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Posted by Ahem A Rivet's Shot on July 24, 2009, 1:05 pm
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On Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:48:46 -0500
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> > On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:20:33 -0500
> >> Could a RepRap print head print a second generation print head that was
> >> capable of printing slightly small parts, and so on?
> > A RepRap print head cannot print a RepRap print head.
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> This might be a great subject for the next X-Prize. The goal - to build a
> next generation rapid prototyping machine that is capable of producing
> all of its parts and assembling them. I wonder if Paul Allen might be
> interested in donating a few bucks to something like this?
I'd settle for a set of machines that could create all the parts,
and another set machines that could do all the assembly provided that
between them they could produce all of the parts for all of the machines
and assemble them all *and* (this is important) have a proven ability to
make other things as well.
The approach is in principle simple - first make a machine that can
make one of it's components, then make a second machine (using as many of
the same components as the first as possible) to make another of the
components, continue until there are machines to make all of the components
required by all of the machines (keeping the total parts list as small as
possible will help). Then make machines using the same kit of parts to
assemble the parts makers from the parts - big benefits here to making
machines flexible enough to be used for several assembly jobs.
I've thought for a long time that this is a much more feasible
approach to nano scale fabrication than trying to design a self replicating
thing that can also do all manner of useful work.
In the days when news of this kind of work came out of Zyvex they
seemed to be headed in this general direction, but it has been a long time
indeed since I saw any news of this kind from there.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
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C:>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/
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>
>
> > On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:20:33 -0500
> >> Could a RepRap print head print a second generation print head that was
> >> capable of printing slightly small parts, and so on?
> > A RepRap print head cannot print a RepRap print head.
>
> This might be a great subject for the next X-Prize. The goal - to build a
> next generation rapid prototyping machine that is capable of producing
> all of its parts and assembling them. I wonder if Paul Allen might be
> interested in donating a few bucks to something like this?