fabricate copies. No need to hack off their fingers now.

Re:who cares

[bwcbwc]

the sticker shock of $2400 it just drives home the point that the technology isn't ready for prime-time

Back in the day, HP sold scads of laser printers to small businesses in this price range. $2400 isn't in your average hobbyist's pocket book, but it's low enough to open up a "We Make It" store-front in your local strip mall. Of course, there's no guarantee how long such businesses will last. If the price on these things drops into the $1200 range or lower, anyone who really needs the fab service would probably buy their own. That's probably a closer future than nano-tech vats converting garbage to gold.

Re:I'm not convinced...

[Trogre]

The RepRap [wikipedia.org] project aims to do just that.

This is a truly worthwhile undertaking with remarkable possibilities - I wish more people would get behind it.

Re:It could be very useful

[Trogre]

A 3D printer that lets you manufacture damn near anything you want, and you're talking D&D figurines?

I don't want to be unkind and ask if you get out much, but surely we can think of better used for this.

Re:For around the same budget...

[skelly33]

You could not possibly be putting this machine in the same league as "decent machining equipment" in the 25-500K range, could you?

For the same budget there are plenty of desktop options for CNC type machines that could be considered to be in the same small form-factor, rapid prototyping league, but with better flexibility and that work with real materials. 5 seconds of effort on a search engine will turn up matches.

Here's something simple [fireballcnc.com] that I found selling on ebay for less than $500 right now. Surely there are more options, but I'm not going to do everyone's homework for them. Don't get lost in the details: as neat as inkjet printed objects are conceptually - I'm sure it will have its place in the world - as someone who actually does enjoy prototyping and designing mechanical gadgets, I prefer traditional approaches to fabrication that are equally within grasp.

Re:Manufacturing is a solved problem

[644bd346996]

This is a rapid prototyping machine. It enables R&D. It isn't meant for mass-production.

Wanna be a billionaire?

[Colin Smith]

The results are far too crude for any serious use.

So, build a better one. Where do you think the whole computing sector came from?

The first personal computers...
http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml [blinkenlights.com]

They all started looking like this thing. Someone will develop a better media, multiple colours, multiple media, a more accurate nozzle, finer motor control, better software etc etc. They might well turn out to be the next Hewlett or Packard.
 

Re:It could be very useful

[Belial6]

That's because Magic the Gathering is a game designed to test the financial fortitude of its players, where as D&D is a game about swords and sorcery.

Re:in other news...

[CarpetShark]

For anyone who thinks that's a joke... just wait. These things are going to change the world once they become usable. Instead of waiting for amazon to ship stuff, you'll be buying patterns and printing them out. Many more people will probably be downloading patterns for all sorts of patented stuff, from the likes of piratebay. You think the recording industry has issues? Wait 'till the car parts industry, the wooly sweater industry, and yes, the kids toy industry all get on board. We already know Disney doesn't like losing profits.