The main problem I have with this is the source materials. I looked into RepRap before when I was researching to create my own CNC machine. I like a lot of the concepts, but it took me a while to figure out what material they were using for the source material. After a while of searching on their site, I found out that you have to purchase spools of plastic wire. I do not think that the cost for the plastic spools is at a reasonable price for what needs to be manufactured.
Until I can use ground up soda cans and water bottles, I don't see how this project will take off. Yes, I recycle the water bottles, but think how much better it would be if I could just insert some used water bottles into a machine and use that as a source for whatever I was creating, skipping the middle-man as it were out of the equation.
While we are talking about the moon, I can understand and see the scientific payoffs of sending people back to the moon, but I am much less clear on the whole Mars thing. What is the scientific end game of sending people to Mars?
We need to take out those pesky martians before they invade us. Do you think those little green men want peace? No way! First Strike against the Martians, it is our only chance.
Slashdot Mirror
The main problem I have with this is the source materials. I looked into RepRap before when I was researching to create my own CNC machine. I like a lot of the concepts, but it took me a while to figure out what material they were using for the source material. After a while of searching on their site, I found out that you have to purchase spools of plastic wire. I do not think that the cost for the plastic spools is at a reasonable price for what needs to be manufactured.
Until I can use ground up soda cans and water bottles, I don't see how this project will take off. Yes, I recycle the water bottles, but think how much better it would be if I could just insert some used water bottles into a machine and use that as a source for whatever I was creating, skipping the middle-man as it were out of the equation.
While we are talking about the moon, I can understand and see the scientific payoffs of sending people back to the moon, but I am much less clear on the whole Mars thing. What is the scientific end game of sending people to Mars?
We need to take out those pesky martians before they invade us. Do you think those little green men want peace? No way! First Strike against the Martians, it is our only chance.
Jihad vs. the Martians!!!