[lesser_satan]

Behind a compartment of clear glass, the device - a Stratasys Prodigy 3-D printer - is constructing a complex shape, all curves and spaces, out of plastic.

It's nothing new, really. jewelers have been using these machines for some time now to make cores for lost-wax-process casting. My company used to sell them. They can make metal parts with them now too. There were several 3D printing machines that used metal as a medium at IMTS last year.

[scan59]

I remember reading about something like this in one of those old “adventurer on Mars” type books. The guy discovered the machine and made a propeller. I remember thinking as a boy what a cool machine that would be. Now it’s finally happening.

[NonValueAdded]

How soon to The Fifth Element cloning chamber?

[loungitude]

perfectly turned machine part

:::::::

I think lathes ‘turn’ parts.

[50sDad]

Candyfab: Home Brew 3-D Prototyping"

[Right Wing Assault]

Now we needed a printer that has all of the common elements in its 'ink' cartridges. Plus some really fancy programming and a good energy source.

Print me a diamond ring. Print me a laptop. Print me a car. Print me a barrel of oil. Print me a tank of gas. Print me a handgun. Print me a shotgun. Print me dinner at a high-class restaurant, and keep it at the right temperature.

[SpaceBar]

An interesting home project....

Solid freeform fabrication: DIY, on the cheap, and made of pure sugar

[Jack of all Trades]

You can build your own similar machine with plans here: Fab at Home

[The Louiswu]

Toys!!!!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Theres aplace in Downtown Cincy that replicats knurled 13 century wood carvings with the same kind of machine the stuff they make would take months to carve by hand it takes a few hours to make them with the machines ...

[LukeL]

Doctors have used these to make 3-D models of complex tumors that invade nearby organ systems, and for conjoined twins. They use the 3-D model from a CAT Scan and transfer make a 3-D wax or plastic model.