Game changer: Will 3D printing decimate multi-nationals?
Manufacturing functioning firearms from 20th Century 3D-printer technology.
A member from the gun forum AR15 thinks he may have created and successfully tested the first 3D printed firearm. He used a Stratasys 3D printer from the mid-90s to create a .22 pistol. He claims to have fired over 200 rounds from the 3D printed marvel and it still works fine.
Of course, one can see the implications of this technology. Let's think 'beyond guns' for now.
With this technology, who needs mega industry? Why have a factory that imports 6,000 parts to one assembly factory when one could make a 'workers village' plant, where people churn out parts that are assembled and sold 'locally'. You can build your own house.
Suddenly, we have instant Democracy, and a huge threat to multi-nationals. This threatens old-new tech gods with extinction and a creation of a whole new problem: the control of the raw material. If you don't have substrate, you can't make anything beyond a 2 dimensional model.
Obviously, the technology is here, now. What is lacking is the saturation of use that would have to rival smartphone embracement.
Not everyone will embrace this technology, and they don't have to. Making things is too 'godlike' to many, and some Ludites will be left in positions soon obsolete. Code designers will be paid directly, per template download, for their hard work, no longer beholding to giving up creative rights to their mega-employer.
As the Model T is to the Lexus, this current 3D technology will morph into Star Trek like "replicators".
Oh shit, now who needs currency? You can now build robot farms to plant, harvest and process food for human consumption. Corporations will no longer be able to cultivate herd consumer beasts into their glass boxes and sub cubicles, fed on empty calorie green backs?
Obviously, if I can figure this out, think tanks have already come to this conclusion years ago.
My opinion is this can simultaneously destroy and re-create a whole new paradigm in mercantilism. And the Big Boys are not going to stand for it. Technology is probably being bought up as fast as it hits the tech rumor mill. And about that pesky 'control of plastic substrates' issue: are we looking at a new series of "controlled substances"?
Will governments come in and seize patents, assembly codes for WMD's or to protect Corporation X's "latest concern"? Should they?
What's your take?
ETA: a better analogy as to how this technology can morph is the decimation of the camera film industry, replaced with cheap digital cameras that make everyone a 'pro' (although pros may argue this non sequitur point).
Sure, 3D printing is a 'toy' now, but one day....
A member from the gun forum AR15 thinks he may have created and successfully tested the first 3D printed firearm. He used a Stratasys 3D printer from the mid-90s to create a .22 pistol. He claims to have fired over 200 rounds from the 3D printed marvel and it still works fine.
Of course, one can see the implications of this technology. Let's think 'beyond guns' for now.
With this technology, who needs mega industry? Why have a factory that imports 6,000 parts to one assembly factory when one could make a 'workers village' plant, where people churn out parts that are assembled and sold 'locally'. You can build your own house.
Suddenly, we have instant Democracy, and a huge threat to multi-nationals. This threatens old-new tech gods with extinction and a creation of a whole new problem: the control of the raw material. If you don't have substrate, you can't make anything beyond a 2 dimensional model.
Obviously, the technology is here, now. What is lacking is the saturation of use that would have to rival smartphone embracement.
Not everyone will embrace this technology, and they don't have to. Making things is too 'godlike' to many, and some Ludites will be left in positions soon obsolete. Code designers will be paid directly, per template download, for their hard work, no longer beholding to giving up creative rights to their mega-employer.
As the Model T is to the Lexus, this current 3D technology will morph into Star Trek like "replicators".
Oh shit, now who needs currency? You can now build robot farms to plant, harvest and process food for human consumption. Corporations will no longer be able to cultivate herd consumer beasts into their glass boxes and sub cubicles, fed on empty calorie green backs?
Obviously, if I can figure this out, think tanks have already come to this conclusion years ago.
My opinion is this can simultaneously destroy and re-create a whole new paradigm in mercantilism. And the Big Boys are not going to stand for it. Technology is probably being bought up as fast as it hits the tech rumor mill. And about that pesky 'control of plastic substrates' issue: are we looking at a new series of "controlled substances"?
Will governments come in and seize patents, assembly codes for WMD's or to protect Corporation X's "latest concern"? Should they?
What's your take?
ETA: a better analogy as to how this technology can morph is the decimation of the camera film industry, replaced with cheap digital cameras that make everyone a 'pro' (although pros may argue this non sequitur point).
Sure, 3D printing is a 'toy' now, but one day....