Electro-ramblings

Rapid prototyping is fantastically cool. Design an object, then watch as a machine constructs it in front of your eyes. The prioblem is the machines cost anything up to a million quid or more.

However, a kit that allows people to build their own rapid prototyping machine has been developed by researchers at Cornell University, according to the linked article at New Scientist.

The standard version of their Freeform fabricator – or "fabber" – is about the size of a microwave oven and can be assembled for around $2400 (£1200). It can generate 3D objects from plastic and various other materials.

The machine connects to a desktop computer running software that controls its operation. It then creates objects layer-by-layer by squeezing material from a mechanically-controlled syringe.

So far it has been tested with silicone, plaster, play-doh and even chocolate and icing. Different materials can also be used to make a single object – the control software prompts the user when to load new material into the machine.

Once you've created your silicone or plaster object, you can take a mould and then cast it in something more solid, like metal or acrylic.

I want one.

Here's a link to the Fab@Home project.