Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon Booth
I think at the moment they can only print an object in one material- all the same plastic or all the same metal. So you could print a case for an ipod, in plastic or metal, but not the inside parts which each may be a mixture of metals, plastics and silicon.
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Also, they don't technically "replicate" - even if you wanted a duplicate iPod case, you'd have to create or download the model for it, and print that out. You can't just offer up the case you already have, and get another.
The best applications for this technology are in healthcare, where we already have youngsters who need limb braces being given a printer and a scalable model of the brace they need so they can print out new ones when they need them as they grow. I've also seen news of an American eagle with a 3D printed upper beak to replace the one it lost when injured.
I've no idea how it downloaded the model, or who trained it to use the printer.