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MIT Media Lab Researcher Prints Playable Flute

Posted by timothy on from the flouting-his-skills dept.

What if making an acoustic instrument was a matter of hitting 'print'? MIT Media Lab researcher Amit Zoran did just that. He created a flute using the Objet Geometries Connex500 3D printer. The instrument is playable and the results are surprisingly good for a first attempt. As an aside, rumour has it that Amit has a bumper sticker that reads: My other printer prints food.

4 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Disappointing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This was pretty disappointing; it's printed on a commercial 3D printer. We all know these can be used for printing complex objects like product prototypes. It's a bit like someone posting a news story about being able to play zork on a mainframe in the early 80s.

    Now, if someone can do this on a reprap, fab@home, or some similar consumer-targetted 3d printer, that'll be really good news.

  2. Re:I want one! by cbope · · Score: 5, Insightful

    These 3D printers are for rapid prototyping, and they are far from new. They have been around for years.

    They do NOT create durable goods. You will NOT be able to print working cars, bikes, computers, houses, women or whatever else you want. The output of these printers do not serve any real purpose other than a 3-dimensional prototype of an object. Even if this so-called flute is playable today, it likely won't be in a year's time if it's handled a lot.

    I guess your username says it all, but how exactly do you think this will somehow magically be cheaper than printing in 2D on plain paper with standard ink?

    Bottom line: You cannot "manufacture" durable goods using 3D printer technology. It's nice to dream, but dreams have their place.

  3. Re:I want one! by Obyron · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With all tech advances we've seen in our lifetimes it amazes me that people can still have this attitude. Maybe not now, but give it 10 years. The next Steve Wozniak is out there somewhere, reading about this and being inspired. There will be some killer use for this thing that you or I haven't thought of, and I suspect in 20-25 years they'll be as common in houses as refrigerators.

    --
    --Obyron
  4. Re:I want one! by KnownIssues · · Score: 3, Insightful

    how exactly do you think this will somehow magically be cheaper than printing in 2D on plain paper with standard ink?

    Have you seen how much printer ink costs? It's more valuable than gold! Everything is cheaper than printer ink!