Comments on: Maybe you should just “print” your next new car . . . https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:15:13 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31798 ER Mon, 15 Sep 2014 18:30:20 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31798 De fault of de programming? De fault of de programming?

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31797 DanS Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:30:23 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31797 The printer would not be able to print, unless the correct composite was loaded to the system. Of course, anything can be bypassed. The printer would not be able to print, unless the correct composite was loaded to the system.

Of course, anything can be bypassed.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31796 ER Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:01:55 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31796 Most complex machines are assembled from parts, which are themselves assembled from other parts, often several levels deep until you get to the individual component made of one type of material. All these sub-units are composed of several different types of material, glass, rubber, plastic, fabric, metals, etc. Its like organic beings, who follow a similar hierarchy: solvent, protein, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, system, organism. I can't see how any one machine could handle all of these levels. Of course, the printer would not make the whole product at once, it would be used to make the individual parts, which would then be assembled by hand or by robot on a conventional assembly line. Still, the economy of printer assembly would tempt engineers to design machines so they could be easily and cheaply printed, rather than emphasize safety, performance, durability, or other characteristics. Can you imagine a part like a water pump or alternator designed so it could be manufactured out of a minimum of printable materials, instead of choosing the optimum material for each component and application? I think this is a great idea, but its going to have to be monitored. This won't be like the transition from hand assembly to assembly line mass production. It takes the opportunity to cut corners a lot further down into the structure. Most complex machines are assembled from parts, which are themselves assembled from other parts, often several levels deep until you get to the individual component made of one type of material. All these sub-units are composed of several different types of material, glass, rubber, plastic, fabric, metals, etc. Its like organic beings, who follow a similar hierarchy: solvent, protein, organelle, cell, tissue, organ, system, organism. I can’t see how any one machine could handle all of these levels.

Of course, the printer would not make the whole product at once, it would be used to make the individual parts, which would then be assembled by hand or by robot on a conventional assembly line.

Still, the economy of printer assembly would tempt engineers to design machines so they could be easily and cheaply printed, rather than emphasize safety, performance, durability, or other characteristics. Can you imagine a part like a water pump or alternator designed so it could be manufactured out of a minimum of printable materials, instead of choosing the optimum material for each component and application?

I think this is a great idea, but its going to have to be monitored. This won’t be like the transition from hand assembly to assembly line mass production. It takes the opportunity to cut corners a lot further down into the structure.

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31795 DanS Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:31:42 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31795 <center><strong>...I ran out of toner...!!</strong></center>
…I ran out of toner…!!

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31794 DanS Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:02:34 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31794 By that, I refer to the possibility -- sorry, inevitability -- of composite material specs not being up to safety standards. I doubt the automobile would include safety glass, or impact suspension. Cutting corners is what the profit-mongers live for, so second-hand cars would need to go through stringent inspections. Caveat emptor, folks. By that, I refer to the possibility — sorry, inevitability — of composite material specs not being up to safety standards. I doubt the automobile would include safety glass, or impact suspension. Cutting corners is what the profit-mongers live for, so second-hand cars would need to go through stringent inspections.

Caveat emptor, folks.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/09/15/maybe-you-should-just-print-your-next-new-car/#comment-31793 ER Mon, 15 Sep 2014 13:26:17 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=47331#comment-31793 Do we have 3D printers that can make 3D printers? Do we have 3D printers that can make 3D printers?

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