MightySheep
Member
I don't know much about this subject and I've only just heard of it and that's what I find suprising because it's a pretty big thing!
It is only in early stages but lots of predictions that it will completely revolutionize manufacturing in the fact that it will be a lot cheaper/easier, it adds crap loads more customization available for buyers, it doesn't need to be imported/ or even to be stored in warehouses; In a few years time they predict you can go to your local 3d printing store and collect whatever you ordered online. A few more years after that they predict people will have personal 3d printers and it will essentially be like the sci fi (star trek) replicators lol
The reason no storage is needed is because items are stored virtually lol, they are simply stored as a 3d file which can be edited in any way with 3d editors, when needed they can just print it out...
Here's the first vid I found about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw
but I heard all about it on a bbc radio documentary
The vid demonstrates a man walking into a research lab with a wrench, the researchers take his wrench, shine a laser on it to 3d map it onto computer, they then colour it how they want, and print a new one out for him which works perfectly with functional moving parts etc
The documentary also mentions how this is already in use in a lot of manufacturing companies today, and theres even massive ones for printing parts for buildings
It is only in early stages but lots of predictions that it will completely revolutionize manufacturing in the fact that it will be a lot cheaper/easier, it adds crap loads more customization available for buyers, it doesn't need to be imported/ or even to be stored in warehouses; In a few years time they predict you can go to your local 3d printing store and collect whatever you ordered online. A few more years after that they predict people will have personal 3d printers and it will essentially be like the sci fi (star trek) replicators lol
The reason no storage is needed is because items are stored virtually lol, they are simply stored as a 3d file which can be edited in any way with 3d editors, when needed they can just print it out...
Here's the first vid I found about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw
but I heard all about it on a bbc radio documentary
The vid demonstrates a man walking into a research lab with a wrench, the researchers take his wrench, shine a laser on it to 3d map it onto computer, they then colour it how they want, and print a new one out for him which works perfectly with functional moving parts etc
The documentary also mentions how this is already in use in a lot of manufacturing companies today, and theres even massive ones for printing parts for buildings