http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2007/05/07/desktop_factory.html
Apperantly these printers have been around for around 10 years, but cost over $15,000, limiting them to large manufacturers. Now they will be priced closer to $7,000, which is still a large sum of money, but more realistic to an average buyer.
It takes a 3d program, and can create anything that you can put into the 3d program. It uses powdered plastic to create layers, and uses the program as a guide to make, well, whatever. Supposedly, when these things become cheaper, you will be able to download specs on parts of toys or models, or other such things, and then can just "print" it, and you have a replacement part.
Check out the link for more info.
Apperantly these printers have been around for around 10 years, but cost over $15,000, limiting them to large manufacturers. Now they will be priced closer to $7,000, which is still a large sum of money, but more realistic to an average buyer.
It takes a 3d program, and can create anything that you can put into the 3d program. It uses powdered plastic to create layers, and uses the program as a guide to make, well, whatever. Supposedly, when these things become cheaper, you will be able to download specs on parts of toys or models, or other such things, and then can just "print" it, and you have a replacement part.
Check out the link for more info.