Absolutely fab-ulous
A cheap self-assembly device capable of fabricating 3D objects has been developed by US researchers. They hope the machine could kick start a revolution in home fabrication – or “rapid prototyping” – just as early computer kits sparked an explosion in home computing.Rapid prototyping machines are already used by designers, engineers and scientists to create one-off mechanical parts and models. These create objects by depositing layer upon layer of liquid or powdered material.
These machines typically cost from $20,000 to $1.5 million, says Hod Lipson from Cornell University, US, who launched the Fab@Home project with PhD student Evan Malone in October 2006.
The standard version of their Freeform fabricator – or “fabber” – is about the size of a microwave oven and can be assembled for around $2400 (£1200). It can generate 3D objects from plastic and various other materials. Full documentation on how to build and operate the machine, along with all the software required, are available on the Fab@Home website, and all designs, documents and software have been released for free.
I strongly suspect that this is the beginning of something that will tranform our economies and our lives at least as much as personal computers have. Bring it on I say.
Watch out, Adam Smith…
Dave Justus updates on what those wacky scientists at Cornell have been up to as of late: a home manufacturing system dubbed “the fabber.” The standard version of their Freeform fabricator or fabber is about the size of……