I would like to present articles about the " 3D Printing " technology.
3D printing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital model.
It can be used for prototyping , parts development , and is even versatile enough to print medical prostheses and implants .
3D printing is a rapidly growing area , and the popularity of 3D printers grows each day.
Please look at the following articles and write what you think about it.
http://www.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.businessweek.com/
http://weburbanist.com/2010/
Questions:
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
Mrs. Świerk, is Wednesday evening what exactly should I moderate? ;)
ReplyDeleteHere is an interesting video, "printing" a cup with the DIY RepRap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29yHrWrs1ok
A lot of articles (related to this post) to read this week :) .
ReplyDeleteThe described technology is very interesting. It may have a major impact on the production. However I don't think it is going to pose such problems with piracy in the near future. Many of the produced items are complex objects consisting of many parts, usually made of different materials, so it is probably not so straightforward to automatically reproduce them with one machine. Moreover, in many cases the difference between two objects is related not only to their shape, but also to the material production technology which determines its quality and is usually kept secret.
Right, but these printers can work with variety of materials such as plastics, metals, organic materials, etc. The only thing you can not do is electronic. All other staff You can print:)
Delete1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteIt has the potential to replace many current manufacturing processes.
Plastic based printing won't be applicable everywhere though, many objects
require other materials such as metals and glass. CNC machining is already
essential in many industries, that is a subtractive process, printing is additive
so it complements it well.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
That is an interesting prospect. In this case some manual assembly is still required and you need extra parts, but it's a start. A low cost solution will make this technology more accessible this way.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
It's definitely possible, however the first fully self-replicating machines will probably be in the nano-scale.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
Perhaps according to the current laws, but that just means the laws need to be changed. It would be a shame if the technology was hindered by some outdated laws.
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteLooks really good, I actually myself checked the prices after seeing printer in action. Althought until it is capable of creating more advanced things it more like a really advanced toy than a tool.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
I think the goal is most interesting as stated before, althought from what I have seen they are quite far from completion of version 2.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
Everything is possible :) Althought I believe that the hardest part will be replicating microcontrolers and electronic part of machine.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
I think that in these days everything is in danger of being called piracy, especially after hearing about recent patents on rounded edges of smartphones and similar examples of fighting with piracy.
"...it more like a really advanced toy than a tool."
DeleteI disagree with You, there are on the market 3D printers used to produce small series parts or toys. Like ZPrinter 850:
http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/ZPrinter-850/spage.aspx
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteOf course I do, this technology has got a huge potential. I even have a cup at home made by 3D printer.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
It has the future for sure. The RepRap construct is a very good exmple of a machine that can replicate itself on top of making other things. Nanotechnology also goes in this direction, however it is going to offer much bigger and more versatile possibilities.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
Yes of course, I think that nanoasembers will be able to replicate other machines including themselfd at the atomic level.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
I would not call it piracy. In the future there will be possibility to pay for the product licenses and our printer could then print it at home.
About 30 years ago software for computers cost was in Mls $$. After computers became more available a price dropped to a thousands for software. Today applications cost more or less 0.90-5$, for eg. Smartphone apps. I think the same story is going to happen to the price of 3D printers. Now when the technology is very new it cost some unbelieveable amount of money but after few years it will become affordable to most of the people.
"I would not call it piracy. In the future there will be possibility to pay for the product licenses and our printer could then print it at home."
DeleteIt's sad, I think we go to that corporations does not sell the product, but only licenses (something immaterial), patents, etc. :(
ReplyDelete1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
I think that it is great idea in some not complicated cases, for example in car businesses where they after finish new project of the car, next they make some kind of model in 1:1 scale.
For that process they need a lot of time so that 3D printer can be more helpful for them and can make that process cheaper and faster.
So it has sens in some cases.
But I thin that in more complex production it want be more useful because like someone wrote before many product are to complicated to that.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
It look fine and it is some kind of solution for future.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
Why not everything is possible. Like someone else wrote in my opinion the hardest part will solve replicating microcontrolers and electronic part of machine.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
I don't think that In my opinion most of company will only sell some kind of license like they do now for for example software.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteThis is a breakthrough - generally the cost of producing the device is largely dependent on the prototype creation. Cheaper prototypes - better and cheaper products! I believe that one day we will buy online vector concept of product, and then print it in 3D.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
Great start - but as the first law of technology says: with every change in technology that affects consumer behavior, we always overestimate the impact in the short term, but then underestimate the full impact over the long term.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
Ten years ago we dreamed about touch phones - by the end of this year, almost half of Poles will have smartphone.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
We live in time in which the idea, the concept, the solution is more important than the physical effects. Before the industrial revolution - lacked food, now we have everything we need (there is much more material than needed). I think so - it's piracy, though I prefer open solutions
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteOn the beginning I would like to say that I heard about this technology first time. So I was very surprised when I was reading that it had already been known in 80s or 90s. Generally I think that almost every technology discovery makes some sense, but not every will be used in industry. I see opportunities for 3D printing for prototyping, not for mass production because it seems to me too expensive. Additionally I would like to say that in my opinion the most interesting products are done with using many technologies, so 3D printing may be one of them – but I can’t imagine that it can play the main role. In this moment I have to emphasize that printing unique shoes I see more like art than real production .
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
I think that it is really useful for young pirates. But more seriously: today we can buy combo-printers – (printer + scanner + fax in one). For me RepRap is simply an extension of this technology for 3D world and so probably it will find people who will buy it.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
I don’t think that it is possible now but may be possible in the future. I think that the first self-replicating machine will be much simpler than 3D printer and probably quite useless for normal people.
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
Yes, in my opinion it is similar to copying music. Today everyone can copy it and it is called “piracy”, so term piracy seems to be connected with act of copying, not with copied subject or possibilities of copying. On the other hand I think that today's regulations protect copyrights too much, so I hope that changing laws for 3D printing will give a chance for changing today's copyrights on better for normal people.
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDelete2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
1,2,3 The range of materials that can be used are limited - don't anticipate copper electrical components, or metal forgings etc. at any time in the foreseeable future. Or anything involving composites. Similarly, there's a scale limitation (so you win't be printing chips similar electronic components.
It's also unlikely ever to approach the scale economies of mas manufacturing techniques like injection moulding, stamping/pressing and so on.
Where I suspect it is more likely to make a difference is either at manufacture at small scale - perhaps - or for prototyping and making patterns.
Replication will be possible after improving printing technology.
4. 3D printing poses several challenges to our intellectual property system. If you are – say – printing a telephone, you will need to use designs from a wide range of different companies, from the microchip to the battery.
1. I've just recently heard of the 3D printing technology and similarly to the previous Grzegorz's post I was quite shocked that it's in place for so long now.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think that it's a fascinating idea to be able to create objects 'from scratch', I do not think that the 3D printing technology would replace traditional production. It seems that the final products of such a technology would be of far less quality than the ones created using the 'old way'. Nevertheless I'm guessing that this could potentially be a great hobby for some, as 'do it yourself' products - although not being piece of the art equipment - often have an added emotional value.
2. The self replicating machine seems a great idea and it could be a valuable academic topic to discuss... but I share the opinions of others posting before me. Personally I do not see any other point of creating such machine other than to prove that it's possible.
3. I think that creating such a machine is within reach of this generation, as it definitely seems that we have all the technology necessary. Moreover, am I wrong or is the 'RepRap' an example of such a machine (as in the movie it's clearly stated "If you have one [RepRap machine] you can copy one for your friend")?
4. It think that this could potentially be the biggest downside of this idea. In today's time people tend to pirate nearly all that they can (movies, music, books, etc.) and if 3D printing became popular this problem could become even bigger. If the technology to print objects would be accessible to all, it could lead to some serious issues. For instance, if an electronic design for some branded item would be put on the internet and you could 'print' your own copy for much less money. I agree that it would not be the same quality as the one produced by the manufacturer, but I am certain that many would accept such a tradeoff.
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteFor the time being I think it's highly unlikely. Mass production will still remain But 3D printing may become trendy designer technology.
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
It seems to me that for home purposes it won't find wide use, but for some specific reasons it may be very useful for creating spare parts eg. space stations, polar stations, etc.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a"self-replicating" machine?
Scientist are probably already working on such a device. I think it may prove to be useful in nanotechnology
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
Let's think about copying machine (xero) when it became available for all, did this cause big problems with "piracy"? Did people stop buying books?
1. What do you think about this technology. Does it make sense ? Do you think that it will replace the traditional production?
ReplyDeleteIt does make sense This technology is at its start and is still immature.
With revolutionary technologies there is usually quite often the time of not the ideal solutions being introduced at first.
The technology might bring some good solutions for example in medicine. The first article mentions that some dental labs use 3D printing to produce crowns, bridges and temporaries.
I wonder if they use patient's 2D photos to reproduce their 3D teeth :).
2. What do you think about the self-replicating manufacturing machine? Like RepRap:
http://www.reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
The idea in my opinion is quite similar to the self-hosting computer system (the compiler that can compile its own source code). Reprap is just one another possible way of using 3D printer.
It’s relatively cheap so it is a wise way to choose if you want to make your first steps in the 3D printing industry. Later on you could stick with the industry leaders’ products.
3. Do you think it is possible to create a "self-replicating" machine?
Yes. Mix Reprap with the self-hosting software and you could possibly grow a herd of "self-replicating" machines. Keep in mind that they can reproduce themselves exponentially :).
4. If everyone had a possibility to "print" anything would you call it piracy?
It is the questions of the detailed design you use to do the printing. If the design is entirely yours then there is no space for piracy. On the other hand using someone’s design without permission, sure sounds like one.
1) The value of artisan works is still rising, because there is less and less craftsman that can create beauty. No robot or 3D printer can recreate Picasso.
ReplyDelete2) It could be usefull for many pre-defined tasks, however it may be very difficult to create a universal self-replicating machine.
3) Logically it isn’t possible, because the printed object is always smaller than the printer, unless the final object is constructed from parts made by the printer.
4) Not really. First an idea or a creative concept is needed, the simple fact of baking a muffin according to chef’s recipe doesn’t mean its piracy. The authorship still belongs to the author. Plus when there is demand there is supply, surely one will be able to purchase necessary blueprints for the objects he/she wants.