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Von Neumann devices --almost equivalent to self-replicating machines.
I had no idea 3D printers were getting so advanced so soon. I totally want one to play with!
quote:Open source 3D printer copies itself Self-replicating printer frees-up 3D printing under GNU By Ulrika Hedquist Auckland | Tuesday, 8 April, 2008 Based in the Waitakeres, in West Auckland, software developer and artist Vik Olliver is part of a team developing an open-source, self-copying 3D printer. The RepRap (Replicating Rapid-prototyper) printer can replicate and update itself. It can print its own parts, including updates, says Olliver, who is one of the core members of the RepRap team.
The 3D printer works by building components up in layers of plastic, mainly polylactic acid (PLA), which is a bio-degradable polymer made from lactic acid. The technology already exists, but commercial machines are very expensive. They also can’t copy themselves, and they can’t be manipulated by users, says Olliver.
RepRap has a different idea. The team, which is spread over New Zealand, the UK and the US, develops and gives away the designs for its much cheaper machine, which also has self-copying capabilities. It wants to make the machine available to anybody — including small communities in the developing world, as well as people in the developed world, says Olliver.
posted
Huh, you're right. I always use "Today's Active Topics" so I rarely notice which side of the forum is which.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
That sounds neat, but I'm still more interested in teleporting... when they have THAT going I'll become a geek again. :-)
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Jun 2006
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I want to have this machine replicate itself a few billion times and see if it starts speciating.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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Very cool technology. Thanks for the article. (New Zealand seems to have an unusual concentration of geniuses for such a small population, doesn't it?)
Posts: 3826 | Registered: May 2005
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I remember this New Zealand scientist said on the Australian-New Zealand immigration problem that "there should be no reason to complain: The IQ of both nations is going up!"
Posts: 1029 | Registered: Apr 2007
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