3D Printers

[Oepoono]

There are 3D Printers that let you 'print' thing of liquid plastic.All you need is a program wich can create three-dimensional structures.It's really nice because you can create for example plastic car for your kid and initial building that will be constructed.But there was also report about a guy who created a gun with 3D printer that is able to shoot like a real gun.And here's comes my question:What do You think about those 3D printers?Do you think it will bring something new and good or it will give only unneeded masacre because of free possibility to create a gun?

[JAF]

There are 3D Printers that let you 'print' thing of liquid plastic.All you need is a program wich can create three-dimensional structures.It's really nice because you can create for example plastic car for your kid and initial building that will be constructed.But there was also report about a guy who created a gun with 3D printer that is able to shoot like a real gun.And here's comes my question:What do You think about those 3D printers?Do you think it will bring something new and good or it will give only unneeded masacre because of free possibility to create a gun?

I heard about the gun crap a couple months ago. Overall it seems to be a potential leap for technology, but again I laugh at the whole gun thing, because why would someone print off a gun that is [poo] when you could go get a real gun?

[MATTHEW'S_DAD]

Some may feel differently 5-10 years from now as the technology advances.

[Oepoono]

Unfortunately,in USA,you can get any gun in a blink of an eye.But it's not the only thing.If any family can get 3D printer,the shops with toys will lose a lot of money if anybody can print a toy for his kid.

[(SWGO)Kren]

I heard about the gun crap a couple months ago. Overall it seems to be a potential leap for technology, but again I laugh at the whole gun thing, because why would someone print off a gun that is [poo] when you could go get a real gun?

...I see your point but the idiots can now print them which opens up a whole new level of crazy..happy times...

[[m'kay]]

Thankfully, guns created by 3D printers are only really capable of firing a few shots, so we won't be seeing anything on the scale of a massacre. That, and the fact that 3D printers are prohibitively expensive, mean that we don't necessarily have to deal with the problem for a few years now. On the other hand, when the technology gets better, we're gonna have some serious problems. If the specs for the object can be obtained over the internet (which they can), it'll be exactly as futile as stopping piracy, but with a much more lethal edge. The worst case scenario in that case would take far too long to describe, though I can say that the governments of the world taking control over the majority of the internet will be the absolute least of our worries.

The obvious course of action would be to restrict the efficacy of public use printers, but if a single terrorist group conducts a successful raid on a building that holds a military-grade unit and they can make decent enough knock-offs, it'll open up a huge can of worms. It might be a bit presumptuous, but i'd say that those printers might have a pretty substantial effect on the next couple of decades if they continue to improve.

[NiteRunner81]

3 D printing is BEYOND guns....

http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/17 ... .htm#page4

[Oepoono]

It's also interesting that now,they'll try to create an actual car,piece by piece
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/ne ... r-15566080

[[m'kay]]

That's a very fair point. I tend to mostly look at the military applications of new technologies since that's the way my brain's wired, but the possibilities it brings to the field of medicine are very profound. In fact, now that I think of it, it could very easily lead to prosthetics that can be perfectly tuned to the needs of the afflicted without any extra cost or effort. It's a very powerful tool, it's just that it could just as easily be a devastating weapon.


edit: my avatar makes my words look so [m'kay] stupid good lord

[11_Panama_]

Can't wait 'til Playboy figures out how to print out the Playmate of the month.