Sir Quaffler
May we meet again
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2012
Ok so I don't know if there's a similar thread on here, didn't check that far back. But anyway.
3D printers are much different than regular printing, in that it extrudes small strips of material (usually plastics, resins, metals, etc.) through a feeder. A computer program breaks down the shape of the object in question into a series of cross-sections then builds up on those layers once they are laid down. This is also different from regular machining, which relies on taking away material to create objects and is more limited in what it can do. There are several methods of printing, from an extruding method which feeds the tube-like material through the melter, a granular method which rather than using liquids uses solids ground up into powders and grains, among other methods.
I've been working on a project in my hydraulics class to build a 3D printer for my own. The more I read up on this, the more I get excited about the possibilities. Being able to create any kind of object on-the-spot has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Especially in the medical fields, I've heard of cases where they've printed off replacement bones to fit into people's skulls, wicked stuff. And in my line of work, I can print off a prototype model and redesign it within an hour or so after the clients make sudden changes, and I don't have to wait weeks on end for the new model to come in from the machine shops.
But then many people jump straight to the conclusion that people will start printing off guns and killing off people left and right. I know that would be technically possible, but it makes me sad that people automatically assume the worst in new technologies, especially ones like this that can change everything.
Anyways I just wanted to know what your thoughts were on this potentially game-changing technology.
3D printers are much different than regular printing, in that it extrudes small strips of material (usually plastics, resins, metals, etc.) through a feeder. A computer program breaks down the shape of the object in question into a series of cross-sections then builds up on those layers once they are laid down. This is also different from regular machining, which relies on taking away material to create objects and is more limited in what it can do. There are several methods of printing, from an extruding method which feeds the tube-like material through the melter, a granular method which rather than using liquids uses solids ground up into powders and grains, among other methods.
I've been working on a project in my hydraulics class to build a 3D printer for my own. The more I read up on this, the more I get excited about the possibilities. Being able to create any kind of object on-the-spot has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Especially in the medical fields, I've heard of cases where they've printed off replacement bones to fit into people's skulls, wicked stuff. And in my line of work, I can print off a prototype model and redesign it within an hour or so after the clients make sudden changes, and I don't have to wait weeks on end for the new model to come in from the machine shops.
But then many people jump straight to the conclusion that people will start printing off guns and killing off people left and right. I know that would be technically possible, but it makes me sad that people automatically assume the worst in new technologies, especially ones like this that can change everything.
Anyways I just wanted to know what your thoughts were on this potentially game-changing technology.
That said, the concept and stuff, and if what happened on Big Bang Theory is representative of how it works, they do seem pretty cool! Maybe in years and years time, these things will be cheap and in every household. 
