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MakerBot Thing-o-Matic 3D Printer Assembly, In Pictures
ConMotto writes "After an estimated 16 man-hour assembly effort, these are some of the first high-quality user photographs of the Thing-o-Matic 3D printer and completed component assemblies, released December, 2010 by MakerBot. The Thing-o-Matic is a commercial-supported open source 3D printer (similar to the RepRap), allowing hardware hackers to print their own 3D objects out of Lego-like plastic."
Or not.
This is the kind of thing that makes me wish I were unemployed, or retired, or at a different phase in my life when I just plain had more free time to play with cool shit.
If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
'Cuz they know the server will collapse within minutes.
The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
2D photos of a 3D printer? Please...
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Too bad none of those 3d printers can print a copy of themselves. Create one that does and is programmable and uses genetic algorithms and you've created the first form of synthetic "life." More sophisticated ones can become the basis of an entirely new kind of economy.
Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
Awesome! Damm this post is going to cost me a ton of time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/prestonlee/sets/72157625613518344/show/
The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
... is here. (Pretty Sure.)
"Here's a quarter, kid. Buy yourself a decent server."
-Sean
A device like the Thing-o-matic is unlikely to work as a replicator by itself. It only makes one kind of part (plastic) and has no assembly ability.
What you would need is a machine that can produce a number of types of parts (metal, plastic, glass), and then assemble the parts.
I really love to see these types of projects using other open hardware, such as the Arduino. I cringe whenever I see some simple project that requires a bunch of custom electronics. I mean, in the software world, it doesn't really matter if you want to waste time creating yet-another-library for your app. But in meatspace, people can only afford to have so many little pieces of custom electronics and your motor controller probably doesn't justify a completely custom circuit.
"I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
At long last, I can printer my own 3D objects! I love printering 3D objects. Printering is my life.
out of Lego-like plastic
Really, when I want to do that, I just use actual Legos. :)
I've got mod points tonight but I'm going to post instead. Take a look at this link http://craphound.com/makers/ for an interesting scifi spin on what the OP is thinking about. Free download available - its a good read.
. waterwingz
Does this one require 3D glasses too?
"To view this slideshow, JavaScript must be enabled, and you need the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player."
Screw that.
...until it is able to print itself.
All the parts for mine are sitting on the floor right next to me - waiting for me to get off work for the holidays...
Simon
Physicists get Hadrons!
For those that want to make chainmail, (the metal stuff knights wore) I make and sell a very cool tool for that:
http://www.ringinator.com/
Now if somebody could create a precise 3D milling machine that would trim that thing to precise tolerances . . . NOW that would be something!
course I cant see the original post but ... it seems like a maker bot with a print buffer? ok fine cool I guess if you want it (I have not seen many uses for it other than toy models, boxes and the occasional hose fitting) but why are we all yippiee about someone putting together a kit?
Sounds pretty idiotic...
the wood thing looks cheap and flimsy. they shouldve made the panels aluminum or light steel. even if it increased the cost it would be worth it.
Unless you work in HVAC, then it's like rocket science... Unless you're a rocket scientist, in which case it's like brain surgery... Unless you're a brain surgeon, etc...
---
DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
...until it is able to print with any arbitrary material. Oh wait, yes it can, because "number of dimensions" and "materials of construction" have NO CONNECTION.
CNC or just laser cutter is better for self replication. Because you can cut metal, you can cut laminations for motors which are then screwed together in a stack. Insert magnets and wrap wire and it's a motor. Only a shaft and bearings needed. Larger metal parts with simple bends can make structural pieces. For electronics, an accurate CNC can turn plain copper-clad into double sided circuit boards. In fact, some real board prototyping tools are exactly that. For self replication and ability to make cool stuff, a simple 3-axis mill is totally the way to go.
3D printers are cool, but don't pretend a few custom plastic bits makes them self replicating.
OMG! Now I see it. Quick, they are going to come and harvest us. The self replicating raw material producing robot is what we call bacteria. We are what they want to harvest. Run! Hide! Do something!
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
I give it one month before someone figures out how to make a dildo with it.
Some guy buys a kit and spends a weekend assembling it? Is that it? What is the story here?
Sure it's a difficult build with some skill required, but it's a kit. The kit is produced specifically to be assembled, right?
The Thing-O-Matic has the ability to produce many items, one after the other, while running completely unattended. So you can start it up on Friday, come back Monday and have a big pile of custom objects waiting for you (if it doesn't go haywire, that is).
That's what is new. Not even the $10k industrial machines offer that ability.
The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.