Replicating Rapid-Prototyper - RepRap

currently at metalab, Vienna - open source von Neumann Universal Constructor ... see also http://shifz.blogspot.com/2006/09/reprap-open-source-von-neumann.html

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• reprap
• metalab
• paraflows
• prototyper
• replicator

[SailorBarsoom]

Didn't you listen? The plastic this uses can be made from CORN. It can be recycled. As the experiments move on, more and more of the materials needed can be made of recycled materials. Less oil will be needed. Less coal. Recyclable and biodegradable.

[zomgFletch]

It always amazes me when I hear about a machine that can make another copy of itself... so cool to think about.

[SailorBarsoom]

@Incrue

I don't know. But there should be web sites about it.

[Incrue]

@SailorBarsoom cool but how do i learn how to make it?

[onthecuttingedge2005]

build it on a sheet of wax paper so it comes off easy.

[SailorBarsoom]

Well, ultimate customization is kind of what it's about.

[walter0bz]

'von neuman machine'

it would be interesting to know how much more would be needed for genuine self assembly, I think it would be a 2 stage thing - factory bot & raw material aquisition bots

maybe this reprap is like a cut down virus (it still needs to trick a human host into building it) and we're a long way off 'bacterium'

but once thats built, the elites will exterminate us as we wont be needed :)

[walter0bz]

The world makes much more sense when you equate Land to Energy .. humans are solar powered by crops.

Everything is trickle down from military & oil. (e.g. oil+solar makes food)

Will reprap be usefull to us?

compare (i) economies of scale of mass production + energy taken to deliver products vs (ii) energy to drive the reprap machine & create it's raw materials.

i bet if you add it up, it wouldn't compare well,

*but* I hope it will have genuine uses e.g. recycling/repair, & customization

[SailorBarsoom]

Well we do need a better source of energy, and ground-based solar just isn't going to do it.

As for the amount of land...

Maybe the corn can grown where some of the factories used to be.

[walter0bz]

perhaps we will be rounded up by the future offspring of these machines & pulverised. With a few additives I'm sure pulped flesh and bone will be a viable RepRap material :)

[walter0bz]

still takes oil energy to drive it.

if you go to solar power, weigh up how much land would be needed to grow the corn & generate the electricity to drive the machine... versus how many people could be fed on that land

[enveloop]

Only a very small % knew how to operate computers not so long ago... they'll become less expensive and easier to use.