3D printer to churn out copies of itself
A Scientist in England is building a 3D printer and software system that is capable of “printing” parts in order to make an exact copy of itself. Assembly and batteries not included. Of course it will also be able to “print” just about any other components too. Imagine being able to print all the components to build your own iPod or PlayStation Portable (PSP).
If such a print device was available for the $500 price tag mentioned in the article, I would buy one. All you have to do is supply it with the “inks” to manufacture your own products. Jeremy wants some more blocks to build towers or toy trucks? Tammy wants a new set of plastic dishes for a camping trip? Anything that’s plastic or uses an “alloy of bismuth, lead, tin and cadmium” (for electronic circuits) can be made with such a device as long as you have the plans for the end product and the raw materials. Companies could sell plans to make products instead of making the products themselves – the ultimate in outsourcing!
The article states that “Many of the components could be produced much faster and cheaper by other machines.” While I agree with this, many people do not take into account all the costs associated with their products. The toy truck with blocks we bought Jeremy this week cost $10. The cost of the plastic in it? Probably less than 25 cents. The rest of the price goes to the manufacturer (small profit margin), shipper, and retailer (big profit margin). So what if instead of paying to ship the product I buy plastic “ink” for my printer, the plans for the product, and throw in some of my own time to assemble it? I could probably get the whole thing for a couple of bucks tops.
One cost that the traditional manufacture-ship-retail paradigm does not take into account is the environmental cost of shipping. All those trucks and trains contribute a significant amount of pollution to our environment. Can eliminate some of this by manufacturing some of our own products? YES! Should we? Perhaps – it will mean a lot less jobs in the manufacturing, shipping and retail sectors. It would be a significant paradigm shift for our global society.
