Get this thing on ISS!
They used a Thing o Matic, Bits From Bytes 3000 (also known as Panther), and a Makerbot Cupcake.I hate that none of the printers where real RepRap, but I am writing them up for the RepRap Blog anyway. http://blog.reprap.org/
If they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution.
Quote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 12:52 amIf they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution.It's just a repeat of what is already done on the ground.
That's my point: until it is up & running, and reliable , you are only assuming it will work fine.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 03/06/2012 02:17 amQuote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 12:52 amIf they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution.It's just a repeat of what is already done on the ground.just like the other equipment that never fails on the ISS?That's my point: until it is up & running, and reliable , you are only assuming it will work fine.
Quote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 12:52 amIf they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st centuryIt's just a repeat of what is already done on the ground.
If they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century
Quote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 11:21 amQuote from: Robotbeat on 03/06/2012 02:17 amQuote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 12:52 amIf they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution.It's just a repeat of what is already done on the ground.just like the other equipment that never fails on the ISS?That's my point: until it is up & running, and reliable , you are only assuming it will work fine.That wasn't my point at all. I was saying that this is the same sort of thing as is used on the ground already (and has been for years... decades, actually), thus I fail to see how putting it on ISS will cause it to "become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution."
Great! I wondered when someone would start printing sausages on the ISS
Quote from: SpacexULA on 08/04/2011 10:03 pmThey used a Thing o Matic, Bits From Bytes 3000 (also known as Panther), and a Makerbot Cupcake.I hate that none of the printers where real RepRap, but I am writing them up for the RepRap Blog anyway. http://blog.reprap.org/The RepRap is not known for high fidelity work, although I'll admit I want one. I just wish they could do cleaner prints.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 03/06/2012 03:45 pmQuote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 11:21 amQuote from: Robotbeat on 03/06/2012 02:17 amQuote from: robertross on 03/06/2012 12:52 amIf they could turn this into the proverbial 'sausage maker', it could become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution.It's just a repeat of what is already done on the ground.just like the other equipment that never fails on the ISS?That's my point: until it is up & running, and reliable , you are only assuming it will work fine.That wasn't my point at all. I was saying that this is the same sort of thing as is used on the ground already (and has been for years... decades, actually), thus I fail to see how putting it on ISS will cause it to "become the spark for the 21st century just as the lathe was in accelerating & defining the industrial revolution."Well the lathe was around for years before it sparked the industrial revolution. It was the unique application of it, and the application of steam power that really brought it to the forefront.We know microgravity creates a unique environment, one unlike any other. To be able to rapid prototype parts on an industrial scale could be the next step for us going beyond our planet, by using a raw product and transforming it into a useful secondary or tertiary product.
I think rapid prototyping could prove to be as revolutionary as the steam engine.It can lower the bar for a start-up to get into manufacturing.This could be just the edge US based companies need to compete against China.These machines also could be at every neighbourhood hardware store.Lets say you needed a part you could have a machine at the local hardware store print said replacement part.