Comments on: We need one of these on the ISS https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:03:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-4014 Eri Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:11:25 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-4014 Or someone could order a smaller butt or bigger boobs. Or someone could order a smaller butt or bigger boobs.

]]> By: Lee https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3879 Lee Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:24:56 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3879 LOL, I spewed my drink all over the monitor. =D LOL, I spewed my drink all over the monitor. =D

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3878 TB Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:41:41 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3878 3D prints via xkcd: <img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/3d_printer.png"> 3D prints via xkcd:

]]> By: Lee https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3838 Lee Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:01:00 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3838 Rapid prototyping is the term for the process. Google it and be amazed. Rapid prototyping is the term for the process. Google it and be amazed.

]]> By: Lee https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3837 Lee Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:40:53 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3837 They're working on versions which use metal powder that's fused together by laser. That's going to be a real game changer. They’re working on versions which use metal powder that’s fused together by laser. That’s going to be a real game changer.

]]> By: mcfly https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3828 mcfly Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:00:00 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3828 I'm still boggling a bit over this. As you suggest, once the data for an object is on file it could be altered as required before being printed. Need it smaller, or with a longer handle? And if materials are the issue now, I wonder where we'll be in a decade or so. This it just too good. For me, it's in the same category as a table-top reactor. Maybe we'll be printing those some day! I’m still boggling a bit over this. As you suggest, once the data for an object is on file it could be altered as required before being printed. Need it smaller, or with a longer handle?

And if materials are the issue now, I wonder where we’ll be in a decade or so.

This it just too good. For me, it’s in the same category as a table-top reactor. Maybe we’ll be printing those some day!

]]> By: mcfly https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3823 mcfly Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:23:31 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3823 Cool. I looked for a section on "Personnel Fabrication," but couldn't find it. Next release, maybe? Cool. I looked for a section on “Personnel Fabrication,” but couldn’t find it. Next release, maybe?

]]> By: mcfly https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3821 mcfly Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:15:35 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3821 Thanks. Definitely falls under Clarke's "Any sufficiently advanced technology..." criteria. Thanks. Definitely falls under Clarke’s “Any sufficiently advanced technology…” criteria.

]]> By: Lee https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3814 Lee Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:33:50 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3814 Yes it is. I've used a Z Corp printer with both Inventor and SolidWorks software. The printer builds up the model as a cross section one lair at a time from a dxf file. Each of the parts are separate from one another. Considering the models are made from powder and glue, they can have surprisingly tight tolerances. Yes it is. I’ve used a Z Corp printer with both Inventor and SolidWorks software. The printer builds up the model as a cross section one lair at a time from a dxf file. Each of the parts are separate from one another. Considering the models are made from powder and glue, they can have surprisingly tight tolerances.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/11/we-need-one-of-these-on-the-iss/#comment-3810 TB Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:26:48 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2466#comment-3810 <blockquote>"A question for those in the know: is the scanner software able to identify individual (and perhaps partially hidden) components in the original, or do they have to be delineated manually?"</blockquote> Good question. Obviously, a laser scanner can only see what's visible to it, but it's possible that there's a wide range of software that can "interpolate" hidden parts from the data it has. The Occam's Razor answer is that the video was a dramatization, and they had the full-up wrench data prepared carefully ahead of time. Kind of like all those cooking shows where the guy finishes assembling a complex recipe, then pulls the cooked version (prepared much earlier) out of a nearby oven. It's not really cheating in a demo film. I know for sure a printup like that takes a long time.

“A question for those in the know: is the scanner software able to identify individual (and perhaps partially hidden) components in the original, or do they have to be delineated manually?”

Good question. Obviously, a laser scanner can only see what’s visible to it, but it’s possible that there’s a wide range of software that can “interpolate” hidden parts from the data it has. The Occam’s Razor answer is that the video was a dramatization, and they had the full-up wrench data prepared carefully ahead of time. Kind of like all those cooking shows where the guy finishes assembling a complex recipe, then pulls the cooked version (prepared much earlier) out of a nearby oven. It’s not really cheating in a demo film. I know for sure a printup like that takes a long time.

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