Economist article-must read

[colcifer]

http://www.economist.com/node/181143...n/tw/te/rss/pe

[bassybill]

That's a fascinating read.

[MakiSupaStar]

To a lesser degree the machines that put out surfboard stamps are pretty similar. It works with foam that is them hand sanded for the rails, edges and tails. The it's wrapped in fiberglass cloth and resin, sanded again, and there you have it. A custom surfboard.

[()smoke()]

this technology, 3-D printing, is becoming more and more common in the architecture profession for rapid prototyping of component and scale models...

...i often mention that eventually, we'll have printers large enough to build the actual building, not just a scale model. and no, i'm not joking, at least not entirely.

...because with modular construction, a kits of parts could be built up on site and erected.

the potential for stringed instruments is astounding--that could be pretty cool to see how designers begin working with composite materials engineered to have properties conducive to good sound

[DwaynieAD]

I've known of this technology for around 5 years now. just pointing that out as a way of saying "is it really going to take off?"

idk, there will always be a market for hand crafted, but this could help joe blow and susie q afford goods that otherwise they couldnt

[fdeck]

We've got a 3d printer at my workplace. It's pretty handy. One use is to check the ergonomics of a design before committing to the cost and time required to produce molded parts.

You can buy these machines off the shelf.

[UncleFluffy]

Hobby grade machines are now cheap enough to build or buy your own, though they're not really precise enough to be that useful. Once you get up past $10k or so it gets really interesting

There's a few crazier homebrew setups out there - this is one of my favourites, a 3D printer that builds stuff out of sugar.

[crockpot2001]

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

Hobby grade machines are now cheap enough to build or buy your own, though they're not really precise enough to be that useful. Once you get up past $10k or so it gets really interesting

There's a few crazier homebrew setups out there - this is one of my favourites, a 3D printer that builds stuff out of sugar.

In a few minutes somebody is gonna post about how bad carbs are.