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Post by WiP on Jul 23, 2011 20:57:42 GMT -5
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Post by Jacob on Aug 2, 2011 1:57:15 GMT -5
I think we need to worry about making better schools and teachers before we can make this publicly accessible. Yes, I'm going to be your Debbie Downer today.  I'd reply to that, but I think we'd need to make a Discussions and Debates thread first.  Send me the link when it's up and running. I'm so down for this.  I think we need to worry about making better schools and teachers before we can make this publicly accessible. What do you mean? It is publicly accessible; you can buy a 3D printer for $1,200. Not cheap, sure, but that's definitely what I'd call public! XD It will probably never be an item desirable for the average consumer, but it's certainly a nice item to have for those interested in design. In fact, it would probably reach a similar niche like the Cintiq. When I refer to the public, I refer to the average working Joe/Jane working paycheck to paycheck. A printer that makes objects out of powder? AWESOME!!! Let's try to afford eggs and bacon on top of an electric bill first.  Mind you, I once bought a computer and camera which total $3000 together. Computer is since bust, and I dread busting the camera. Why? Because it cannot be replaced. Sure, I was once at a point that I could buy such things, but the time at which I bought them was wrong timing, because I wasn't living within my means. I should have waited at least 6 months of working to consider buying those items, with that amount of time in-between both purchases as well. To wait that long for what is otherwise a novelty to your average citizen? It makes me skeptical. Unlike that printer, the computer I had and camera would (and does) actually see a lot of use from me. It's a very specialized market this printer would be going for. And the super rich.  |
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Post by Jina on Aug 2, 2011 4:14:59 GMT -5
It's a very specialized market this printer would be going for. And the super rich. Well yeah, but not everyone had a computer when they were first invented, either. It's not something you can expect to go straight into people's homes as soon as thy first come out. And besides which, most average people wouldn't really care if they had it or not. Other than artists and manufacturing, I can't see it getting major amounts of use, and they're aiming at the latter first, presumably just because factories have more money to spend, and aren't taking as much of a risk in buying it. I actually have a 3-d printed epicyclic gear on the table in front of me. But the bit that I thought was kinda awesome and scary at the same time (dunno if this has already been mentioned, can't be bothered to check xD) was having 3-d printers print other 3-d printers. So it would be a self-replicating machine. =D |
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Post by Yoyti on Aug 2, 2011 6:58:23 GMT -5
Well, a 3D printer could surely print out the parts to a 3D printer, but I think that any actual 3D printer it printed out would just be a facade. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't actually work until 3D printers become that intricate.
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Post by M is for Morphine on Aug 2, 2011 7:09:24 GMT -5
Well, a 3D printer could surely print out the parts to a 3D printer, but I think that any actual 3D printer it printed out would just be a facade. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't actually work until 3D printers become that intricate. There's a printer called reprap that aims to be self replicating. It can print out a large portion of it's own parts. There are reprap circles were you can receive parts in exchange for pledging that you will produce parts for others once your machine is complete. They've successfully reprap-ed a primitive circuit. I believe they've also printed a capacitor, once of the necessary electronic components. So far the machine is limited by a lot of things; if a material needs a really high melting temperature, the printer can not work with it. For now. Of course this is an extruder type machine and not the powder printer from the OP. I'm struggling to see what your point is here. Why should we be concerned if the average consumer can afford this? I'm very concerned about affordable necessities for people who don't make a lot of money, but this is a professional's tool or a hobbyist's plaything. |
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Post by Jina on Aug 2, 2011 8:51:23 GMT -5
Well, a 3D printer could surely print out the parts to a 3D printer, but I think that any actual 3D printer it printed out would just be a facade. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't actually work until 3D printers become that intricate. Well it could at least print working parts, even if they would need assembly. And it would be entirely possible, to add something on to the printer which would do the assembly (which would also be built by the printer). At that point the only thing it couldn't do on it's own would be get power and materials for itself, which are things you could make it do, if you really wanted to. And then it would be a pretty good (but not exact) simulation of life, since it could run around, obtain "food" (electrical power and materials) and recreate itself. Then again, while that might be an interesting thing to see, there wouldn't exactly be much point, since computers can simulate life much better. But the fact that it would be able to make copies of itself and also make replacement parts if it breaks would be pretty useful. |
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Post by Komori on Aug 2, 2011 12:32:39 GMT -5
When I refer to the public, I refer to the average working Joe/Jane working paycheck to paycheck. A printer that makes objects out of powder? AWESOME!!! Let's try to afford eggs and bacon on top of an electric bill first. To wait that long for what is otherwise a novelty to your average citizen? It makes me skeptical. Unlike that printer, the computer I had and camera would (and does) actually see a lot of use from me. It's a very specialized market this printer would be going for. And the super rich. Well, sure. A person working paycheck to paycheck can't afford a 3D printer. Heck, a person working paycheck to paycheck probably can't even afford a smartphone yet, and about 50% of all cellphones are now smartphones. And no, I don't think the 3D printer will ever become as common as the smartphone. So yes, it's definitely a specialized market. But super-rich? No. I'm sorry, but $1,200 is not a price tag of the super-rich. It's a very high goal for the paycheck-to-paycheck person, sure, but also not unreachable. It's less than the price of a Cintiq or an expensive camera. It's less than the cost of dog food for three years, and how many paycheck-to-paycheck people have a dog? It's still a novelty item with a limited appeal, but it's publicly available. |
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