Star Trek replicator - almost a reality for modelers

[tmsmalley]

It's not ready yet, but

It's not ready yet, but it will be in a few years.

I am old enough to remember when desktop publishing first came around. All the hot wax graphic artists said "it is no good, why should I do it this way when I can do it by hand?"

They have either gone away with the linotype hot lead and buggy whip guys or embraced the new technology. Craftmanship has not disappeared, it's just changed!

[sam reichart]

FSM recently had an article

FSM recently had an article about someone that used this technology to create a 1/35 scale air compressor for their diorama. no one makes such a part, and he "printed" it, did some light finish work and painted it. voila, a custom component. slick stuff.

[Guest]

I will agree that you

I will agree that you can't (and shouldn't) try and stop the progression of technology, that leads to stagnation and eventually the competition will catch up and overtake you.

Mind you, it's always so much nicer to receive a hand written letter, than an anonymous email or functional printed one, isn't it?

This is a modelling craft, and as such I think something will die within the hobby if we start 'printing' everything out.

This technology will get cheaper, after all look at how cheap inkjet printers are now. I remember when they first came out, you had to pay hundreds of pounds for a black and white 300 dpi model. Now you can get a full colour model that will print at photographic quality for about thirty quid!

I can't see 3D printers ever selling for that low price, as I don't believe they'll sell them in sufficient volume to make it viable.

However I reckon they'll come down to the price of a say a milling machine within the next 3-5 years.

The important thing for me, is that I know I will always get far more satisfaction from making something by hand, than I ever will by programming a computer and letting that do all the graft for me.

Andy