3D Self-Replicating Printer to be Released Under GNU License

Rob O'Neill writes "A Kiwi open source developer is working on a self-replicating 3D printer, RepRap, to be made available under the GNU license. 'The 3D printer works by building components up in layers of plastic, mainly polylactic acid (PLA), which is a bio-degradable polymer made from lactic acid. The technology already exists, but commercial machines are very expensive. They also can't copy themselves, and they can't be manipulated by users, says Vik Olliver. RepRap has a different idea. The team, which is spread over New Zealand, the UK and the US, develops and gives away the designs for its much cheaper machine, which also has self-copying capabilities. It wants to make the machine available to anybody — including small communities in the developing world, as well as people in the developed world, says Olliver. Accordingly, the RepRap machine is distributed, at no cost, under the GNU (General Public License).'"

Comments

One Question

[pete-classic]

Can this printer print a printer so large it, in fact, can't print it?

-Peter

How long till the virus bots show up?

[TheNarrator]

There are at least seven copies of the RepRap machine in the world that Olliver knows about. The 3D printer also allows for a new and fascinating way of communicating: Olliver can design something at home in New Zealand, which then appears on another researcherâ(TM)s desk, in Bath, in the UK, or the other way around.

So I'm going to double click an email attachment and wake up the next morning to find my house infested with little insect like robots wandering around my house looking for credit cards.

Re:Really?

[BlackSnake112]

... There are many copies. And they have a plan.

Re:Really?

[Drooling Iguana]

Bah, the fax machine is just a waffle-iron with a phone attached!

We're doomed!

[countach]

What happens when these things run out of control replicating themselves, and the planet becomes a crawling oooze of 3D printers? Have they thought of that? No, I'll bet not. Smash any 3D printers you can see NOW!

Re:We're doomed!

[wellmington]

I, for one, welcome our 3d printing, self replicating overlords. Surely they can't do any worse than our current burger eating, oil selling overlords.

Here's a short-cut for ya

[RexDevious]

"We know that people are going to use the printer to try to make weapons [and] sex toys and drug paraphernalia," he says.

All you have to do is, when some tells the machine to print a copy of itself - have it print a weapon instead. Then it points it at the user and says, "Go buy another copy of me and tell everyone I printed it. And if you think you can come back here with the police instead - keep in mind that I can also print sex toys and drug paraphernalia. So... do we understand each other?"

Granted, it'd make for some pretty awkward moments at trade shows - but it would still technically be a self-replicating printer.

Re:Really?

[inkyblue2]

Actual printing of semiconductor devices is still in the early research and implementation phase at various corporations and universities. Printable motors are the remaining practical hurdle. lol. i'm almost done building a space shuttle out of papier mache. the only parts i'm still working on are the engines and the heat shielding for re-entry. consider this a 0.1 version.

Re:Really?

[ah42]

No, it's toast.

Nah...

[LanMan04]

If a toaster can toast itself, is it self-aware? Nope, it just gets hairy palms.