[Blue_Nose]

I came across this project today and thought it was really innovative for a number of reasons.

Reprap, from what I understand, is basically a device that uses melted plastic filament to fabricate three dimensional objects out of plastic - everything from doorknobs to shot glasses to parts of the reprap machine itself.

The whole thing is open source, so people from around the world are building their own machines and making their own contributions.

Reprap website




What I think would be really amazing is if as the project advances and the machine can make more complex parts, it can eventually start improving itself with each step. A very simple and crude machine made entirely from "storebought" parts would make basic pieces for itself, which at first would also be crude. As each part is made, it would slightly improve the machine's capability, allowing it to make even more complex or precise parts and allowing it to improve even more - the robot "perfects" itself with each generation with some built-in algorithm.

From what I can see it only works with plastic, so things like circuits and metal parts aren't possible, but that aspect is no doubt in the works.

(and I know Matrix/terminator jokes are undoubtedly running through some heads now, so resist the urge, it's too obvious)

[SprCForr]

Very neat. I like the idea of being able to create a specific part for a particular need.